While it’s generally recommended that parents allow two to six weeks to find the right nanny for their family, for some families that time frame is far from optimal.
Parents who are faced with short notice to find a nanny must ask quickly to secure a qualified candidate who can meet their family’s specific childcare needs. In these cases, parents should utilize as many recruitment methods as possible to secure a pool of candidates to interview and screen.
Parents who are in need of a full-time nanny and who have the financial resources may find that registering with a local placement agency is the quickest way to find a feasible candidate. While you pay hefty registration and placement fees, you’re also presented with prescreened candidates who are qualified to meet the care needs of your family. With a reputable agency you aren’t forced to sort through applications from hundreds of nannies and weed out those who aren’t viable. With an agency, all of the candidates presented should be suitable and prescreened, so the only task you’re left with is determining if a particular nanny is the right fit for your family.
For parents who don’t wish to pay a finder’s fee, sharing their need for a nanny can generate tons of leads. Sending an email message to contacts, mentioning the need for a nanny to family and friends, and updating social media accounts with a request for nanny recommendations will likely generate many leads.
Parents who work outside the home may be surprised to learn that some employers provide assistance with locating childcare. Many corporations hold contracts with nanny agencies and online recruiting sites to help employees locate childcare at a discounted rate.
Not surprisingly, nannies tend to know other nannies looking for work. Asking nannies at the park if they have any nanny recommendations, emailing members of a local nanny group, and posting help wanted ads on nanny message boards may provide you with viable nanny leads.
For parents who are looking for emergency, backup or last minute care, having a list of prescreened, qualified candidates can make securing coverage much easier. If parents have a pool of five prescreened candidates, one is likely able to provide coverage.
How to Find a Nanny Quickly
When childcare falls through, parents can find themselves scrambling for a nanny at the last minute. Whether a nanny has left her position or school is closed and parents need back-up care, here are some tips for finding a new nanny quickly.
- Call an agency. While you’ll have to pay fees to the agency, you’ll also have several prescreened candidates presented for your consideration fairly quickly. Some even offer backup or last minute childcare and have nannies on call ready to go.
- Use social media. A well-timed tweet may yield you a nest full of caregiver leads.
- Visit a classified website. Check the “employment wanted” sections for nannies who are looking for work. Some sites, like nannyclassifieds.com, are dedicated to posting only nanny related ads.
- Pass out flyers at the local college. Local college students studying early childhood education would much rather work as a nanny than in the campus cafeteria. Your local campus career services department may be able to connect you with a student seeking childcare work.
- Send out an email blast. Let those in your network know that you are looking for a nanny. You may be surprised with the leads you get.
- Go to the places nannies frequent. Chat with the nannies at the park, in the school drop off line and at the ice cream shop. Nannies tend to know when other nannies are looking for work.
- Ask your friends, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations. Perhaps your co-workers’ children have outgrown their nanny, but they have been procrastinating on letting her go. Knowing a position is waiting for her may be the push they need.
- Consider preschool teachers and babysitters your children adore. If you’ve noticed someone is particularly great with your children, ask if they have any interest in being a nanny.
- Register with an online nanny site. Online nanny recruiting sites typically allow parents to browse nanny profiles for free with a trial membership. Only upgrade your membership should you wish to contact candidates.
- Contact a nanny group. Many nanny groups maintain websites and Facebook pages. Send an email and share your needs. You may get a prompt return with information on a nanny seeking work.
To find a new nanny quickly, you may need to think outside the box. Consider all of your options, make a plan, and get to work. With some creativity and dedication, you’ll be able to gather many leads on nannies. Regardless of how you learn about nannies, it’s important to properly vet them so that you can rest assured you’re making an informed hiring decision.
