A Guide to Hiring Your First Nanny: Finding Childcare You Can Trust

Last updated Sep 12, 2023 197 0

Finding a nanny you can trust to care for your children is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. Unlike daycare centers with large groups of children, a nanny cares for your kids one-on-one, often right in your own home. That’s why it’s so crucial to find someone you feel completely comfortable with.

As you search for your first nanny, use this comprehensive guide to walk you through the entire process. From identifying your childcare needs, vetting candidates, conducting extensive interviews, checking references, and finally onboarding your new nanny – we’ll cover it all. Follow these tips and you’ll find a nanny you and your kids will love.

Defining Your Childcare Needs

The first step is deciding if a nanny is the right childcare option for your family’s situation. Here are some key factors to consider:

Ages of your children – The ages of the kids you need care for is a major deciding factor. Infants and toddlers often benefit most from a nanny who can provide consistent, individualized care. Preschool aged children also do well with one-on-one attention. Once kids reach elementary school age, they may be fine with a regular babysitter or even staying home alone for short periods. If you have kids of varying ages, a nanny can cater to each of their needs.
Hours of care needed – Think about the total hours of childcare you require. Nannies usually provide full-time or near full-time care, while babysitters are optimal for covering smaller blocks of time of up to 20 hours a week. If you need someone for full work days Monday through Friday, a nanny is likely the best option. But for the occasional evening out or a few hours on a Saturday, a babysitter may suffice.
Specific care responsibilities – Nannies handle a wide array of care responsibilities, from meal prep to transportation, activities, and homework help. Babysitters focus more narrowly on general supervision and keeping kids safe. If you need someone to fully manage schedules, provide meals + snacks, drive to activities, help with homework and projects, etc. then a nanny is likely the better choice.
Your budget – Cost is often a deciding factor. Full-time nannies require a significant financial investment, typically ranging from $500 – $800+ per week for one child. Families looking to reduce costs can get creative, like having a nanny share between multiple families. Daycare centers also have more affordable weekly rates, but care for larger groups of children. Do some research on the going rates for nannies vs. daycares vs. babysitters in your local area.

Once you’ve weighed the key considerations above, you should have a good sense of whether a nanny is the right fit. Create a list of the most important qualities you want in a nanny based on your family’s needs. This will give you criteria to use when evaluating candidates. Some key things to outline:

Years of professional nanny experience
Experience specifically with similar ages as your kids
Certifications like CPR, First Aid, etc.
Personality traits – warm, engaging, active, etc.
Extra skills like cooking nutritious meals, speaking another language, adept at homework help

Having a detailed list will really help guide your search process.

The Nanny Search Process

Now it’s time to start the search! Cast a wide net to find the best nanny candidates through:

Nanny Agencies

Many larger cities have nanny agencies that specialize in screening, interviewing and matching nannies with families. While pricier than independent hiring, agencies do much of the legwork for you when it comes to vetting candidates. They often advertise openings to their existing nanny network too.

Fees vary, but expect to pay an agency anywhere from $1000 – $3000+ to place a full-time nanny. Many charge a percentage of the nanny’s first year salary. Be sure to ask about:

Screening process
Trial periods for new hires
Policy if the placement doesn’t work out

Some top nanny agencies include:

Pavillion Agency
Town + Country Household Staffing
The Nanny Authority
Educated Nannies

Online Job Boards

Popular sites like Care.com, SitterCity and Indeed allow you to post free nanny job listings and easily browse 100s of candidates. You’ll likely need to do more screening yourself, but have access to a much wider pool of applicants. The ability to post your precise job criteria makes matching easier.

When writing your nanny job posting, be as detailed as possible including:

A description of the role and responsibilities
The number of children you need care for and their ages
Required qualifications and experience
Salary range and other benefits offered
The schedule and hours expected
Any other special needs/qualifications like speaking a foreign language, willingness to travel, etc.

The more requirements you outline upfront, the more targeted your applicants will be.

Social Networks

Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth. Let your friends, family members, neighbors and other parent networks know you are looking. Ask them to recommend or keep an eye out for any quality nannies. Local parenting groups on Facebook are also a great resource. You can even make your own posts detailing what you’re looking for in a nanny to see if anyone is interested or has referrals.

Online Parenting Forums

Browse popular parenting forums like Parents.com, BabyCenter.com and niche sites for your metro area. Many have forums and message boards where people post looking for local nannies or ask for referrals. You can also post about your specific needs to cast a wide net.

Evaluating Nanny Candidates

Once you start receiving applications, create a system to track and screen resumes and intro emails. Conduct 10-15 minute phone interviews first with promising applicants to see if they meet your criteria. Then narrow it down to 3-5 final candidates to proceed to the in-person interview stage.

The in-person nanny interview is the most important step for getting to know candidates and evaluating how they’d mesh with your family. Come to the interview prepared with a list of questions that cover critical factors like:

Their overall years of experience as a nanny or other childcare roles
Details on their experience with similar ages to your kids
How they handle key duties like discipline, meals, naps, activities, transportation, etc.
Hypothetical scenarios like “How would you handle a temper tantrum from a tired toddler at the end of a long day?”
Any relevant certifications like CPR, First Aid, etc.
Their availability and schedule

Dig deeper with follow up questions and have them provide real life examples of handling situations like conflicts, safety issues, teaching moments and more. You want to go beyond surface level answers whenever possible.

Some example nanny interview questions:

Walk me through your experience caring for infants – what does a typical day look like?
How do you handle discipline and setting boundaries with children?
What are some activities you like to do with kids of X age?
If my child became upset and inconsolable, how would you comfort them?
How do you handle pressuring behaviors like repeatedly asking for snacks before meals?
Have you ever dealt with a safety issue like a child wandering off? What did you do?

Also have candidates:

Provide references – Speaking to a nanny’s previous employers is crucial. Ask detailed questions about their punctuality, responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses with kids. Any red flags or inconsistencies are concerning.
Complete a background check – In most states, this is legally required for paid childcare providers that work in your home more than X hours a week. Checks scan for things like criminal history, motor vehicle records, and sex offender status based on SSN.
Show proof of eligibility to work – Require documents like a passport, green card/visa, social security card, photo ID. Verify identity and legal right to work.

If possible, introduce candidates who make it to the final round to your kids to see their interaction. Their comfort level and engagement with the nanny matters too!

Additional Screening Tips

Beyond interviews and references, here are some other tips for thoroughly screening top candidates:

Search their name online – Scan their social media profiles and do a general web search to turn up any concerning behaviors.
Do an address history check – Verify where they’ve lived for the past 5-7 years using a service like US Search. Watch for frequent moves or gaps.
Confirm credentials – Check the validity of things like college degrees, CPR/First Aid certifications, visas, etc.
Require a commitment – Ask that candidates commit to exclusively considering your position once you’ve interviewed them to take them out of the running for other jobs.
Trust – but verify – Take steps to confirm information provided to you rather than just accepting at face value. Verify through credible sources when possible.

Following a rigorous screening process upfront provides peace of mind and reduces the risk of making a bad hire.

The Hiring Process

After finishing interviews and carefully screening your candidates, compare notes and decide who seems like the best fit. Then it’s time to move forward with officially hiring your nanny! Follow these steps:

Narrow Down the Final Candidates

Create a simple rubric to score final candidates on critical factors like relevant experience, interview performance, rapport with kids, gut feel of trustworthiness etc. Add up scores to decide on a top choice.

Extend a Job Offer

Call your top choice nanny to extend a formal job offer. Clearly lay out:

Salary expectations – Research typical nanny salaries in your area and offer competitive pay
Benefits like paid vacation, use of a vehicle, health insurance, etc
The specific schedule and hours required
Duties and responsibilities
Start date

Make sure to get verbal acceptance before sending a formal offer letter. Send an official offer letter to sign and return along with any tax forms.

Conduct Final Onboarding Steps

Complete criminal background check if not already done
Have nanny sign work agreement covering duties, pay, overtime, etc.
Set up tax withholdings like payroll service or W-2 form
Get contact info and emergency contacts
Exchange insurance info if using your vehicle

Trial Period

Let your new nanny know the first 2-4 weeks are considered a trial period to ensure it’s a good fit on both ends. Check in frequently and provide feedback.

Onboarding a New Nanny

You want your nanny’s tenure to get off on the right foot. A thorough onboarding process lays the groundwork for a positive working relationship.

Home Introduction

Give your new nanny a detailed tour of your home, showing where important supplies are kept like extra food, first aid kits, cleaning items etc. Introduce family members and go over your house rules.

Review Schedules & Routines

Provide your nanny with an overview of each child’s schedule and daily/weekly routines around things like naps, activities, meals and more. Note preferences and quirks to help them provide personalized care tailored to each kid.

Share Contact Info

Exchange phone numbers and email addresses for easy contact. Provide all emergency contacts like pediatrician info, people authorized for pick-ups, and family members to reach if you can’t be reached. Set expectations for how often you want check-ins or updates during the day.

Exchange Insurance Information

If your nanny will drive your kids, verify their license and insurance is up to date and collect their driver’s policy info. Provide them your insurance details for your car. Require notification of any violations or changes.

Outline Duties & Responsibilities

Review the key responsibilities you expect from your nanny like meal prep, driving to activities, school drop-off/pickup, etc. Go over how you want tasks like discipline, homework help, and activities to be handled. Provide parameters for screen time, snacks, etc. Agree on duties and sign the work agreement.

Encourage Open Communication

Let your nanny know they should feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns, questions or issues. Make sure they know they can decline any requests they are uncomfortable with. Foster an open dialogue.

Set a Trial Period

Establish a two week or one month trial period and check in frequently to address any problems early. Offer feedback and encouragement. Assuming all goes well, you can proceed with ongoing employment.

Being a Good Employer

The employer-nanny relationship requires mutual trust and respect. To retain a great nanny, you need to hold up your end by being a good boss and maintaining open communication.

Be Clear and Consistent

Ensure your nanny knows what is expected by providing clear direction about schedules, duties, responsibilities and parenting rules. Be consistent so they can confidently manage your household.

Offer Good Pay & Benefits

Show you value your nanny’s time by providing fair pay and benefits like paid time off, use of a vehicle, retirement contributions or health insurance. Avoid off-the-books arrangements and maintain records. Stay compliant with labor laws for household employees in your state.

Avoid Unreasonable Requests

While a nanny’s duties can evolve over time, avoid burdening them with constant new demands outside of their job description. Make sure to provide adequate support whether it’s extra pay for duties like cleaning or help from care.com for household projects or errands.

Provide Feedback & Recognition

Provide regular positive feedback so your nanny knows what they are doing well. Constructive criticism is ok too as long as you focus on resolving problems, not blaming. Recognize efforts and express appreciation.

Check In on Job Satisfaction

Have periodic talks with your nanny to address any concerns with their job duties, pay, schedule, home environment, etc. Check that their needs are being met too. This helps spot issues early before resentment builds.

Build a Friendly Relationship

While it’s an employer-employee relationship, a friendly bond helps everything run smoothly. Chat about your days, share funny kid stories and take an interest in their life too. Your nanny will be more loyal if they feel part of the family.

Signs It’s Time to Let a Nanny Go

Hopefully your hiring process results in finding a wonderful long-term nanny! But issues can eventually crop up. Here are signs it may be time to fire or let a nanny go:

Repeated reliability issues like lateness, sick days, sudden scheduling conflicts
Not following your instructions about duties, rules or preferences
Unsafe behavior like texting while driving kids
Clashes in personality, values or childcare styles
Caught in major lies or find you can’t trust them
Increase in errors or lapses in judgment with the kids
Constant family chaos or other issues always arising when they’re on duty

If problems emerge, have frank discussions to resolve them before deciding to terminate employment. Outline the issues clearly and provide chances to correct them. But if you’ve lost trust in a nanny or problems worsen, it’s best for both parties to have a clean break.

Conclusion

Hiring a nanny for your kids is a big decision – but taking a methodical approach makes finding the perfect match much easier. Identify your needs, screen stringently, check references, and onboard mindfully. With an investment of time upfront, you’ll gain the reliability, trust and peace of mind that comes with securing stellar care your kids will thrive under.