Op here. Thanks! That is helpful and makes sense.

OP, classes and library story times will (hopefully) be back next September. With nanny setting up play dates and park trips, your two-year-old will be well socialized without morning daycare.

Start looking for a nanny one month to six weeks prior to start date unless you want to hold her with a cash retainer.

Op here. Thanks for responses. Including those that mainly just told me to offer full time hours.

I’m open to full time nanny, but If we do that then we would probably not enroll younger child in daycare to help with budget. However, husband is hesitant because he thinks our younger child who will be 2 by then would really enjoy a part time toddler program, so we have to think about it. 2 year old has a really out going personality, and is quite fearless. If it were my older child, then I think it would totally make sense to only do nanny — as he is a shy kid and was much more timid at that age.

Can I redirect the question then - IF looking for a full time nanny, would it also be reasonable to start the search in late July and aim to hire someone starting sometime in late August?

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but is it typical that for Fall starts, nannies don’t try to line up something earlier than a few weeks out? Also… obviously everyone knows that it is more difficult to find a PT nanny. But they do exist.

yes this is standard. Most families give their nanny 2-4 weeks notice before the job will end and thus they start their search at that time.

You’ll find it much easier and attract better candidates if you offer a full time position.

Not OP, but is it typical that for Fall starts, nannies don’t try to line up something earlier than a few weeks out? Also… obviously everyone knows that it is more difficult to find a PT nanny. But they do exist.

You might find a unicorn, but you will likely need to pay for a full-time nanny (even though your kids are in preschool). A nanny might be willing to do light housework during this time.

This arrangement will also cover holidays and/or times your kids are out of school sick.

You do have a lot to rethink here, OP. First, who do you envision would accept a job two months out and hope it’s legit. Do you really think someone would trust you like that? Second, what nanny do you envision only needs to work 25 hours a week? The afterschool nannies are the most sought after but your hours don’t even allow her to work at a daycare or preschool until 3.


Once you find a nanny, she’s should start within the month at the latest. So, yeah, your trip needs to be rescheduled.

Also what is your new situation that you need a nanny in September ? Will you be working from home so you can cover the sick days and school breaks?

No more than a month out from your start date. And reconsider your hours. You’re going to have a hard time getting anyone decent to work only 28 hours a week unless you’re willing to pay at least $35 an hour.

Hello,

Our family will be looking for a part time nanny ( noon-5pm or 5:30pm, M-F) to take care of a 2 year old and 5 year old after their morning programs starting sept 2022. This will be our first time employing a nanny, so I’m pretty much a newbie at the search, which I’m already pretty anxious about. The question is - when to start looking and when to expect/aim have a contract signed? A further complication is that the kids’ grandma is expecting us to visit her in another country for a month during the summer. Is this really possible if we need to stay put and conduct a nanny search? Ideally, we would go in July and be on home turf in August, but that seems difficult with the nanny search. Would going in August be the best option, after finding a nanny in July (or earlier)?

Full disclosure, we are in the Boston area, not DC, but I expect the nanny market to be similar.