Where do you find beloved and trusted nannies? How do you begin and how do you know you found the right match? Carole Kramer Arsenault, BBN&N’s founder, was recently featured in The Birth Lounge Podcast with Hehe. They discussed the steps to finding a nanny in today’s world. Check out the podcast to learn more about finding the best childcare!
Nanny Interviews
To begin your search, ask friends and family. Put the word out there. Referrals are the best, whether it be for an individual or a nanny placement agency like Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny. Some parents also choose to go at it on their own, such as with Care.com.
Join in at 4 minutes and 35 seconds to hear the protocols for a successful nanny interview. Have a plan and think it through, “What am I looking for?” Take the time to think what type of person you are looking for and what you’re comfortable with. Learn about the nanny’s personality as she will be in your home a lot and have a direct impact on your children. It starts out with over the phone screening questions to first see if they qualify: schedule, availability, rates, references, and experience. The next step is an in-home interview if those boxes are checked off. Your partner and kids should be there to meet the potential nanny.
“When it comes to childcare we have to do our homework.” -Carole Kramer Arsenault
Listen in at 9 minutes and 50 seconds to learn how to pick the nanny agency you want to work with. The childcare industry has changed a lot since the beginning of Covid. Due to the high demand in childcare, nanny agencies have been popping up all over. Not all agencies are created equal. Make sure the agency you pick is qualified. Speak with the owner, how long have they been in business, and make sure that if it doesn’t work out you can get your money back. The process can take between 4 and 12 weeks to find a nanny. Here is a statistic for you, “For every 15 nannies we speak with, only 1 is qualified.” It’s a lot of work to vet a nanny. The nice thing about going through an agency is the work is done for you!
Tune in at 14 minutes and 2 seconds to hear about red flags to look out for with an agency. Find out how many years have they been in business and what are their credentials? Looking at google reviews, is a must! Ask other families what agency they have used.
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut!” -Carole Kramer Arsenault
Join in at 14 minutes and 45 seconds to find out more about background checks. If you work with an agency they do all the work and background checks are part of your placement fee. We share a detailed repot with the parents that covers the criminal background check and more, such as a comb through the candidate’s social media accounts! Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny even calls all the references and gives our notes to the parents to review. We encourage families to call the references as well if they want to. Hehe made a valid point that previous employers who loved an individual want to rave about them; “It’s always a red flag for me when your references don’t call back.”
“Treat your employees well and they’ll come back and treat you well.” -Hehe Stewart
Listen in at 21 minutes to understand how to integrate a nanny into your family and home. Most families have a contract. This way there is something in writing so that expectations are clear on both sides. Carole Kramer Arsenault stated, “Tailor it to fit your specific needs.” However, know that a nanny is an employee and each state has laws that apply such as overtime and sick pay. There are lots of resources online. Massachusetts requires you to pay your nanny time and a half over 40 hours a week.
Your Family Deserves The Best Childcare
Tune in at 25 and 55 seconds to get the following questions answered. What if your nanny is not a good fit. What should you do? Should you give them time and maybe an action improvement plan?
We talk to the nanny and the family and hear what is going on. We often find that communication is the most important thing. It is real important that the parents communicate with the caregiver. Bring things up in a casual manner before frustration builds up. After the nanny has had positive communication with the parents, she will feel more comfortable bringing up concerns, herself. “You establish a relationship that way,” Carole Kramer Arsenault says. However, if a parent feels like it truly is not a good fit, it’s probably not the right choice. At Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny we give families a replacement nanny free of charge.
It Takes a Village
Join in at 31 minutes and 45 seconds to hear about the impacts of Covid-19.
The daycare center option was previously very popular. However, the centers are now at full capacity and space is limited. That has risen the demand for in-home childcare. When a nanny is placed with a family at Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny, they are gifted The Covid-19 Caregiver Training as well as two more free online trainings.
Currently, families are trying to navigate the ever changing Covid-19 guidelines. It is perfectly legal to have a discussion with your nanny about the Covid Vaccine. It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but if it directly effects your family than it is totally acceptable. If a nanny does not wish to get the vaccine, the family has every right to terminate the relationship. Talk about your house rules, in relation to Covid-19, to avoid spreading germs and make sure everyone is on the same page.
We encourage you to explore all your childcare options and find the best childcare option for your family. If you do decide to look for in-home childcare, we hope you consider Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny. We now place nannies in NH, MA, RI, and CT!
