How early to start search?

[Anonymous]

Hi all -

We currently host an au pair, but are thinking of switching to a nanny when our au pair’s term is up in April. If we were going to host another au pair, we’d start looking to interview candidates in October. When is the best time to start lining up a nanny to start in spring?

To the extent it matters, two kids 3&5, 5 year old in preschool 5 days per week and 3 year old goes to preschool three mornings per week; driving to and from school would be one of the nanny’s duties; NW DC.

[Anonymous]

You really can’t start interviewing nannies until about one month from start date (unless you’re willing to pay a retainer). You can, however, start putting out feelers (talk to neighbors and friends and other parents at older kid’s school) to see if anyone plans to let their nanny go around that time.

[Anonymous]

You can start 4-6 weeks out from your start date with the anticipation that most candidates do not become available until 2-4 weeks out.

Most families give their nanny 2 or 4 weeks notice when their current position will end.

[Anonymous]

We started looking for a nanny six weeks before I had to go back to work and BARELY found someone in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started looking for a nanny six weeks before I had to go back to work and BARELY found someone in time.

As a nanny for 12 years and now nanny employer, assuming you are offering a competitive rate and benefits, this is not the norm. Most families hire easily 4-6 weeks out. It's actually usually the flip side- if you hire a nanny too far out, you run the risk of them accepting a position with a sooner start date (a la the 10000x posts here that we hired a nanny but it feel through and now we are scrambling ASAP).

I'm not discounting your experience PP, but IMP it's counterproductive to look further out.