Where should I start?
If you aren’t/can’t/don’t want to use an agency to find childcare, it’s a DIY situation.
We suggest you start with: what do you NEED? And what do you WANT?
A lot of people skip this step and just dive right into the profile search, then wonder why it feels overwhelming or why they meet so many duds. Well, thousands of options ARE overwhelming, and if you don’t know what you are looking for, the duds find you. Do yourself a favor and really think about it.
Put in the time.
Put in the time? What time? Are they kidding?
We’re not kidding. But we know time is precious, so we’ve made it as easy as possible for you. We’ve included a literal worksheet and a list of candidate qualities to consider, as well as questions to ask yourself to know what you really need versus what you want.
Think about the NEEDS — the non-negotiables, the things required for the job’s actual duties. For example, you need your nanny/sitter to take the kids to school, so you NEED a driver. However, you don’t have a spare car for them, so you NEED a driver with their own vehicle. Or you have a big dog, so you NEED someone who is cool with dogs.
Think of your WANTS — the things that would be great to have and that you might even be willing to pay more for, but they aren’t deal-breakers. For example, you need them to drive, but you have a spare car they can use in a pinch, so you WANT them to have their own car. You WANT someone willing to do baby laundry while the baby sleeps, and you WANT a great nanny-cook who can make meals for the family. You will use both lists and, ideally, get everything you both need and want, but it’s easier to narrow your candidate list when you know what’s negotiable and what isn’t.
Please be real with yourself.
Please embrace who you are and how your house operates. It is possible to find someone to work in your home with your ways, but you must be honest with yourself and your candidates for this to happen.
Check out the list below and consider these examples. If it resonates with you, put it in one of your lists. If it doesn’t feel relevant, cross it out and move on. Use this list, come up with your own qualities, or do a combo. This is not a finite list!
- Driver
- Has their own car
- CPR/First Aid Certified
- Long vs. short commute for your nanny (Weather, traffic accidents, affecting nanny’s punctuality — are you catching a train? Is this a factor?)
- Longevity of the placement/job (Available until XYZ date, or available indefinitely, or able to keep it flexible)
- Comfort level with current/future pets
- Physicality (Lots of stairs in your house? Soccer obsessed kiddo?)
- Maturity
- Multilingual
- Flexibility in schedule (Does your work run late, and do you need someone who can stay late at short notice?)
- Ability to care for a future baby
- Vaccinated
- Willing to get a flu shot
- Willing to cook for the kids
- Willing to cook for the family
- Willing to do child laundry
- Willing to do family laundry
- Willing to do household tasks (Grocery shopping, birthday present shopping, etc.)
- Clean and tidy, and to what degree (Particular about crumbs vs. toys away at the end of the day)
- Nanny Advice (Some parents love this, some do NOT.)
- Experience with __ (Sleep training, potty training, extra needs, sensory needs, allergies, etc.)
- Tutoring/Teaching experience
- Love of sports/activities
- Love of arts & crafts
- Can be firm and hold boundaries
- Can go with the flow
- Will/will not be willing to let baby CIO
- Will/will not be willing to do time-outs
- Will/will not do overnights
- Will/will not be on household salary
- Will/will not need to bring their own child (Open to a share, or only in emergencies)
- Same parenting/discipline approach
- Hobbies/Skills (Anything your kids love that you can’t do?)
- A leader (Will take initiative, get things done, and not wait for instructions, likes to just get it done, etc.)
- A follower (Will take direction well, will follow your instructions, and will not mind being managed and doing things just-so, etc.)
- Detail-oriented
- WFH – comfort level (Are you in a different part of the house, or in the kitchen/middle of the action?)
- Big, outgoing personality
- Even-keeled, laid-back personality
- Political affiliation
- Faith/Belief alignment
The takeaway: Deciding what you need vs. want when searching for a nanny or babysitter BEFORE you start, will clarify WHO you are looking for so you don’t end up wasting your time meeting a bunch of candidates that aren’t a fit.
