Employing a Nanny: Everything You Need to Know

Employing a Nanny: Everything You Need to Know

When employing a nanny for the first time, it's important to be prepared. Whether you need a caregiver for a few hours each week or full-time, there are some steps you can take to ensure you get the best person possible for your family.

This guide is intended to give you the basics of what you need to do as an employer and what you should expect when hiring a nanny. It also provides guidelines on what questions to ask in interviews, common nanny salary ranges, potential red flags, as well as places that can help you find a qualified nanny. Read on for more!

The Basics of Hiring Nannies

Before you employ a nanny, you have to determine your needs for nanny care. Do you need a full-time or part-time nanny? Do you need someone who speaks another language? Are there any special needs that your child has? Will your nanny be live-in or live-out?

Beyond that, consider the qualities you want in the person who will care for your child.

• Do you want someone with experience or will you train them?
• Are there certain certifications needed?
• What parenting style do you want your nanny to emulate?
• Do you have any deal breakers, such as smoking or a driving record?

Compile a list of attributes that will complement your family and suit your needs. This list will help you narrow your pool of candidates who fit your requirements.

Did you know the Happiest Nanny App will help you to create your job listing with the requirements and details in just a couple of clicks? Download now and get your details listed with ease! 

Determine Your Budget

If you are looking to hire a nanny, you should be prepared to pay what the market value is in your area. Nannies have many skills and dedicate their lives to the care of children. For this reason, it’s important that nannies are compensated fairly for their services.

Your budget for nanny care will likely depend on your income and how many children you have. It will also depend on where you live and what the going rate for nannies is in your area.

To find out how much other local families pay their nannies, we suggest doing some research online or asking friends who employ a nanny. You can also use the Happiest Nanny app to create a family profile and get an idea of the typical rates in your area.

It's a good idea to discuss compensation with prospective nannies early in the hiring process. Keep in mind, a well-paid nanny is less likely to leave for another family and will feel valued — so consider leaving some wiggle room in your budget in case you meet an extraordinary nanny and want to make an exception.

Start Your Nanny Search

With the Happiest Nanny app, it's easy to set up a family profile with all your details and establish your search parameters. Our technology then matches you with potential nannies who may suit your needs and budget.

Once you have a list of candidates, you can move into the interviewing process. Here are some suggestions of what to ask:

• What is your experience? Ask about their work history, education, and how long they've been working as a nanny.
• Are you CPR-certified? If something happens and your child needs immediate medical attention, your nanny should know how to act quickly in this situation.
• Do you have references? They should be able to provide you with at least two or three people who can vouch for them as being a good worker. Talk with these people about their experiences with the person in question as well as any specific instances that stand out in their memory.
• What are your salary requirements? This is pretty self-explanatory but one of the more important questions to ask when hiring a nanny.
• What days and hours are you available? Are you willing to work overtime if needed? If you have a demanding job, it's critical to find someone with the flexibility to stay after hours if needed.
• Are you willing to travel with our family? This one is up to you, but some families prefer to find someone who can join them on vacations.

Underneath your list of desired nanny attributes, write down every question you can think of prior to interviewing nannies. Once you have your top two or three candidates, consider conducting an in-person interview at your home to see how they interact with your children.

Make Your Offer

Congratulations! You’ve interviewed and narrowed down your top candidates, and you’re ready to employ a nanny. Now, it’s time to make an offer to the nanny you would like to hire.

Make sure you're clear about the expected hours, the salary, and the nanny's responsibilities. For example, if you require transportation to and from school for your children, meal preparation, and light household duties, spell out all of these details in your offer.

When employing a nanny, being clear upfront about your nanny's job requirements will set everyone up for success. The last thing you need is miscommunication when it comes to nanny care.

Take Care of the Paperwork

With the Happiest Nanny app, all of the paperwork, background checks, taxes, and payroll processing are handled for you. This makes it easy to get your new nanny onboarded and ensures you don't miss any important details when hiring a nanny.

You may also wish to consult with your insurance broker and tax specialist to make sure you have all your bases covered for insurance and tax issues. Lastly, as a courtesy, you can let other candidates know that the position has been filled but you'd like to keep their information on file.

Leverage Tech to Simplify Your Process

If you’re hiring a nanny for the first time, it can be overwhelming to think about all of the preparations you need to make, from setting guidelines to ironing out the details of pay and benefits. No matter what nanny services you choose — full-time, part-time, or hourly — there are multiple considerations to take into account before employing a nanny. If you follow the guidelines above, you'll have an easier time finding the ideal nanny for your family. With our technology and your keen eye for nannies who best fit into your family, you should be able to find the perfect match!