Newbie - starting a nanny search

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I would appreciate some tips as I’m new to this - basically, where do you look for nannies? DCUM and other list serves? I’m happy to look into agencies too but it sounds like people have mixed feelings on whether it’s worth it?

Also, is it customary to ‘just’ do one interview and then make an offer or do people do trial days too?

I’m not looking for anything too fancy, just someone willing to be paid on the books who has some understanding of infants and their development. So far haven’t had much luck.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hi, one nanny here! I’ve done most of my searching in he past through care.com. It was always really well organized and offered background checks and the opportunity for nannies to provide cover letters with their applications.

As far as interviews, I’ve had a mixed bag. I’ve never done more than one interview for a single family. Though, I’ve had interviews where the children were present and some where they were not. I’ve also done the trial thing.

I would recommend meeting with a qualified person first yourself and have your interview with the child in the house, but just maybe in the back with someone watching them (or during nap time!) then if it goes well, they can meet the child and you could possibly schedule a trial run.

I think you’ll learn all you need to know from watching them interact for a little while after the interview. It’s your call =]

I hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

I used an agency and did an interview and then a half day for a trial. We interviewed a lot of people.

[Anonymous]

1) Figure out exactly what you want (“nothing fancy” is not enough!) Do you want a grandmotherly type who can guide you? An experienced professional? Someone youthful and energetic who can go along with your parenting style? Education level? How many hours? Do you need flexibility? Etc.etc.

2) Create a detailed add and post on at least one paid online platform (I prefer sittercity since care has some issues from the nanny perspective so professional nannies steer clear). Also email blast all your local friends to tell them you are looking and post on local parent listserves.

3) Screen applicants and assume that 80% will not be plausible candidates at all.

4) for remaining 20%, schedule phone interviews where you do three things: ask them open-ended questions about their background, discuss the nuts and bolts (pay, hours, location, dealbreakers), and get a general sense of who she is. About 1/3 of the phone interviews will be worth following up.

5) Schedule them for an in-person interview, preferably at a time when baby consistently naps or when grandma can hold the baby in another room. Have a proper sit-down chat without interruptions but let her meet the baby before she leaves.

6) Choose your favorite or start over

7) Don’t forget to create and have everyone aign a very detailed contract before starting. There are many great free templates online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Figure out exactly what you want (“nothing fancy” is not enough!) Do you want a grandmotherly type who can guide you? An experienced professional? Someone youthful and energetic who can go along with your parenting style? Education level? How many hours? Do you need flexibility? Etc.etc.

2) Create a detailed add and post on at least one paid online platform (I prefer sittercity since care has some issues from the nanny perspective so professional nannies steer clear). Also email blast all your local friends to tell them you are looking and post on local parent listserves.

3) Screen applicants and assume that 80% will not be plausible candidates at all.

4) for remaining 20%, schedule phone interviews where you do three things: ask them open-ended questions about their background, discuss the nuts and bolts (pay, hours, location, dealbreakers), and get a general sense of who she is. About 1/3 of the phone interviews will be worth following up.

5) Schedule them for an in-person interview, preferably at a time when baby consistently naps or when grandma can hold the baby in another room. Have a proper sit-down chat without interruptions but let her meet the baby before she leaves.

6) Choose your favorite or start over

7) Don’t forget to create and have everyone aign a very detailed contract before starting. There are many great free templates online.

+1
Well said!

[Anonymous]

We used care.com and has great success. One of the nannies we were interviewing asked me the following questions, which I thought were helpful (although our kids are preschoolers, so you'll have to change them a bit for an infant):
1. What do you see as a typical daily routine ?
2. What is the most important thing you hope to impart to your girls?
3. What value, if any, do you place on structure, rules, discipline, screen-time, academics, athletics, faith?
4. Please explain your chosen discipline method(s), and how are they working to date?
5. Favorite thing about each of the girls?
6. What are you "working on" with each one?
Basically, ask questions about the things that matter to you - how strict are they, how do they envision spending their days, how organized are they, etc. You can also google nanny questions and get some ideas of what to ask.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this is all really helpful! Thanks so much!