The Basics of Hiring Nannies and Babysitters

The Perfect Nanny or Babysitter - What are you looking for?

Before you begin your search for a nanny or babysitter you need to have a good idea of what you are looking for in the perfect candidate including detailed job responsibilities, salary or pay rate, schedule, and vacation and benefits just to name a few. You will want to include these details in your nanny or babysitter work agreement later on. Some other more subtle points to consider include your preference for the nanny's or babysitter's personality - are you looking for somebody very outgoing or more reserved, a very energetic or more relaxed person? Additionally, you may want to consider the perfect candidate's life circumstances. For example, does the nanny or babysitter have children, how old are they, is he/she single or married and settled down in the area, etc. You may also want to consider the nanny's or babysitter's gender, age, and cultural background. Being aware of these details in advance will help you prepare a clearer job description and narrow down your nanny or babysitter search to find the best candidate a lot faster.The next step in hiring a nanny is to evaluate the candidates. 

How do I know the nanny is qualified?

Nannies do not have to undergo any licensing procedures. However, there are many things you can and should do to properly screen your nanny and test her childcare skills and knowledge. NannyPro.com offers each nanny and babysitter the International Nanny Association Basic Nanny Skills Exam to test the caregiver's childcare skills and knowledge. Nannies that have passed the assessment can provide care of the highest quality. Look for the INA icon on an nanny's profile to find nannies that have successfully taken the assessment. Additionally, First aid and CPR training is something highly qualified nannies should be capable of. Find out whether your nanny has had first aid and CPR training. Coursework in childhood development are also pluses. Lastly, you should always review the candidates background check before making your hiring decision. 

Questions To Ask When You're Contemplating Hiring A Nanny

If you're thinking about hiring a nanny, you need to start by making an assessment of what your childcare needs are. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you start the process of hiring a nanny:

• Are you looking for full time or part time care? If you're looking for part-time care, what days and hours do you need?
• Do you prefer a nanny that lives with you or outside the home?
• What duties will you require of your nanny? Will she provide just childcare or will she also provide housekeeping assistance?
• How much can you afford to pay your nanny? Is the pay reasonable considering the market and the average pay standards?
• What experience and qualities are you looking for in a nanny? Think about whether you would be willing to sacrifice schooling for somebody that seems very warm and nurturing. Are you looking for somebody that can provide structure or should your nanny be upbeat and easy going?
• What type of skills and experience do you require? Should your nanny be CPR certified and have an early childhood education background?

These are all questions you should answer for yourself before interviewing a nanny to make sure you know exactly what you are looking for in the perfect candidate.

The Nanny Work Agreement

To ensure everyone is on the same page with all the necessary information right upfront, we recommend you create a Work Agreement that will spell out the details of the job such as salary, schedule, benefits, sick days, vacation days, daily routines, house rules for live-in nannies, etc. We recommend making the document as detailed and specific as possible to avoid any future misunderstandings with your nanny or babysitter. However, how much detail you want to include in your final Work Agreement is up to you. Some people keep things casual while others prefer to have set rules and guidelines in place for everything.

Your Nanny or Babysitter Search

When you're ready to begin your search and hiring process we recommend you start by posting a job on NannyPro.com. NannyPro allows you to post an unlimited number of jobs in a structured way including the most important job details. This is the easiest way to let potential nannies and babysitters find you.

Next, you can conduct a search by zip / postal code to find available candidates near you. With NannyPro's Advanced Search, you can narrow down your list by availability, rate, and experience and even save your favorite candidates to your Saved Profiles and compare potential candidates later. Make sure you check back often as new nannies and babysitters sign up every day.

We recommend you narrow down your list of potential candidates as much as possible (5 is usually a good number) and contact candidates to determine whether mutual interest exists.  Your next steps include interviewing and screening your candidates with background checks and by checking references before you make your final selection. Nannypro.com offers nanny services near you! Ready to get started?