In today’s world, finding a nanny for your child can be quite a challenge. In fact the task often feels near impossible for some parents. Where have all the good nannies gone? Answer: They’re probably already taken! But don’t let that deter you as there are still some good Nannies out there and there are a number of things you can do to snag one, before someone else does.

#1 – Let Everyone Know You Are Looking


This may seem obvious but you wouldn’t believe the number of parents that fail to do this. Let everyone know, especially other parents, that you are looking for a good nanny. The more people you talk to, the more people will be on the lookout for you and the greater chance they might refer you to one.

#2 – Use the Community Centers and Libraries


If you have a community center or library nearby, take a trip there and see whether they have any local bulletin boards where you can view “Nanny Available” ads or even place your own “Nanny Wanted” ads completely free. The best part of doing this is that the nannies listed or responding to your ads will more than likely be local to you where you live.

#3 – Go to the Park


Why the park? Because that’s where all the nannies are! Taking your child to the park is a great way to meet nannies and since nannies typically have a large circle of friends who are also nannies you’ll find that once you start talking to some of them, they will very often know of a nanny friend who’s looking for a position. Visiting the park during weekdays is best for this as that is when nannies are most likely to be there.

#4 – Go to the Web


The internet has a number of resources you can use to find a Nanny. When considering the internet, most people might automatically think of classified ad sites such as Craigslist. Though these can be effective, even better resources are Nanny Search sites. Nanny Search sites are websites where available nannies post their profile for parents to view. The profile may include details regarding their age, where they live, their child care experience, and even their salary expectations. If a parent is interested in a nanny, they simply contact them via e-mail or phone. Though the majority of these nanny sites are free only to nannies, there are a select few that are free to everyone; both nannies and parents.

#5 – Use an Agency


Lastly, if you can afford it, an effective way to find a nanny is to use an agency. There are numerous agencies out there to choose from. When searching for an agency, pay close attention to their number of years in business and ask for references from other parents who have used them in the past.

Whichever method you use to find a nanny, once you find one it’s very important to ensure you interview them, perform background checks, and most importantly use your intuition; if something doesn’t feel right, it usually means something isn’t right. Finding a good nanny can be a real challenge but utilizing these five tips will make it an achievable one.

By: Charlotte Ball

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