How to Find a Nanny

Mary Poppins made it look easy, but in reality, finding the right caregiver for you and your family can be an arduous task. To help out with this important undertaking, we spoke with Martha Scully, president and founder of Canadiannanny.ca and Canadiansitter.ca, and put together a list of indispensable nanny sourcing tips.

1. Take Your Time
First and foremost, says Martha Scully, when searching for a caregiver, give yourself plenty of time. “Sometimes families will call us and say ‘We need care for next week’, but we think you should give yourself four weeks to find live-out care, and even longer for live-in care.”

2. Spread the Word
Web sites and agencies are useful, but you should also check with friends, family members and coworkers when beginning your quest for a nanny. Liz Davis, a Toronto mother of two, shares a nanny with a friend in her neighbourhood. “A good friend of mine from a mommy-baby workout class mentioned she was going on maternity leave and needed to reduce her nanny’s hours. I now employ her nanny two days a week, and it’s working out very well. Once my friend’s maternity leave is over, I’ll have to start looking for someone else, and will probably rely on word-of-mouth again. I’ll ask around at the classes I go to, and tell friends what I’m looking for.”

3. Find a Good Agency
If you choose to go with a nanny or sitter placement agency, use the internet or the yellow pages to find a reputable firm using the following criteria:

• Evaluate how long the agency has been in business. Many of the best agencies in Canada have been established for at least five years.

• Seek out agencies with good reputations. The Canadian government does not regulate the activity of caregiver agencies (in the United States, these agencies are governed by trade agencies) so it’s important to shop around and ask friends, family members and coworkers about their experience with various agencies. You may also want to ask the agency to provide references from previous clients. If they cannot do this, best to keep shopping!

• Be sure the agency employs a Certified Immigration Consultant and is familiar with the employment and tax laws in your province.

4. Use the Web Wisely
The internet is a cornucopia of nanny finding resources. Sites like Canadiannanny.ca and Canadiansitter.ca operate almost like dating agencies, says Scully. “Parents can complete profiles and match themselves to the right caregiver.” The benefit of using this kind of service is that there’s no ‘finder’s’ fee, which can run up to a whopping $2000 with some agencies. Instead, families pay $75 dollars for online access to that database, and also receive a comprehensive manual that details the many steps in finding and keeping a great nanny. The manual includes information on in-home caregiver options, wage guidelines, tax basics and more.

5. Check Backgrounds
If you’re working with an agency, they should carry out all background and reference checks, plus provide potential nanny/sitter profiles for you. However, if you’re hunting for a caregiver on your own, you’ll want to get this information yourself. Visit your local police station to find out how to perform a police record check on your potential caregiver. And always ask for at least three references, even if they don’t all pertain to child care. “The references should be relevant to the type of work the nanny will be doing,” says Scully. “So, for example, if she worked at a clothing store previously, checking that reference won’t really help you. But if she worked with special needs children or seniors, calling that reference will give you an idea of how well she cares for and interacts with people.”

6. Set the Stage
“Have a calm, face to face interview with the children present, and be sure you have plenty of time set aside to get to know the nanny,” says Scully. But don’t expect your potential employee to spring into action right away. If the interview goes well, Scully recommends setting up a trial day, which the nanny will be paid for. “She can come into your home, and you’ll be there and available if she has questions. You can get a sense at that point of what she’s like with your kids.” Once you’ve decided to hire, Scully also recommends easing the new nanny or sitter into your lives gradually. “Set up maybe two or three days of care during which you’re at home and readily available. Observe her during that time and be sure you still get that good feeling from her.”