For many parents, hiring a nanny is the perfect childcare solution. Nannies are handpicked by the parents and provide the highest level of customized and personalized childcare for the family’s children. For parents who wish to have flexible childcare, the ability to set the nanny’s schedule makes nanny care an attractive option. For parents looking for convenience, hiring a caregiver that comes to their home can feel like a dream come true.
While nannies can be live-in or live-out, most nannies hired locally tend to commute to and from work each day. For parents looking to hire a nanny who can transport the children in her own vehicle, hiring a local nanny can be a good solution. Not only do local nannies tend to have their own mode of transportation, they are also typically very familiar with the area and are comfortable navigating it. If parents wish to have the nanny use her vehicle to transport the children, they should be sure the nanny has a reliable vehicle and an automobile policy that includes transporting children for work. Parents should also be prepared to reimburse the nanny for mileage and wear and tear according to the IRS mileage reimbursement rate.
In many communities, there are established nanny groups, organizations and placement agencies that serve as an excellent resource for connecting with local nannies. While nanny placement agencies typically charge a registration fee to gain access to their pool of candidates and a placement fee should the family hire a nanny from their pool, nanny groups often share job listings from parents with their nanny members for free, making it a prime way to connect with career and professional nannies.
Word-of-mouth, nanny classifieds, newspapers, bulletin boards, social media networks and other moms in your community are also good resources for gathering leads on nannies seeking employment. Even if they don’t know a nanny currently seeking a position, they surely know where to find qualified household help.
When hiring a local nanny, you’ll want to be sure you know the current going rate for nannies in your area. A nanny’s salary will depend on her education, experience and location. Nannies in major metropolitan areas tend to earn significantly more than those who live in lesser populated areas. Browsing nanny profiles on online sites, checking nanny wanted ads from other parents, and calling local nanny placement agencies can help you gain insight into the average hourly wages for nannies in your area.
10 Ways to Find a Nanny in My Area
When looking for childcare, one thing to consider is that a nanny provides the most personalized and customized childcare. Parents hire nannies to provide high quality childcare in the family’s private home, giving them a flexible and convenient childcare option. While there are many ways to find a local nanny, parents should always conduct interviews, check references and do a background screening so that they can learn as much as possible about the candidate they are considering hiring.
- Contact a nanny placement agency. Agencies specialize in matching the skills of nannies with the care needs of families. A reputable agency presents prescreened nannies to parents seeking nannies based on their specific care needs.
- Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. While a neighbor may not be willing to share her nanny, she or her nanny may know a qualified candidate who is seeking a nanny position.
- Connect with other moms. Local moms are almost always in the know when it comes to where to find a nanny. From nanny leads to placement agency recommendations, local moms can usually tell you the best places to find a nanny.
- Place a classified advertisement. Online and print classifieds offer a place for parents to list advertisements for nannies. Some classified sites, like nannyclassifieds.com, are dedicated solely to advertising care related jobs.
- Register with online nanny websites. Nanny websites provide a modern, do it yourself option for parents seeking a nanny. Parents can browse the profiles of nannies online and even create a family profile for nannies to peruse.
- Visit a local college or university. College students studying early childhood education may be excited to gain experience as a nanny, especially if they can find a nanny job that works around their school schedule.
- Utilize social networking tools. Something as simple as updating your Facebook status can yield many reputable nanny leads. Use your social network and let everyone know you’re seeking a nanny.
- Spread the word. When seeking a nanny, let everyone know. Word-of-mouth is a great way to learn about qualified nannies who come with a personal recommendation.
- Reach out to daycare teachers. Since nannies typically earn more than daycare teachers, many would be excited to transfer their skills into a private care giving setting, especially if they can increase their salary in doing so.
- Search online nanny profiles. Many nannies seeking employment put their profiles on nanny related websites. Parents can browse profiles at their leisure to find a nanny who meets their needs.
For parents who opt to hire a local nanny, they have the advantage of connecting with nannies who desire a live-out position and wish to commute to and from work each day. Since local nannies are familiar with the area and typically have their own vehicle, parents who feel comfortable doing so can allow their nanny to transport their children to and from activities each day.
