Choosing a Nanny
Once an alternative only for the wealthy-- today a nanny is an affordable choice for many families. Childcare costs in a traditional daycare are on the rise, and having a nanny or sitter in your home can be an especially affordable alternative for those families that have several children, especially of a variety of ages. Hiring a nanny can also add a welcome sense of flexibility for work-at-home moms and dads who may need childcare for just a few hours or do not want to interrupt either their workflow or their child's schedule.
Many families may think of in-home child care that is within their price range as the negatively stereotyped "baby-sitter." However, there are options beyond hiring a teenager who is more interested in the quality of your cable than the quality of the care that she can provide for your children. Nor are you forced to settle for a nanny who is looking for an easy job.
One option that has been popular for quite some time is signing up with a nanny placement service that will connect your family with a person from another country who is seeking to enter the United States or Canada. Your hiring them as a nanny will allow them to gain a work visa. These agencies, such as Great Au Pair specialize in connecting families across the world with nannies, however they also charge families for the assistance with visas, trans-contintental interviews and language issues they provide.
However, the experience of having a nanny who can teach your children another language and culture can be invaluable. Another attractive feature of this style of childcare is that, depending upon the hours needed and the space in your home, it is possible to barter childcare for room and board.
Another increasingly popular source for nannies is Craigslist.com, which allows visitors to find a nanny for free, but offer less control than an agency. Nannies can post their name and information, but because of the lack of control, many families and potential in-home care providers are less willing to share information concerning their personal information, which makes it more difficult to evaluate a candidate's qualifications.
Once a pool of applicants has been selected, it is necessary to think about the interview and selection process. For those utilizing a service that places foreign nannies in North America, this is typically limited to email or phone, and typically done withing the parameters set up by the placement agency.
If a family is looking for a nanny using a local agency or independently seeking a nanny their options are greater.
There are several questions to consider arranging interviews:
- For an initial interview should I meet potential nannies in our home or in a public location?
- Should my children be present at all interviews or only at secondary interviews?
- Will I run a criminal background check on the person I hire?
- How much can we reasonably afford to pay?
- What hours will we be needing-- full -time vs. part time?
- What happens if my nanny is injured on the job?
- Does the nanny have a clean driving record and a reliable car?
- Will I pay the nanny using a payroll service that deducts taxes automatically or on my own?
- (If you are a work-at-home parent) will I be comfortable spending time with this person?
- (If you are hiring a full-time nanny) will I offer some sort of benefits or health insurance?
The work may be greater hiring a nanny many times than simply selecting a childcare center, but for many families the benefits far outweigh the work. Hiring a nanny offers flexibility, a surprising affordability and disturbs your children's natural schedule at home the less than many other childcare options.
Carrie Henderson Weston - Carrie Henderson Weston is a writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan who has found herself living in the big city of Minneapolis, MN. Formerly she ...
