Choosing a Nanny
As a parent, child care is undoubtedly one of your biggest concerns. This can be especially true if you are a two-income family, a single parent family, or in a situation in which you feel you need a little extra help. The typical advice is to start looking for a nanny eight weeks before you need someone. Between now and then, start talking to people you know with nannies and ask where they found them, what they like/don’t like, etc. and to assess what your family’s needs are as well.
- Do you want a live-in nanny or live-out nanny? A live-in nanny is someone who lives in your home full time. A live-out nanny comes to your home during certain times, and may accompany when you go on vacation.
- How many hours a week you will need a nanny (anymore than 50 generally is too much)?
- What benefits you want to give and how much vacation time?
- Is it important to you to have an American nanny, or will a foreigner be OK with you?
- What will be your parenting philosophies and how important that your nanny believe the same way? What other duties will you want the nanny to perform?
- Do you want someone with lots of experience and are you willing to pay for that experience?
It is also important to consider this in your screening process, since live-in and live-out nannies require some slightly different arrangements. With a live-in nanny, you will need to consider the following issues: 1) Privacy: Your nanny will need her own living space, including bedroom and probably a dedicated bathroom; 2) Time Off: Even if your nanny is living with you, you will need to provide a couple of days off for the nanny, and certain times for your nanny to be “off” and have some free time each day (often after the children are in bed or when you return home from work or during the day while they are at school); and 3) Car: Will you be providing your nanny with a car during the day and what about personal use?
If you do not think that you will need round the clock help, or if you don’t feel comfortable with a nanny living in your home, you can hire a live out nanny for those times that you are most in need.
WHEN CHOOSING A NANNY
There are many ways to find a nanny, but the two most common ways are through an agency or Do It Yourself (DIY). If you use a nanny placement agency, you want to research the agency and find out how background checks are conducted, and talk to others who have used the agency. Also, find out about fees, and what is covered by the fees.
Nanny Agency Pros and Cons
Pros
- All the nannies are pre-screened (screen services)
- All the nannies have background checks
- All U.S. citizens
- Availability
- Option of Live-In or Live-Out Nanny
- Emergency Services
- A variety of nationality, ages, religious nannies
- Part-time nanny to fill in during unique situations
- Trained professionals
Cons
- Pay an agency registration fee
- Pay a percentage of the nannies gross salary to the agency (generally 10% – 15%)
- Most nannies require healthcare
- Pay overtime
DIY Pros and Cons
If you choose to find nanny on your own, avoiding the expenses that can come with using an agency, you will still need to get resumes and set up interviews. You also need to be willing to contact references and discuss your nanny candidates. It is also a good idea to conduct a background check. You will need an employment application, and your nanny will need to sign a release giving you permission to do a background screening. You will need a Social Security Number, driver’s license number, former addresses and employers and birth date.
Pros
- Flexibility
- No upfront cost
- Quicker turn around on start dates
Cons
- You have to do the background check yourself
- Pay for a credit reports yourself
- More difficult to find a qualified individual
- Uncertain of their work history
- Most nannies require healthcare
- Pay overtime
- Short supply and it might take time to find the right fit
Choosing a nanny is not something to skimp on, in terms of time and cost. Here is a resource on Nanny Placement Agency’s NannyNetwork.com. However regardless of the route your choose to go, I would highly recommend you look for parent forums in your area to find out what is the best placement agency, nannies, etc. For example, if you live in the DC Metropolitan area and DC Urban Moms Forum provides a great deal of feedback from both parents and nannies about different agencies and where to find other great nannies.
If you are still not convinced a nanny is the way to go, check out my post on other Child Care Alternatives and stay tune for How to Choose an Au Pair and the cost comparison between a Nanny and an Au Pair.
