Finding a Nanny For Your Family

by Andrea Taylor / BC Parent Magazine

Childcare is one of the most important decisions working parents have to make. If you have decided to hire a nanny, you may not be aware of your options for an in home caregiver. What are you looking for? You may want to sit down and make a list of all your requirements. Depending upon your children’s age, you may want to involve them in this part of the process.

Your options for finding a nanny are agencies, advertising in the newspaper or through a recommendation. Nanny agencies are numerous. Some will provide you with referrals and others will act as a screening service. Most will provide assistance with contractual agreements. They will let you know what your rights are and the rights of your employee. They will have done reference checks and conducted interviews; only sending those applicants they feel will be suitable to your family. The final decision does of course lie with you and you may go back to the agency if you are unhappy with the after a probationary period. Any professional service would provide you with all the information you require to make an informed decision.

The interview stage should involve you, your partner and your children. The first part of the interview is spent getting to know each applicant asking about their interests and experience. After an informal time you may want to ask what they would be doing with the children giving them scenarios to see how they would handle certain situations.

Parents may make an agreement that without them both being one hundred percent certain, they would not hire a person. If you have the time take it, because your nanny is the most important employee you would ever hire. Having a nanny, the right one for your children, can be a rewarding relationship for both your children and the nanny. This unique relationship is a partnership with you and your partner in raising your children.
Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

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