Hiring a nanny to come and take care of your children while you’re at work is a great option to have, especially if you plan on being out of the home a great deal of the time. According to the International Nanny Association, a typical nanny works between 40 and 60 hours a week. Knowing that someone will be around your children so naturally makes choosing a nanny agency very important. If you’re still wondering about what to look for in a good nanny agency, there are three questions that you should make sure to ask.
It’s important to remember going forward that asking questions like these will not make you seem intrusive, rude or picky. It’s the welfare of your children that’s on the line, and you have the right to be as selective as you see fit.
- “How Long Have You Been in Business?”
The longer a company has been in business, the better they’ll be at what they do. If a nanny services agency has been in business for several years from the same location, it’ll add instant credibility. However, if you discover that a company has moved around several times or changed their name more than once over the past five years, you may want to look elsewhere. It could be a sign that they’re hiding something. - “Do You Screen Your Nannies?”
How would you feel if you one day found out that the nanny you hired had a criminal record that you were unaware of? One of the biggest nanny hiring mistakes that people make is to hire someone that has not been properly screened, or undergone a background check. If the company you’re interested in does not screen their candidates thoroughly, take your business somewhere else. When it comes to choosing a nanny agency for your children, it pays to be as cautious as possible. - “Can You Provide Me with a List of References?”
You simply cannot overstate the value of references. If you hear from two or more good references, you’ve probably found someone that will be good for your children and your home. On the other hand, hearing a bad reference could be a great way to spare yourself a lot of trouble. Companies that offer references freely should be at the top of your list.
Choosing a nanny agency doesn’t have to be a stressful task that takes weeks to complete. As long as you keep the questions listed above in mind, you’ll be able to find someone that can take care of your kids for as long as necessary. After everything is said and done, you’ll be happy that you took the time to determine which agencies were worth it, and which ones were not.
