Hiring a nanny is like hiring a new employee for a company – you should never rush the process.
And here is a better reason not to rush the process:
It’s an investment in your most precious assets: your home and child’s wellbeing.
But how do you know it’s time to look for a nanny?
You know you need to hire a nanny ASAP when:
- You are a new parent and will need someone to babysit your child when you’re away
- You don’t remember the last time you took the children out to the park and you know they need more play time.
- You need some time to pamper yourself! After all you can’t pour from an empty cup.
That’s where a nanny comes in to make life easier for you.
So, how do you find the best nanny for your family?
Here’s the exact roadmap you need to follow i.e. Top 4 Tips for Hiring a Nanny in 2021:
Table of Contents
1. Create a Solid Job Description
Before you start calling friends for recommendations or hop on a popular nanny search engine, take a minute to think about the needs of the moment.
Write a nanny job description, which should include:
- The times and days you need the nanny to work
- A list of duties for this position
- The qualifications your ideal nanny should have
Do you need someone friendly with the kids and take them to the park?
Are you looking for someone who can walk the dog or run occasional errands?
Do you need a nanny who’s tech-proficient and can handle apps, texting, smartphones, alarm systems, and the likes?
Will your nanny be comfortable with security devices in the home?
Write the job description with the professionalism and seriousness it deserves.
Don’t expect anyone to second-guess your needs. As with employees, the nanny will appreciate precise communication and expectations from your end.
Once your job description is ready, it’s time to:
2. Look for Promising Candidates
This step can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to.
There are three easy ways to locate potential nannies for hire. Let’s highlight each of them briefly:
Agencies
Nanny agencies aim at helping you find a competent nanny that aligns with your family’s specific needs and interests.
Here are our top reasons why parents may opt for nanny agencies:
- Agencies save you tons of time in hiring a nanny. They do the screening, advertising, and recruiting on your behalf.
- They have years of knowledge and experience in the nanny industry and won’t easily make errors in the hiring process.
- They carry out background checks on nannies.
- An agency can provide support in case anything doesn’t work out as expected.
Simply put, a nanny agency has its client’s best interests in mind.
Recommendations from Friends
We all have a network of trusted friends whom we can turn to for suggestions when looking for a new house, a new puppy, a new phone, and now, a nanny!
And don’t be limited to friends here. Talk to neighbors, colleagues, and relatives for recommendations as well.
This is fantastic why to learn about a local college kid looking for a nanny job when on holidays or a mom interested in caring for another kid during the day.
Get a list of recommendations and start interviewing them, one at a time to see if they match your needs.
Nanny Listing Sites
Lastly, you can visit nanny listing platforms to find available nannies in your city.
Examples of sites with databases of registered nannies in different locations are Nannies4hire.com, care.com, and Sittercity.com, just to name a few.
These websites have filters for background checks, qualifications, biographies, and even the nannies’ availability.
3. Research on the References Thoroughly
If you choose to go with an agency, it’ll handle the reference checks and background for you.
What about if you’re searching for the candidate on your own?
Well, don’t see a flashy profile and call them to start work the following day.
You’re likely to be disappointed, big time.
We aren’t suggesting that if you delay the hiring process from one day to one month, then you’ll find the most loyal and well-behaved nanny in town.
The thing is, do your due diligence. Thoroughly vet the nanny before inviting him or her into your precious home.
To begin with, you will want to run a criminal background check. Here are some background check sites to help you know more about various nannies before hiring one.
On top of that, request for a clean driving record, ask for a drug test and verify any references.
Before you call the references, create a list of four to five queries to help you have a better understanding of the nanny’s abilities, personality, work ethic, and trustworthiness.
And while at it, don’t forget to ask how long the caregiver worked for previous employers and the children’s age they cared for.
Most importantly, check out the nanny’s online presence through a quick Google search.
Should you take a peek at their social media profiles too?
Absolutely!
If they post stuff that conflicts with your philosophies or beliefs, you may hesitate to bring them into your family.
4. Schedule a Face-to-Face Interview
After listing down prospective nannies, it’s time for an interview.
Don’t interview on the phone or Zoom. Invite them to your residence for a one-on-one meeting, over a cup of coffee, preferably.
This is the time to understand their personality better and ask them specific questions about their experience with several things, such as:
- Handling cloth diapers
- Administering first aid
- Giving medicine
- Handling peanut allergies
- Dealing with strangers
During this interview, trust your gut reaction. Just like a first date, the very first moments will speak volumes about the candidate, so pay attention to your instincts.
It might as well help you decide on who to hire.
If after doing background checks, you have some concerns or questions about the prospective nanny’s previous employment, raise them during the one-on-one chat.
Bonus tip: Have your kids around during this meeting so you can tell how she responds, interacts, and talks to them.
Final Word
When looking for a nanny, don’t scrimp on background checks. You must understand the person better before bringing them to your home.
If you aren’t completely sure after following the above tips, you may want to do a trial run by asking the prospective nanny to come home and work for a couple of hours. During this time, monitor how they handle everything, including interaction with the kids.
It’s essential that both you and the kids feel comfortable in the nanny’s presence.
