How to Find a Nanny

A great nanny is a wonderful asset to your family and can make your life much easier. Consider the needs of your family and then start your search by asking friends and family to recommend potential candidates. If you don’t get any leads, try looking online or using a nanny placement agency to find someone that will be a good fit. Once you have found potential nannies, interview them, check their references, give your preferred candidate a trial, and then sign on the dotted line.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Considering the Needs of Your Family

1
Determine how many hours per week you will require a nanny. Write down what hours you will need the nanny each day and then tally up the total number of hours. Consider if you will require the nanny to work extra hours during the school holidays. When you interview the nanny, give them a copy of the required hours so that they can determine if the times will work for them.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Think about whether you will require your nanny to accompany your family on holidays or work trips.
2
Think about what the nanny will be responsible for. Decide if the nanny will have any tasks other than looking after the children. For example, you could ask them to be responsible for putting the washing into the dryer, preparing dinner, driving children to activities, cleaning the children's rooms, or helping with homework. Write a list of the essential tasks the nanny will need to complete each week.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Depending on your needs, you may like to have a babysitter who drives, speaks another language, or has flexible hours.^{[3]XExpert SourceJulie Wright, MFT
  Parenting & Baby Sleep SpecialistExpert Interview. 6 March 2020.}
- If the nanny is required to complete extra tasks, it is common practice to increase their pay.
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3
Write a list of what your ideal nanny would be like. Include preferences such as a particular age or gender, special skills, has a full license, similar interests to your family, non-smoker, etc. The clearer idea you have of what you want in a nanny: the quicker and easier it will be to identify the best candidates for the job. When you are searching for your nanny, keep your list on-hand so that you can remember the key requirements that you have identified.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Consider breaking your list up into non-negotiable traits and a wish list.
- Don’t stress too much about qualifications. The majority of nannies don’t have any formal qualifications. The most important factor is that they are a good fit for your family.
- Besides having a genuine love for and experience with children, they should have a strong sense of responsibility and integrity.^{[5]XExpert SourceJulie Wright, MFT
  Parenting & Baby Sleep SpecialistExpert Interview. 6 March 2020.}
- If you are using a nanny placement agency to help you find a nanny, give them a copy of your list to help them identify a great candidate for you.
EXPERT TIP
Lauren Chan Lee, MBA
Product Leader, Care.com
Lauren Chan Lee is Senior Director of Product Management at Care.com, the largest online marketplace for finding and managing family care. She has worked in product management for over 10 years across a variety of specialties and areas. She received her MBA from Northwestern University in 2009.
Lauren Chan Lee, MBA
Product Leader, Care.com
Find someone with the qualities and skills needed to work with children. Lauren Chan Lee, the Senior Director of Product Management at Care.com, says: "A nanny will be spending a lot of quality time with your children, so it is important that they are a mature, responsible person with substantial hands-on experience and skills, like CPR and safety training. You'll want to hold in-person interviews, watch them interact with your children, check references and reviews from previous families, and lastly, trust your gut.”
4
Consider if you have any rules for the nanny. This is a good way to make sure that potential candidates understand your expectations right from the beginning. For example, you may expect that the nanny doesn’t speed with the children in the car, doesn’t let the children watch television, or doesn’t feed the children sugar.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Consider writing these rules in the employment contract so that they are clear for both parties.
5
Decide what you’re willing to pay the nanny. Consider how many hours each work they’ll be working, whether they will need to work nights or weekends, how many children they will be looking after, the nannies experience and qualifications, and the cost of living in your area. The average weekly salary of a full-time nanny is $705 after paying nanny tax.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Ask other families in your area what they pay their nannies to get an idea of the local rates.
- Nanny salaries tend to be significantly higher in cities and urban areas compared to rural areas and small towns.
- If the nanny will need to use their own car to drive the children around, decide how much they will be reimbursed per kilometre (or mile). It is generally accepted that nannies should be reimbursed for more than their fuel costs to take into account the other costs of running a vehicle.
- Don’t stress too much about qualifications. The majority of nannies don’t have any formal qualifications. The most important factor is that they are a good fit for your family.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding Potential Candidates

1
Ask your friends and family to recommend a good nanny. Let your circle of friends know that you’re on the lookout for a nanny. This is a great first option as it allows you to get first-hand recommendations from people that you trust. This gives you the chance to ask questions about potential candidates and receive honest answers.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Consider asking a trusted friend or family member if they would like to be your nanny. This can be a good option as your children will likely already know the person.
2
Look at the profiles on a nanny website to find vetted candidates. These websites allow you to learn about the nannies experience, salary expectations, and availability before you meet them. Choose a website that background checks the candidates to avoid wasting time on unsuitable nannies.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Most reputable websites will have fees to view their screened candidates. This averages about US$35 a month.
- Popular sites that screen all candidates include https://www.sittercity.com/, https://www.care.com/, and https://www.nannylane.com/.
3
Register with a nanny agency if you want to find a nanny quickly. This option is the most time efficient as the agency will interview you to find out your needs and then find a candidate that is a good match. Agencies check the references of all their candidates so you can rest assured that the nanny is known to be safe.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Nanny placement agencies are a more expensive option. Most agency fees will be about 10-15% of the nannies annual income.
- Search online for a nanny placement agency in your area.
- Come prepared to your interview with the hours that you will require from a nanny and a description of your family. This will make the process much quicker and avoid you being paired with an unsuitable nanny.
4
Advertise the position in the classifieds or online as a last resort. This route is cheap but can be very time-consuming if you end up with a large number of applicants. Be specific in your advertisement about what type of nanny you are looking for and what the pay rate will be.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Ask candidates to email you their CV and references to avoid wasting time interviewing lots of unsuitable candidates.
- Send your advertisement to the classifieds department of your local newspaper or post it online. Craigslist and Facebook are popular online sites to advertise for nannies.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Hiring the Nanny

1
Check the candidates' references. It might feel annoying and time-consuming, but it is much better than finding out in a few weeks that the nanny isn’t good with children.^{[12]XResearch source} Call all the references and ask about their experience with the candidate and if they would wholeheartedly recommend them.^{[13]XExpert SourceJulie Wright, MFT
Parenting & Baby Sleep SpecialistExpert Interview. 6 March 2020.}
- Ask the potential nannies for 2-3 references in case you are unable to contact one of them.
- If you have used a nanny placement agency, there is no need to check the candidate's references as they will do this for you.
- If you don’t want to call the candidates references, ask for written references instead.
2
Ask “what if” questions during the interview. When you interview the potential nanny, ask them what they would do in different scenarios. This helps you to determine if the candidate is a quick thinker and allows you to see what sort of approach they would take in an emergency situation. Brainstorm a list of difficult situations and then ask the candidate how they would respond if they were in that situation.^{[14]XResearch source}
- For example, ask what they would do if a child fell off the swing and cut their head, or what sort of activities they would do with the children on a rainy day.
- Interview at least 2 nannies so that you compare their answers to your questions.
3
Ask your favourite nanny to complete a trial. If the proceedings have gone well thus far, ask the preferred nanny to complete a paid trial period so that you can observe them looking after the children. This will also give your children the chance to interact with the nanny and give their opinion. Most agencies recommend at least a 2-day trial before making a decision, as children often take a while to warm up to new people.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Try to schedule the trial on days that follow your regular routine, as this will give the nanny a chance to get an idea of what the job will entail.
- Schedule a date that works for both parties.
- If you can’t decide on a nanny, ask 2 potential nannies to have a trial on separate days.
4
Sign a contract if the trial goes well. If you’re pleased with the nanny, make it official with a contract. This safeguards both parties and allows you to clarify issues such as pay, holiday leave, dress code, family rules, and grounds for termination. Give the nanny a copy of the signed copy so that they can reference the terms of the contract.
- Ask a lawyer or nanny agency to draw up a contract for you, or search online for a caregiving contract and edit it to your specifications.
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Expert Q&A

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Question
How can you make your baby sleep peacefully while traveling?
Julie Wright, MFT
Parenting & Baby Sleep Specialist
Julie Wright is a Marriage and Family Therapist and the co-founder of The Happy Sleeper, which offers sleep consulting and online baby sleep classes. Julie is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in babies, children, and their parents, and the co-author of two best selling parenting books (The Happy Sleeper and Now Say This) published by Penguin Random House. She created the popular Wright Mommy, Daddy and Me program in Los Angeles, California, which provides support and learning for new parents. Julie's work has been mentioned in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR. Julie received her training at the Cedars Sinai Early Childhood Center.
Julie Wright, MFT
Parenting & Baby Sleep Specialist
Expert Answer
Try to maintain the usual timing and sleep environment for your baby. You can pack familiar sheets, books, and your sound machine (if you use one). Also, carry some black trash bags and tape to blackout the light if required. If your baby is sleeping in the same room as you, use furniture or a room screen to create a separate sleeping space for the crib or pack 'n play.
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What are the basic qualifications to be a nanny?
Community Answer
There isn't really a single way to qualify someone as a nanny, but things to consider include whether or not they have prior experience with kids, like as a camp counselor or babysitter, and the results of their background check.
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