Try UrbanSitter. It more legit compare to Care.com.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the crappy response! I took extended leave from work so I have about 10 months off. I think that's enough time to find one.

Sorry OP for the mean response.

That was totally uncalled for. Just someone who is looking to stir the pot and receive any form of attention. I feel sorry for people like this.

Enough said.

Do you have any neighbors, friends, colleagues, etc. that have young children? I would have to say that getting a referral for a nanny is the optimal way to find one.

After that, I would suggest a reputable nanny agency.

Care.com and Sittercity should be last resorts since anyone who has access to the internet can post a free profile and claim they are am experienced and trusted nanny. Anyone.

OP here - thanks so much for the responses!!

In addition to the neighborhood listserv, talk to parents you know from lamaze, or anyone you meet and become friends with at the playground. Nannies will also be at the playground, and that's a great way to see how she actually is with kids.

You can check with the agencies, but every single agency posts on at least one site to recruit nannies. Sites include care.com, sittercity, enannysource, gonannies, nannies4hire and others. Sittercity and care only work for local searches, enannysource, nannies4hire and gonannies allow for both local and national searches.

I have always had my best luck w/ referrals from other parents. So put something on your neighborhood listserv and if you know people in nearby areas ask them to post something on your behalf to their listserv.

You can certainly use agencies, and try posting on DCUM, sittercity, care.com, etc... but they are all less personal than a neighbor referral. In the end, speaking with other mothers, especially ones trying to help a long term nanny find their next position, was always the best way to go.

I didn't start my search until after I'd had my kids also so ignore the nastiness of 9:47. There is a lot of nastiness here on DCUM but you can get some really solid advice also.

I've only hired a permanent nanny twice, and both times I started the search 6-8 weeks before I needed someone to start. That was plenty of time.

Good luck and congrats on the baby!

OP here. Thanks for the crappy response! I took extended leave from work so I have about 10 months off. I think that's enough time to find one.

Should have started looking long time ago.

Hi I'm a new mom and need to find a nanny. Where's a good place to start? I live in the Fairfax area. Thanks everyone!