How do you get a short term nanny?

[Anonymous]

Just curious, has anyone ever had luck finding a short term nanny? We are going to be in a position where we may need someone for a few months until we get into our preferred day care. If you have done this in the past, how did you find the nanny (service, sittercity/care.com, etc.)? And how did you address the short term nature of the job?

[Anonymous]

Easiest, though most expensive route, is to use an agency. I used an agency for a 6 week fill-in when our nanny was unexpectedly away. It was a great solution, though not the cheapest.

You can also ask around and see if there is someone between jobs, a student off for a semester, etc... Use your neighborhood listservs, friends, etc... aggressively.

[Anonymous]

I've done this several times.

Easiest, most expensive: Agency

PITA, most reliable: Care.com

Best nanny, left halfway through for a fulltime gig: friends' connections

[Anonymous]

Like others have said, agency is the easiest. If you choose to go the cheaper route and hire yourself, my suggestion is to pay well (top end of market if not over) and offer a bonus for staying through the end. Without the bonus, you may get good candidates, but they'll spend the whole time they work for you lining up their next job which may or may not suit your timetable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like others have said, agency is the easiest. If you choose to go the cheaper route and hire yourself, my suggestion is to pay well (top end of market if not over) and offer a bonus for staying through the end. Without the bonus, you may get good candidates, but they'll spend the whole time they work for you lining up their next job which may or may not suit your timetable.

Prior MB here - that idea of a bonus for seeing the term through is so smart. I'm tucking that away if I have to do this again.

[Anonymous]

I'm a grad student interested. [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

What's your timeline? And where are you in the city? We are looking for a couple-month gap to fill...