How to Hire a Nanny

Hiring a nanny can be a daunting task, especially when you are about to return to work and you're in a rush to find someone. Thats why its a good idea to start early and really think about what you'll need with time.

Expectations:

Make a list of your expectations. As you go throughout your day caring for your baby while you are on leave, make a note of the things that you do or would need help with if you had a helping hand. This list of expectations is the most important part about hiring a nanny; make sure you put a clear list of expectations in the ad or job posting, so that all applying parties know exactly what they're in for. Some moms only want someone to watch over their kids, while others would prefer a nanny that does a bit of housework or runs errands. Some of the things you may consider in terms of extra help are nannies that:

Wash dishes
Pick children up from school
Run errands (post office, pharmacy...)
Give baby or kids a bath
Tidy up

Make sure you know whether or not you need a nanny five days a week, a live-in nanny, a part-time nanny that only comes between the hours of 3:00 and 7:00. The hours worked should be noted specifically.

Ad:

When it's time to post your ad, make sure you have a list of your expectation in the job description. This will allow everyone who decides to apply for your job posting to know exactly what they will be in for. Add or job description should include the following:

A short introduction about you and your family
How many of the children the nanny will be caring for
Hours
Exact needs
Wages (or state "to be determined")

Interview:

When you interview and then he be sure to be courteous, respectful and professional. It's always a good idea to allow the nanny to meet the children during the interview process, this will give you a short list of how the children feel about her and how she may feel about them.

Give the nanny a tour of the home. If your expectations include a bit of tidying up or housework, this will give her a good idea of the size of the rooms she will have to care for. If you are looking for a live-in nanny, be sure to give her a tour of her quarters. Based off of what you talk about during the interview, the nanny's concerns, and all of the chores she will be responsible for, the two parties should be able to come to a mutual agreement on wages.

Make sure that you understand that although you may have a live-in nanny, who may not be responsible for paying rent, you will still have to pay her some wages. Live-in nannies, legally, cannot be on-call 24 hours a day. When you hire a nanny, she should have prescheduled eight hour shift as if it were any other job and predetermined days off. Many live-in nannies require their own bathroom and privacy areas.

Military Families:

Note that military members who have an active account with USAA, get 30% off of care.com memberships.

Related Stories: Live-In Nannies: Everything you Need to Know