As a child care expert, I receive a lot of questions about the best way to find a nanny. This post is the first in a three part series about finding nannies. In this post I will outline some ways to determine what you will require of your nanny. This will insure that your nanny is a good fit for your family and children. It is important to determine what level of assistance you require before starting the recruitment and hiring process. Having a good idea of what you are looking for in a nanny will make finding a nanny a much smoother process.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before you begin your childcare search:
- Hours: What hours will you need the nanny to work? Will you need him/her to just work weekdays during the day, or do you need someone to watch the kids weekend and evenings also?
- Live-in or Live-out: Do you prefer a live-out nanny? Or would you like to find a nanny that will live-in? Consider your family’s comfort level with having another person living in your house. Do you have the space to accommodate another person?
- Child rearing style: What is your parenting philosophy? Think about what characteristics you require from a nanny? Are you seeking more of a disciplinarian or someone who is more relaxed? How would you like him/her to interact with your children?
- Duties: Will the nanny’s duties only be watching after the children? Or, will you require the nanny to complete household cleaning, cooking and laundry? Will you require the nanny to shuttle kids to and from activities and friend’s houses?
- Budget: How much can you afford to spend on childcare? Bargain nannies may not seem like such a bargain when he/she takes a higher paying job elsewhere. The Nanny rate calculator is a good place to start determining Nanny pay rates. Part time nannies may receive and hourly rate, while full time nannies are usually paid weekly.
Now that you know what you are looking for in a nanny, you can begin your search. The next post will cover recruitment.
