Are you looking a babysitter or looking for a nanny? As a parent, finding reliable and trustworthy childcare feel like a daunting task. You want to ensure that your child is in good hands while you’re working or away. Whether you’re looking for a live-in nanny or live-out nanny, full-time nanny or part-time nanny, temporary nanny or travel nanny, let’s explore options for finding the perfect fit for your family.
Determine Your Needs
The first step in how to find a babysitter or how to find a nanny is to determine your needs. How many hours of childcare do you need per week? Do you need a live-in nanny or live-out nanny? Do you need a nanny for a newborn or a nanny for school aged children? Would a nanny house manager be the best fit for your family?
Nanny Weekly Hours
Some parents may only need a part-time babysitter or as-needed babysitter, while others require a full time nanny. Candidates looking for part-time babysitting jobs are typically not as qualified or experienced as those who are looking for a full time nanny job. If your family only needs a few hours a week of childcare, such as a date night babysitter, searching “babysitter near me” will lead you to websites that can connect you with babysitters in your area.
Other good options for finding part-time or as-needed babysitters are word of mouth and local social media groups.
If your family needs full-time childcare and you’re looking for a nanny to care for your children, the stakes are higher. It’s important to take the time needed to find a great fit and thoroughly vet and screen candidates. You’ll want to ensure that they have a solid employment history, excellent references, a clean background check and driving record, and any qualifications that are relevant or important to you as a parent. For example, if your nanny will be taking your child swimming you may require that they’ve completed a water safety course for caregivers.
What if you mostly need a full time nanny, but the hours vary? When hiring a full time nanny, it’s important to offer guaranteed hours. Your nanny relies on their income just like you do. So even if you skip a few hours – or days – of care, you should expect to pay your full time nanny the same wages. You can’t force your nanny to take PTO or vacation time when you don’t need their services.
Children’s Needs
Hiring a nanny for a newborn is different than hiring a nanny for a toddler or a nanny for a school-aged child. Each nanny has their own experience and qualifications that make them a better fit for certain age groups. While some nannies excel with all ages, many nannies, such as newborn nannies or infant nannies, specialize in specific developmental stages.
What if you have multiple children? Many nannies can comfortably handle multiple children of different ages and stages, but some nannies know their limits and focus on working on one-on-one nanny services.
Depending on the ages of your children, you may want a nanny who has experience in bottle feeding or potty training, or you many need a nanny who excels in tutoring elementary or middle school aged children.
When determining your childcare needs, consider the responsibilities that you’d be asking of your nanny. Will you need a nanny who can drive your children to and from school or activities? Or do you need a nanny who can prepare healthy meals? These details help determine the best fit for your family.
Budget
Are you wondering what does a nanny cost? What is your budget for childcare costs? It’s important to be realistic and to make sure all of the numbers align with both nanny industry standards and your budget. When budgeting for a nanny, consider factors such as guaranteed hours, PTO, vacation time, and benefits such as health insurance contributions or transportation costs. You may want to budget a weekly or monthly amount for discretionary funds so that your nanny can take your child to spontaneous activities or meals out. Don’t forget to consider nanny tax obligations as well.
Timing
When searching for a nanny, it’s best to allow at least 4-6 weeks for the hiring process, but more lead time is helpful, particularly at certain peak times of year. For example, don’t procrastinate hiring a back-to-school nanny until the last weeks of summer vacation, as it will be quite difficult to find and secure a great caregiver at that stage!
If you need a last-minute nanny, you may find yourself in a stressful position. Gaps in childcare can put families in a tight spot. Read our top blog post on how to find a last minute nanny here.
Lastly, when considering timing for hiring a nanny, think about your end date. Do you only need temp nanny services, or are you looking for a longterm nanny? It’s important to be clear on your needs before starting the nanny search.
How to Find a Nanny or Babysitter
It can be difficult to know how to find a nanny near you or how to find a babysitter near you. Online job boards may offer many candidates, but the quality of candidates is not controlled. Word of mouth can be a wonderful way to find a nanny, but doing so with the exact timing you need can be akin to winning the lottery.
Nanny Placement Agencies
Nanny staffing agencies help connect families and nannies to ensure a great working relationship. At Nanny Poppins, we’ve worked with countless families and caregivers over the past 28+ years. We have an excellent track record in placing the industry’s top candidates in a timely and thorough manner. We streamline the nanny hiring process by helping families determine their needs, post clear and concise job descriptions, screen and vet candidates, and ensure a great fit. We help you hire a nanny with excellent qualifications.
Our personalized customer services doesn’t end when your contract with your nanny begins. We’re here to help ensure a smooth working relationship throughout your time with your caregiver. Contact us to get started today!
