What to Look For in a Reputable Nanny Agency

Finding the perfect nanny for your family is maybe one of your most important choices in parenting. Your nanny does not need to fly in with her umbrella and carpet bag in hand but she does need to be a perfect fit for you and your children. Interviewing a steady stream of nannies can be not only time consuming and frustrating, but there are resumes to check, background checks and the list goes on. This is why your first concern needs to be a Nanny Agency and to find the best one you will need to know what to look for in a reputable Nanny Agency.

Most nannies today are not only excellent at caring for your children, but are well versed in the numerous other duties that come with taking care of the home. They can make sure your children get to their doctor appointments, get them to school on time, get them to activities, plus performing duties like light housekeeping, laundry, ironing, shopping, errands and preparing meals for your busy family. This means less stress and more flexibility for you and more quality time for you to spend with your family. Your nanny becomes a part of your family and cares for your children and you like they are family members. To find this very special person, you need to start with a very reputable Nanny Agency.

To choose a reputable Nanny Agency you should ask about their recruitment policies for their nannies. The better quality agencies have clients who are loyal to them. You will want to know what their screening process is for the nannies they represent. The real value of using an agency is when you do get to the interview; the applicant has already been thoroughly screened and trained.

The Nanny Agency should have a replacement policy should there be any problems with your selection and they should have a real person to reach to insure you will have the help you need. Ask how the interviews of their nannies were conducted and how well they know their nannies. If they have not met their nannies in person they are required by the International Nanny Association to disclose this to you.

The Nanny Agency should be a member of a professional association like the International Nanny Association, Chamber of Commerce, National Alliance of Professional Nanny Agencies or the Better Business Bureau. Nanny agencies tend to come and go so the length of time they have been in business might be a 'warning' signal.

It is also good to know if they require their nannies to have previous professional childcare experience. Some agencies do not require this. Find out how they go about checking any references their nannies provide them and how many references they do require. The agency has to disclose their employment references by law.

Any reputable agency will provide a contract that will spell out the time periods involved in any replacement or any refunds that they promise. It is also important that the agency listens carefully to your specific needs and that the interview you have with them is as in-depth as possible.

The best agencies will offer CPR training programs to their nannies and special training for those nannies that specialize in infant care. Some also have mandatory training for housekeeping. Nannies that are not properly pre-screened and trained may not last very long. Knowing what to look for in a reputable Nanny Agency will save time and money, not to mention emotional issues in the long run.

Linda Liu, MBA is a managing partner at Best Biddy Corporation an Online Home Service Marketplace where professionals bid competitively for consumer at-home service needs
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