There are a lot of different ways to find a nanny in today’s market, and each way has its own set of pros and cons. Some parents choose to use only one search avenue when they begin to look for a nanny, and other parents opt to use a combination of different methods; however the method you use is completely dependent on your own personal preference.

Whatever search avenue you choose, take the time to develop a comprehensive job description that details what you’re offering, what you need, and what type of nanny will work best with your family. Having that information together ahead of time will help get your search off to a successful start.

Nanny Placement Agencies

Nanny placement agencies take the leg work out of finding a nanny. They recruit, screen, and present you with candidates that meet your requirements. Once you narrow down your choices, they do a full background check before placing a nanny in your home. They also provide after placement support that can help you keep your nanny long term.

Make sure you do your homework before choosing an agency to work with. Like any other industry, some firms do a better job than others. Many states require nanny placement agencies to register as employment agencies. If it’s required in your state, make sure the agency is licensed. Also, make certain they don’t have any complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau. Don’t forget to ask for client references, and don’t be put off if an agency offers written references rather than client contact information. Many nanny employers, even those thrilled with their placement agency, don’t want to be personally contacted due to privacy or time constraints.

Placement agencies are the most expensive way to find a nanny, however the trade-off is that they require the least amount of time and energy on your part. Plus top agencies have access to high quality nannies that may not be found through other avenues.

Online Nanny Job Sites

Nanny job sites allow parents and nannies to submit their profile to a searchable database that nannies and employers can then access online. Once you’ve registered with a site, you can use the online search tools to find caregivers that match your needs, and nannies are able to view your profile and contact you if they feel they’re a good match to what you’re looking for.

Depending on the site, you can search for nannies based on the type of job (e.g. live-in, live-out), the schedule you’re looking for (e.g. full-time, part-time), specific scheduling needs (e.g. afternoons, weekends), and the responsibilities you want your nanny to take on.

Online job sites are budget-friendly and much less expensive than full-service placement agencies. They provide a large and diverse pool of caregivers to choose from, giving you a great chance to find the right match for your needs. Having such a large pool of candidates can be a double edged sword though because it can make your search very time consuming, as there are often many caregivers that will fit your basic requirements. Having a clear picture of the nanny you’re looking for will help you quickly sift through nanny profiles to find the candidates that best meet your needs.

Remember online job sites don’t screen caregivers automatically so it’s up to you to do all the screening, including background checks, yourself.

Online Classifieds

Sites like Craigslist and local newspaper online classifieds are another way to find a nanny. Families can quickly and easily post an ad outlining what they’re looking for in a candidate. Since there aren’t any search capabilities, online classifieds can be the most time consuming way of searching. And like online job sites, it’s up to you to fully screen the candidates.

Word of Mouth

Many parents rely on personal referrals to find their new nanny. Talk to your friends and co-workers that employ nannies and let them know you’re searching for a new caregiver. They can then pass the word along to their nannies, who often have friends looking for a new job.

Finding candidates through word of mouth is the least expensive way to find a caregiver, however it does require a concentrated effort to get the word out. It’s the only avenue where you have a good chance of personally knowing the person providing the referral. This gives many parents a sense of comfort other avenues don’t provide. Make sure you still conduct an in-depth interview, reference check, and background check.

You have lots of choices in how to find your next nanny. The search method that is best for you depends on your budget, the time you have to invest in the search process and the type of caregiver you’re looking for. However you decide to search for nanny candidates, make sure you invest in fully screening them before making your final hiring decision. This is one of the most important decisions you can make.

For girls who love dressing up their dolls, learning to make their own doll clothes can be a fun twist to add to the normal routine, and a welcomed lesson that can spark creativity. And while it may sound like a hard task to undertake, you don’t actually have to be a seamstress to teach your child how to make some simple doll fashions. Many pieces of doll attire can be made with supplies you already have on hand.

1. A dress made out of an orphaned sock.  The size of the doll you have will determine what size sock you can use for this project.  For a Barbie doll, a child’s sock will work well.  For an 18 inch doll, you will need to use a large sock, such as an adult’s sock or a tube sock.  Start by cutting the foot part off of the sock.  Next, take the ribbed part of the sock and hold it up to just under the doll’s chin, as this will be the neckline of the dress.  Eye ball where the arm holes need to be and then cut small slits in the appropriate spots.  Remember the sock is stretchy so you need to keep the holes small.  Try the dress on your doll and decide how long you’d like the dress to be, then fold the top edge down at the neck and determine where you should cut it off.  Use a ribbon or a bracelet as a belt for the dress.
2. Make a no-sew tutu for your 18 inch doll.  Take 23 inches of a pretty satin ribbon.  Tie the ribbon around your doll’s waist, looping it into a bow at the back.  Now cut some strips of tulle into pieces that are 9 inches long and about 2 inches wide.  Tie the strips of tulle onto the ribbon by tucking one end under the ribbon and pulling it until the two ends are even.  Now tie a simple knot around the ribbon.  Continue tying the tulle onto the ribbon until your tutu is as fluffy as you would like it to be.  You’ll need approximately ¾ yard of tulle for this project.
3. Put together an elegant outfit out of scarves.  Using a long narrow scarf, wrap the scarf around the doll’s torso and between the legs and tie the ends at the waist.  Now take another scarf that is more rectangular in shape and poke half of it through a thick rubber band that will fit around the doll’s waist.  Slide the rubber band over the doll’s waist and adjust the skirt all the way around the rubber band so that the back is overlapping.  Your ensemble is complete.
4. A no-sew jacket for your doll is a snap to make.  Lay your doll face up on some felt.  Take a piece of chalk and draw an oval around the doll going all the way out to her wrists and almost to the top of her head.  The size of the oval will depend on the size of the doll for which you are making it.  Now, cut out the oval.  With the doll’s arms down by her sides take your chalk and mark where her shoulders are.  Cut a circle around that mark big enough for her arms to fit through.  Next, put the doll’s arms through the holes and fold the top of the oval down in back to make a collar.  Bring the jacket around your doll and mark where you would like the fastener to be.  Using a small hook and loop clasp and attach both sides to the jacket to create the closure.  At this point you can glue a non-functional button over the spot where the Velcro is so that it gives the illusion that the jacket is buttoned.  Use gems, ribbon or other things to decorate your jacket and you are finished.
5. Old T-shirts are a great source for dress material.  For a Barbie doll, cut a circle out of the T-shirt approximately 13 inches in diameter.  Fold the circle in half and then in half again.  Next cut enough of the point off so that the hole will fit over your doll’s head.  Open the fabric so that you are looking at a half circle.  Now lay your doll on top of the half circle where her neck is at the opening that you cut earlier and make small cuts at the shoulder.  These slits will be pretty close to the head hole.  Cut small holes around where the slits are, just big enough for the doll’s arms to fit through.  Raise your doll’s arms straight up and put the dress on over her head and arms.  Cut a narrow strip of T-shirt fabric about 10 inches long and ½ inch wide.  Pull on the strip until it forms a cord.  Now use that cord as a belt and tie it at your doll’s waist.  Your simple no-sew dress is done and you’ve recycled an old T-shirt too.

A nanny’s work ethic tells a lot about how she views her career, her job, her responsibilities, herself and others. It should not be surprising that nannies with strong work ethics tend to succeed in their careers. Nannies with strong work ethics take pride in doing their job well, value what they do, have a sense of purpose, and always desire to do the right thing in any given situation. Nannies who have strong work ethics are also very valuable to the families who employ them.

As you consider your work ethic, ask yourself these five questions:

How’s your attitude?

Do you have a positive attitude? Each day, are you ready to give your best and do your best? Do you view your job as important? Do you consider yourself to be a team player? Do you feel like your contributions allow your employers to experience success? Does what you do matter? Do you matter?

Nannies with a strong work ethic have a positive, can do attitude. They believe their work is valuable and important, and they feel good when they contribute to the success of the children in their care and to the parents for whom they work.

How’s your behavior?

Do you go out of your way to help your employers? Do you go above and beyond the call of duty? Do you show up ten minutes early for work or do you walk in the door as your shift is supposed to start? Do you fold all the children’s clothing, or just the top few pieces the parents will see when they open a drawer?

Nannies with a strong work ethic do things right. They see every opportunity as an opportunity to do their job well. When given the choice of doing things well enough to get by or doing them with excellence, nannies with a strong work ethic always choose to do things with excellence.

How’s your character?

Do you talk about your employer’s behind their backs? Do you divulge personal information that you really shouldn’t? Do you keep accurate records for petty cash? Do you run personal errands while on the clock without permission? Do you text and make personal calls throughout the day?

Nannies with a strong work ethic consider honesty, integrity, and accountability of the utmost importance. They are always cautious with handling sensitive information, their employer’s time and their resources. Nannies with a strong work ethic have strong character. Character that their employers want emulated in their children.

How’s your humility?

Do you consider some of the tasks you are asked to do beneath you? Do you place the needs of the children in your care above your own? Do you think some of the things you have to do are demeaning? Is your ego in check? Do you share the successes of the children with the parents, or do you claim them for your own? Do you say “We potty trained him” or do you say “I potty trained him?”

Nannies with a strong work ethic put the needs of the children in their care before their own. They do whatever it takes meet the children’s needs, from changing diapers to cleaning up after a sick child, and always in a respectful way. Nannies with a strong work ethic take pride in themselves and in their work, but are not arrogant or boastful about their accomplishments. They are willing to share the success with all of the people who contributed to it and allow the parents to shine, perhaps even when they should shine brighter.

How’s your treatment of others?

Do you follow the golden rule? Do you treat the children with care and compassion? Do you treat your employers with respect? Do you treat other household help with respect? Do you care for the children the same way when the parents are watching and when they are not?

Nannies with a strong work ethic strive to treat others how they would like to be treated. They consider the thoughts and feelings of others and desire to create healthy relationships based on mutual concern and respect. They always treat people the same way, regardless of who is watching.

As you ponder these questions, use your responses to evaluate your work ethic. If there are areas where your work ethic could be improved, make a commitment and conscious effort to strengthen it. If you have a great work ethic already, enjoy the benefits that come along with having one and look for ways you can continue to strengthen it.

Nannies with strong work ethics are invaluable to the families for whom they work. They are always in high demand and once a family secures a nanny with a strong work ethic, they don’t want to let her go. As you consider how you approach your nanny job, consider your work ethic. Strengthen it in areas you need to do. When you do, you’ll be on your way to being the best nanny you can be.