Key takeaways<\/h3>- Hiring a nanny is easier when families break the process into clear steps, starting with defining the type of care they need, outlining must-have qualifications and setting a realistic budget that includes taxes and benefits. Creating a detailed job description and understanding local nanny rates can help attract candidates who are the best fit for the family.<\/li>
- The interview and screening process should include reviewing applications carefully, conducting phone and in-person interviews, checking references and running a background check before making a final decision. Families may also benefit from arranging a paid trial period to observe how a nanny naturally interacts with their children and household.<\/li>
- Once a nanny is hired, families take on the responsibilities of being a household employer, including setting up payroll, taxes, insurance and a detailed nanny contract. A strong contract should clearly outline expectations, compensation, hours, responsibilities and benefits to help create a positive, professional working relationship for both sides.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
1. Decide what type of nanny you need<\/h2>
Do you need a live-out nanny or a live-in nanny? Is a night nanny, a part-time nanny or after-school nanny the right choice for you? Before you get into the hiring process, decide what type of nanny<\/a> will best suit your family.<\/p>Write a freewheeling list of all the criteria you want your nanny to meet: a sense of fun, early childhood education credits, a perfect driving record, first-aid training, etc. Make a list of deal breakers: smokers, speeding tickets, etc. This will help you craft a precise job description that will attract nannies with the qualities you want most.<\/p>
2. Calculate your budget<\/h2>
What can you afford to pay your new nanny? Don’t forget to factor in things like expenses for activities, annual raises and bonuses. And make sure you include taxes as well. <\/p>
We recommend a three-step process: <\/p>
- First, familiarize yourself with all the factors that affect a nanny’s rate<\/a>. <\/li>
- Second, use our Cost of Care Calculator<\/a> to learn what the going rate is for nannies in your area.<\/li>
- Then use our nanny tax calculator<\/a> to see how much to set aside for taxes.<\/li><\/ol>
3. Post a nanny job <\/h2>
When you’re ready with your super-detailed and upbeat nanny job description<\/a>, post it on a job site, like Care.com.<\/p>4. Interview nanny candidates<\/h2>
When applicants begin to answer your ad, consider each one with an eye toward professionalism and experience. Do their qualifications match your needs? How well do they convey why they want this job? Start to screen your candidates and narrow your choices. For definite mismatches, send an immediate “no, thank you” note as a courtesy.<\/p>
Pick the best five to ten candidates and arrange a phone interview<\/a> or meeting at a neutral location, like a coffee shop. Ask them questions and see what kind of rapport you have with each candidate.<\/p>When you have cut the list down to your top three candidates, invite them to your home for an in-person interview<\/a>. Discuss how your household runs and ask detailed questions about their background and child care philosophies. You may even want to pay them to do a nanny trial<\/a> one morning or afternoon. That way you can see how they interact with your kids. Try not to watch like a hawk (tough as that may be), so you get a real sense of how they will naturally interact.<\/p>5. Check nanny references<\/h2>
Don’t forget to check references. Did other families have good experiences with this nanny? Are there any red flags to watch out for? You also want to make sure you’re not talking to a candidate’s relative or friend — who may be giving you the wrong impression. Take a look at these questions to ask references<\/a> before making your calls.<\/p>6. Make the offer<\/h2>
You often just know when you have the right candidate. Trust your instincts if you really connect with one nanny over another. Just make sure you let the other applicants know the position has been filled. You can certainly propose a longer trial period of a week or two in case the situation just doesn’t pan out. Just work that into your nanny contract (more on that in a minute).<\/p>
7. Get a background check<\/h2>
Have you found a nanny you really like and you know they would be a perfect fit? Great! But don’t forget to obtain a background check<\/a> to make sure everything is OK.<\/p>Using Care.com to find your nanny? To help maintain a safe community, every individual caregiver on our platform starts with a required background check. While our Care.com Background Check is a good place to start, it does not replace the safety precautions that families should take on their own. Our membership eligibility standards for caregivers may differ from your hiring standards, and we don’t share Care.com Background Check reports for privacy reasons. We strongly recommend following our <\/a>3 safety steps for hiring in-home care<\/a>, which includes running your own background check.<\/p>
- Hiring a nanny is easier when families break the process into clear steps, starting with defining the type of care they need, outlining must-have qualifications and setting a realistic budget that includes taxes and benefits. Creating a detailed job description and understanding local nanny rates can help attract candidates who are the best fit for the family.<\/li>
- The interview and screening process should include reviewing applications carefully, conducting phone and in-person interviews, checking references and running a background check before making a final decision. Families may also benefit from arranging a paid trial period to observe how a nanny naturally interacts with their children and household.<\/li>
- Once a nanny is hired, families take on the responsibilities of being a household employer, including setting up payroll, taxes, insurance and a detailed nanny contract. A strong contract should clearly outline expectations, compensation, hours, responsibilities and benefits to help create a positive, professional working relationship for both sides.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
1. Decide what type of nanny you need<\/h2>
Do you need a live-out nanny or a live-in nanny? Is a night nanny, a part-time nanny or after-school nanny the right choice for you? Before you get into the hiring process, decide what type of nanny<\/a> will best suit your family.<\/p>
Write a freewheeling list of all the criteria you want your nanny to meet: a sense of fun, early childhood education credits, a perfect driving record, first-aid training, etc. Make a list of deal breakers: smokers, speeding tickets, etc. This will help you craft a precise job description that will attract nannies with the qualities you want most.<\/p>
2. Calculate your budget<\/h2>
What can you afford to pay your new nanny? Don’t forget to factor in things like expenses for activities, annual raises and bonuses. And make sure you include taxes as well. <\/p>
We recommend a three-step process: <\/p>
- First, familiarize yourself with all the factors that affect a nanny’s rate<\/a>. <\/li>
- Second, use our Cost of Care Calculator<\/a> to learn what the going rate is for nannies in your area.<\/li>
- Then use our nanny tax calculator<\/a> to see how much to set aside for taxes.<\/li><\/ol>
3. Post a nanny job <\/h2>
When you’re ready with your super-detailed and upbeat nanny job description<\/a>, post it on a job site, like Care.com.<\/p>
4. Interview nanny candidates<\/h2>
When applicants begin to answer your ad, consider each one with an eye toward professionalism and experience. Do their qualifications match your needs? How well do they convey why they want this job? Start to screen your candidates and narrow your choices. For definite mismatches, send an immediate “no, thank you” note as a courtesy.<\/p>
Pick the best five to ten candidates and arrange a phone interview<\/a> or meeting at a neutral location, like a coffee shop. Ask them questions and see what kind of rapport you have with each candidate.<\/p>
When you have cut the list down to your top three candidates, invite them to your home for an in-person interview<\/a>. Discuss how your household runs and ask detailed questions about their background and child care philosophies. You may even want to pay them to do a nanny trial<\/a> one morning or afternoon. That way you can see how they interact with your kids. Try not to watch like a hawk (tough as that may be), so you get a real sense of how they will naturally interact.<\/p>
5. Check nanny references<\/h2>
Don’t forget to check references. Did other families have good experiences with this nanny? Are there any red flags to watch out for? You also want to make sure you’re not talking to a candidate’s relative or friend — who may be giving you the wrong impression. Take a look at these questions to ask references<\/a> before making your calls.<\/p>
6. Make the offer<\/h2>
You often just know when you have the right candidate. Trust your instincts if you really connect with one nanny over another. Just make sure you let the other applicants know the position has been filled. You can certainly propose a longer trial period of a week or two in case the situation just doesn’t pan out. Just work that into your nanny contract (more on that in a minute).<\/p>
7. Get a background check<\/h2>
Have you found a nanny you really like and you know they would be a perfect fit? Great! But don’t forget to obtain a background check<\/a> to make sure everything is OK.<\/p>
Using Care.com to find your nanny? To help maintain a safe community, every individual caregiver on our platform starts with a required background check. While our Care.com Background Check is a good place to start, it does not replace the safety precautions that families should take on their own. Our membership eligibility standards for caregivers may differ from your hiring standards, and we don’t share Care.com Background Check reports for privacy reasons. We strongly recommend following our <\/a>3 safety steps for hiring in-home care<\/a>, which includes running your own background check.<\/p>
- Second, use our Cost of Care Calculator<\/a> to learn what the going rate is for nannies in your area.<\/li>
- First, familiarize yourself with all the factors that affect a nanny’s rate<\/a>. <\/li>
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