Congratulations! You have decided that hiring a nanny is the best childcare option for your family. Now where to begin? Hiring a nanny can be a daunting process. There are several options for families wishing to find a safe, reliable, and qualified childcare provider. Here are some things to consider before starting your nanny search.
This may seem like the cheapest option, but it is definitely the most time-consuming.
Using Generic Sources: The Criagslist Search:
Many families will conduct their nanny search “the old fashioned way,” meaning that they will post a job ad in generic sources, such as newspaper classifieds and on the Internet. Craigslist is a popular do-it-yourself option these days. While a lot of candidates use Craigslist to find nanny and aupair jobs and to advertise their services, you should keep in mind that the site is not carefully monitored and that you will still need to do a lot of thorough screening.
Prescreening Nannies is Time-Consuming:
Families may find that searching for a nanny becomes as overwhelming and as time-consuming as a part-time job. Conducting your own childcare search requires fielding dozens of phone calls and emails, often to find that most of the candidates are inexperienced, do not have childcare references, or are simply not a good match for your family. This prescreening process is timely and frustrating, since many nannies reply to ads without providing families with sufficient information on their childcare background.
Doing a Replacement:
If families do not screen candidates carefully and properly, it may become necessary to replace the nanny within a short period of time, which will again require a lot of your time and money for ads. However, with a lot of time, research, patience, and stamina, it is certainly possible to find a great nanny on your own.
Internet services are becoming increasingly popular. Online nanny agencies combine elements of the traditional nanny agency and the do-it-yourself option.
Affordable Nanny Searches:
The most obvious advantage to online nanny services is that they offer families a more affordable alternative to the traditional childcare agency. In general, online nanny services range in cost from $30-200, which is a fraction of amount you would spend on a nanny placement agency. Agency placement fees, on the other hand, typically range from $1000-$6000.
You Have the Control over Your Nanny Search:
Who knows better than you what you want in a childcare provider? You may not feel comfortable telling an agency that your family prefers a Jewish nanny, but this may be, in reality what you want. An online nanny service gives you all of the control over your nanny search, by eliminating the middleman. You can contact the nannies that appeal to you and ignore the ones that don’t. For some families it is more comforting to do every aspect of the search on their own, from speaking directly with the nannies’ references to seeing her background search in detail. Using an online childcare service gives you more control over your nanny search.
Access to Hundreds of Nanny Candidates:
Online nanny services provide a wide range of nannies nationwide, and even internationally. Because the Internet is globally accessible, parents will find that online nanny services have the capacity to work on a much larger scale than recruiters at local agencies. Families searching for live-in nannies or au pairs will find it especially helpful to have unlimited access to nannies across the globe. It is important to note that most local agencies are not able to work with international candidates, typically called au pairs.
Detailed Profiles and Specialized Searches:
Online nanny agencies offer more specialized childcare searches than other online sources, such as Craigslist. They provide families with detailed, childcare-specific information on each of the nannies. Online nanny services also allow families to conduct narrow searches on its pool of candidates. You can choose to look at only those nannies, au pairs, or babysitters that meet your specific search criteria. For example, you may choose to only view profiles for nannies that are non-smokers, are over 25, and have reliable vehicles. This will surely save you time since you will not need to go through and ask candidates dozens of logistical questions, because all of this will be provided in the nannies’ online profiles. In short, online agencies provide you with more information faster.
Conducting an Informed and Efficient Nanny Search:
A good online nanny service should provide you with all of the tools, forms and knowledge you need to conduct your nanny search like a pro, as long as you put in the time to read the information. A good online service will also show you exactly how to follow the screening process that childcare agencies use to ensure you find the perfect fit and avoid having to do a replacement.
Cost:
Using a nanny agency is undoubtedly the most expensive option for finding a nanny; however, agencies offer multiple benefits, listed below.
Saving you Time and Effort:
Nanny agencies take most of the legwork out of the search for busy families. Nanny agencies will post your job description in various places, conduct timely prescreening, do all of the reference checking, conduct face-to-face interviews and thorough background checks on the nannies before sending you the candidates. A good childcare agency will meet each family in person or will perform a lengthy phone interview with the parents to get a clear picture of what your family is like and what kind of nanny would be a great match for you. All of this takes a considerable amount of time, and eliminates wasting your precious time.
Finding a Reputable Nanny Agency Can be Hard:
Unfortunately, not all traditional nanny agencies are reputable. If you choose to go this route, finding a great local agency may take a bit of your personal time in the beginning but will save you time in the long run. If you do decide to work with a nanny agency, be sure to do your research. Ask how long the agency has been in business. Check to see that the agency is an active member of the International Nanny Association (INA). Ask the director for references, and take the time to actually call families that have used the agency in the past. Family-related chat rooms and local mommy list serves can be a great resource for researching local nanny agencies. Remember, using a nanny agency will be an investment, so be sure to shop around and choose wisely.
Pre-screened Nannies Provide Safety and Peace of Mind:
Childcare agencies will field hundreds of phone calls and should have access to multiple nanny recruiting sources. A good agency employs childcare recruiting specialists that know what to look for to find qualified nanny candidates. This will increase the likelihood of finding a nanny who will stay with your family for the long haul. Using an agency means that all nanny candidates come to your doorstep prescreened. The agency should check all of the nanny’s childcare-related references before referring a candidate so that families do not have to worry about having strangers come into their home.
Placement Guarantees:
A good nanny placement agency will also offer a guarantee, so that if for any reason that nanny does not work out within a certain period of time, she will be replaced at no cost to the family. Again, this will save you time if the placement falls through.
Nanny Background Checks and CPR Certification:
A reputable nanny agency will always include a background check and CPR certification for its nannies. Families performing a nanny search on their own should consider paying for a background search (including national criminal searches and motor vehicle checks). Childcare agencies typically know which background search companies are the most reliable and the most thorough, which undoubtedly gives the family added peace of mind.