How to find a good nanny: professional advice. How much does a good nanny cost and how to find one? And how much does her work cost?

Choosing a nanny for a child is a difficult and responsible matter. This is the person with whom your child is left alone, who communicates with your child, cares for him and raises him. Therefore, it is very important not to make a mistake with your choice. How should you choose the right nanny, what are they, what should you pay attention to when choosing?

Types of nannies

Child psychologists and parents have long divided all nannies into several conventional types. This division helps parents figure out what kind of nanny they need to look after their child. Moreover, a nanny for an infant and for a 5-year-old child differ in many ways from one another. Not every nanny is capable of looking after both a baby and a fidgety five-year-old with equal success. So, about the types:

• Nanny with medical education (doctor or nurse). Medical education is a very valuable quality. Especially when caring for a baby. A medical nanny is well versed in issues such as sterility, childhood diseases and their symptoms, proper care of the baby, and feeding. They are particularly careful; if the baby becomes ill, they can provide competent primary care, massage, etc. Practice shows that medical nannies do not refuse to be with the baby not only during the day, but also at night. The main disadvantage of this category of nannies is that they care for the child more than raise him. In the case of a baby, this is quite acceptable, but when he grows up, parents will most likely have to think about finding another nanny;
• Arina Rodionovna. This is the common name for older women, most often pensioners. Such nannies have many advantages. They raised their own children and most likely have grandchildren. Therefore, they have plenty of experience in dealing with children. Usually they are extremely patient with the baby, they can clean the room and feed the child tasty food. The “Arina Rodionovnas” love to take long walks with their children, taking them to zoos, museums and other places that are beneficial for the child. They willingly read books to their children and patiently answer children’s endless “whys.” Old nannies usually have plenty of free time, and therefore they can work all day and even overtime. Their main drawback is raising and treating a child “the old fashioned way,” as well as the desire to educate not only the child, but also his parents. Another disadvantage is that it is usually difficult for a “nanny-grandmother” to help a child with homework;
• Female students. They are also commonly called “nannies for an hour.” They are young and therefore do not have the proper experience of caring for children. They usually have little free time, as they devote most of the day to studying. Therefore, student nannies work on a case-by-case basis, regarding caring for someone else’s baby as a casual part-time job. Hence the corresponding attitude to work. Typically, such nannies are hired when there are no other options;
• Professional nanny. This is usually a middle-aged woman who has worked as a nanny for many years. This is her main profession. She has considerable experience, she has worked with many children, and can provide recommendations from the families where she previously worked. She knows how to find contacts with almost any child, as well as with his parents. A professional nanny can equally successfully communicate with children of any age - from infants to primary school students. She knows how to swaddle a baby, how to feed him or help him when he is sick. A professional nanny can accompany a child when he and his parents travel long distances, for example, on vacation or abroad. You can safely leave your child with her for a long time. A professional nanny is the best parental choice.

When choosing a nanny, you should consider how long she is needed. If for a few hours a day or 1-2 times a week, then a professional nanny is unlikely to agree to this. In this case, it is better to look for an old woman or a student.

Schedule

Nannies can work different schedules. In this sense they are divided:

• For full-time nannies. Such nannies work from morning to evening. That is, until the child’s parents come home from work. Throughout the day, the nanny is with the child, feeds him, walks with him, puts him to bed, and teaches him;
• For evening nannies. As the definition suggests, they work in the evenings. Evening nannies meet the child from school or pick him up from kindergarten, prepare dinner for the baby, feed him, and put him to bed. Their working hours end when their parents come home;
• For live-in nannies. They usually live for the entire week with the family that hired them to care for the baby. In accordance with the agreement, the live-in nanny is given one or two days off. It happens that she is given a separate room. In other cases, she spends the night in the same room with the baby. In addition to caring for the child, a live-in nanny can also perform other duties: helping with housework, preparing food for the baby and his parents;
• For daily nannies. Daily nannies are usually needed in cases where a child needs supervision around the clock. Usually these are infants or sick children. For the most part, daily nannies work in shifts - every other day.

A separate category is accompanying nannies. They are usually hired when a mother and her baby (or several children) have to travel long distances. The responsibilities of the accompanying nanny include caring for the children during the trip, as well as looking after the kids in the new place until they return.

Nanny responsibilities

Before you start looking for a nanny, you need to decide what her responsibilities will be. It is clear that not all child care tasks can be assigned to the nanny. There are some things she doesn’t know how to do, and some things she doesn’t want to do for one reason or another. And in something else, no nanny, even the most qualified one, can replace a mother: for example, in breastfeeding a baby. Therefore, first of all, you need to determine a list of the most important responsibilities, and solve all other nuances as they arise.

So, the nanny should:

• Provide full care for the baby;
• Ensure his safety;
• Bath the baby and fulfill other hygiene requirements;
• Maintain a daily routine: put the child to bed on time, walk with him;
• Prepare food for the baby and feed him;
• Maintain sanitary order in the children's room;
• Accompany him while visiting clubs and sports sections;
• Visit exhibitions, museums, attractions with him;
• Know the characteristics of a child’s age-related development and apply their knowledge in practice;
• Help the child (if he is a preschooler) prepare for school;
• Help a schoolchild in completing homework.

Additional requirements

Many parents try to find a nanny for their child exclusively with a pedagogical education. Indeed, there are many advantages in a nanny-teacher. She knows the methods of child development, can understand music, be able to draw, know foreign languages, etc. She will teach the baby all this, as a result of which he will grow up to be a comprehensively developed personality. In addition, the nanny-teacher will be able to prepare the child for school, and then help him with his homework.

All these are advantages associated with a nanny with a pedagogical education. However, there are also disadvantages. Currently, some teachers (as well as psychologists) are trained in Western models of raising children, which in many ways do not coincide with our ideas and worldview. For example, many teachers now believe that a child cannot be limited in anything, he must be allowed everything, otherwise he will grow up to be a complex and inferior person. Therefore, before hiring a teacher educator, you should carefully understand his worldview and methods of education.

A nanny who does not have a pedagogical education. There are many more such nannies than those with a teaching diploma. They could be young girls, or they could be older women. They usually do not have any parenting methods of their own, and therefore it is much easier for them to explain the parent’s point of view on raising a child. The only significant disadvantage is that it will most likely be more difficult for a nanny without pedagogical education to prepare a child for school.

A woman who has children of her own. The main advantages of such nannies are their worldly experience and ability to communicate with children. They will look after the child properly, feed him correctly and on time, answer all his questions, etc. At the same time, some nannies in this category may not listen to the wishes of the baby’s parents, explaining this by the fact that, due to their experience, they are better they know how to raise a child.

However, all of the above nuances are completely solvable. Much more important is what kind of person the nanny is. If she has a bad character, bad habits, limited horizons and inappropriate vocabulary, then it is better to refuse her services. The reasons for the refusal are quite understandable: by communicating with a dubious nanny, your child, wittingly or unwittingly, will gain from her those human qualities that she possesses.

How to look for a nanny

1. The first and most common method is advertisements in newspapers or the Internet. There is, in fact, only one plus here: this search method does not require large expenses, but there are plenty of minuses. Among those who submitted an advertisement there may be former nannies expelled from their previous places for serious misconduct, as well as nannies with no experience. Another category is the so-called “lovers of other people’s husbands” or thieves who are looking for ways to infiltrate someone else’s house in order to then rob it. Therefore, it is wiser to hold the first meeting with such applicants not at home, but somewhere on neutral territory.
2. The second method is to search through recruitment agencies. There are many more advantages here: agencies can offer you an impressive list of candidates for every taste, along with characteristics, recommendations, and medical certificates. But at the same time, there are also a lot of disadvantages: you have to pay for the agency’s services, many candidates are nannies only in their own words, some may have false documents. In addition, you should not indiscriminately trust the recruitment agencies themselves. There have been cases where some agencies deliberately deceived clients, trying to connect them not with professionals in their field, but with random people.
3. The surest way to find a nanny is through recommendations from your acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and relatives. Usually, none of them will recommend a bad candidate. You will know almost everything about such a nanny: her habits, abilities, marital status, place of residence, work experience. There is only one significant disadvantage here: if for some reason you refuse her, then you risk ruining your relationship with those who recommended her.

How to properly meet a nanny

When getting to know a nanny, you should carefully look at all the little things. This is understandable: you will entrust her with the most precious thing you have - your child. First of all, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the candidate for your baby’s nanny. If she looks untidy, this is a good reason to refuse her.

After a visual introduction, it is recommended to ask the candidate a few general questions. These can be questions on a variety of topics: can she cook, what dishes does she do best, does she like to go for walks, can she take her child to a section or clinic, what were her responsibilities in her previous place, how did she get along with the child there? and his parents, etc. Don’t be embarrassed to ask her for a passport and medical certificates. You should also carefully read the letters of recommendation and call the telephone numbers indicated in them.

If the meeting is taking place at your home, it is wise to invite other members of your family, as well as your child. Conclusions about what a candidate is like must be drawn from her very first step in your home. Did she come on time, did she greet you and the child, how sincere was she in the conversation, etc. When she leaves, you need to develop a generalized opinion and jointly decide whether this candidate is suitable as a nanny for your baby.

After general questions, you need to get to know the future nanny better by asking her more specific questions.

1) Questions about previous work:

• What responsibilities did you perform in your previous position?
• Why didn't you start working there?
• How easily do you adapt to your new family?
• How long does it take for children to get used to you?
• What's one thing you don't like to do as a nanny?

2) Personal questions:

• How old are you?
• Do you have any education?
• What is your marital status?
• Do you have children and what are their ages?
• If the children are minors, who will stay with them while you are at work?
• Do you have any hobbies, and what exactly?
• Are you a believer, and what religion do you profess?
• How do you spend your free time, and what is your social circle?

3) Health questions:

• Do you have chronic diseases?
• Can you lift a child in your arms?
• Do you have bad habits?
• How long have you had fluorography?
• Do you agree to undergo additional medical examination?

4) Discussion of future responsibilities:

• Can you stay late if necessary?
• Are you willing to work on weekends?
• Do you agree to accompany your child if he goes with his parents to the country, to another city, to another country?

5) Discussion of payment terms:

• What salary are you expecting?
• How do you want to be paid - every day, once a week, monthly?
• How do you feel about fines for absenteeism or lateness?

6) Discussion of behavior in emergency situations:

• What do you intend to do if a child chokes, loses consciousness, cries and is capricious, behaves inappropriately, gets sick (the list of situations goes on)?

7) Questions with background:

• What games can you play with a child at a given age?
• For what reasons can children cry?
• What do you do if your child makes you angry?
• What is most important to you when caring for and communicating with your baby?

And, of course, one should not discount one’s own maternal intuition. It is she who should be the decisive condition for whether to accept a particular candidate as a nanny or refuse her.

How to introduce a nanny to a child

So, the future nanny made a positive impression on you. However, this is not a reason to immediately hire her. You need to make sure how your child reacts to the candidate. This should be the last argument in your decision about whether your child needs or does not need such a nanny.

Watch your child's reaction carefully. If he has a sociable character, then how long will it take him to try to get to know the nanny better? If, on the contrary, the baby is uncommunicative, then how will the nanny behave in this case in order to win him over? If at first the child is afraid of the nanny, but thanks to her efforts, he then begins to show interest in her, then this is an absolute plus for the nanny.

There is no need to leave your baby with a nanny for a long time at the very beginning. It would be wiser if the child gets used to it gradually. At the same time, you need to try to explain to the baby that the nanny is a very good aunt who will teach him to play, draw, will go for walks with him, ride on the carousel, etc. Having believed in your explanations, the child will be able to get used to her faster. And the last condition: when hiring a nanny, you must conclude an official employment contract with her.

How to control a nanny's work

There should be no objections to the fact that the nanny’s work needs to be supervised. The question is how to do it right. Firstly, with inept control it is difficult to achieve any specific results. Secondly, in this way you can offend the nanny.

The main method of control is careful observation of the child. If he sleeps restlessly at night, is not happy with the nanny or is afraid of her, then this is already a reason to think about it and strengthen his observations. If the baby, as soon as he sees you, begins to cry and tries to run away from the nanny, then this is another reason for parental thoughtfulness. Additional reasons may also be that for a long time your baby has not learned anything new, he has strange bruises and scratches, the nanny behaves ingratiatingly in front of you, etc. If such signs regularly appear, it is better to part with the nanny.

Your unexpected arrival home can give good results. Or - the same unexpected appearance in the house of your friends and relatives. It is also good to talk to your neighbors from time to time, who can see exactly how the nanny communicates with your child. Some parents even hire private detectives for such purposes.

There is another practice-tested way to determine how good or, conversely, how bad your baby’s nanny is. A good nanny is one whose baby returns from a walk dirty, but at home he is always clean and washed. Everything is simple here. When a child is out and about, he usually always gets dirty. And a child can take a full walk only when he feels comfortable with the nanny.

Recently, the work of nannies has become increasingly monitored using video cameras. This is perhaps the most effective type of control. It is often reported in the press and on TV that it was thanks to video cameras that it was possible to expose fanatics disguised as nannies. It is better if video cameras are installed in several places. It is clear that the nanny herself should not know anything about video surveillance.

Don't be jealous of your baby

The baby gets used to a good nanny quickly. It happens that he starts calling her “mom.” This often leads to real mothers becoming jealous of the child’s nanny. And for this reason she is fired. Thus, such mothers make a big mistake.

In this case, the feelings and psychology of the child are not taken into account. Being attached to someone is very important to him. And when the nanny to whom the baby has become attached disappears from his life, and a new one appears in its place, this can cause serious stress for the baby. There is no need to be jealous of the child and be afraid that the nanny can really replace the real mother. If the nanny is a professional, and also a wonderful person, then she will always find a way to explain to your baby that the real mother is you, and no one else.

We also read:

How to find a good nanny for a child? 7 secrets from Nastya Zhuk

I'm looking for a nanny. Behind these simple words lies the difficult and very important decision to entrust the care, even for a few hours a day, of your child to another person. Selecting a nanny for a child is a rather complex and multi-step task.

At the first stage, it is perhaps necessary to decide how exactly you will search for a domestic worker. For some people in a similar situation, relatives and friends come to the rescue, but, as practice shows, sometimes you can find yourself drawn into very difficult relationships. You can, of course, advertise “Looking for a nanny in Moscow” or print and hang flyers throughout the area with the text “hiring a nanny.” However, in this case, the parents do not have any guarantee that a really good nanny will come to the child. In Moscow, there are known cases of unscrupulous attitude of unfortunate workers towards their duties. You can find a good nanny in Moscow in another way, most often more effective. is a salvation for those who do not have helping relatives or friends, and who do not want to turn their apartment into a walk-through yard, screening out numerous applicants.

“Second Mom” is exactly such a recruitment agency for the home. Our agency is always ready to help those for whom the words “need a nanny” have become an urgent need. Our agency will help you find a professional and decent nanny in Moscow.

If the thought that your child needs a nanny has become a firm belief in you, then you have come to the right place. Our agency is over 25 years old. Having serious experience in the field of domestic staff selection, we understand perfectly what is behind the words “I’m looking for a nanny.”

The employee you will find at the Second Mother agency is, in most cases, a nanny who has a special higher or secondary pedagogical or medical education and sufficient experience working with children in families or government institutions (nurseries, kindergartens, schools).

If you need a nanny who has all the necessary skills for caring for a child, the basics of first aid in a critical situation, modern methods of child development and knowledge of children's cuisine, we will try to help you.

If you need, you will find with us a nanny with a medical education and the necessary experience as a nanny to provide full care for a newborn.

If your baby has already grown out of diapers and is actively exploring the world around him (1-3 years), we will offer you a worker with a pedagogical education. If you need a nanny who has the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the full development of a child, then we can find such an employee for you.

If your child is between 3 and 6 years old, we will find a teacher for a child of that age. Having a compulsory pedagogical or humanities education, a nanny-educator will not only care for the child, but will also prepare him for the upcoming schooling.

Our agency specialists carry out large-scale personnel work: interviews with candidates for vacancies of nanny, teacher, preparation of a complete package of documents for the candidate, testing. Nannies and governesses employed through the Second Mother agency, if necessary, undergo a course of psychological training for working in families. Our teachers know when they can make an independent decision, and in which cases it is necessary to scrupulously coordinate their actions with parents.

If you require the services of a nanny for your child, please contact us. The recruitment agency “Second Mom” has been successfully recruiting nannies in Moscow and the region for a long time.

We provide clients with a six-month or annual service agreement. The contract provides for the replacement of an employee if, despite work experience, you are not satisfied with any of her personal or professional qualities.

Children are a great joy, but caring for them requires a significant investment of time. Parents do not always have the opportunity to spend the whole day with their baby. Therefore, many are concerned about the question of where to find a nanny.

Nanny services

On the YouDo service you can quickly find the phone number of a nanny who professionally performs parenting duties and order her services. You can also find prices for child care services on Yuda.

Before you hire someone to tutor your child when the parents are not present, make sure that they:

• loves children- a prerequisite, the little person must be surrounded with love and care;
• has relevant education or work experience- important for the proper upbringing of a child;
• takes responsibilities responsibly- one of the main qualities for a person working with children.

By calling the nanny, you can discuss the nuances of the job, talk about the child and your expectations for her services.

Babysitter

The requirements for such a specialist are special. The baby needs close attention and you need to know what conditions are comfortable for him. The nanny must have knowledge in the following areas:

• pediatrics;
• children's kitchen;
• baby development.

In the first year of a child’s life, his good physical development is important. The baby learns to hold objects, crawl, sit. It’s good when the nanny knows how to do preventive children’s massage, there is no need to additionally order the services of a massage therapist. This is especially important if the child has muscle hypertonicity - it leads to improper distribution of the load on different parts of the body.

A nanny for a baby can be hired on a part-time basis, this will give the mother the opportunity to relax or do other things.

Responsibilities and work schedule

The nanny's responsibilities are determined by the parents. The price for the service is determined based on the responsibilities of the invited specialist. Before hiring a nanny, make sure she knows the basic development techniques:

• Montessori;
• Nikitins;
• Zaitseva.

Responsibilities usually include modeling, drawing, and singing. Before starting work, advise on which skills you need to pay special attention to developing. Be sure to write down the nanny's phone number and specify that she should stay in touch while she is with the baby.

With Yudu, you don’t need to look for a nanny for your child among your friends. On the platform, you can order the services of a professional specialist who will treat your child with love in a few minutes.

Our regular columnist told us why she needed a nanny, despite the fact that her own mother did not mind taking care of her granddaughter. You can read about this in the column “Grandma or Nanny: 4 Myths I Want to Debunk Right Now.”

“Letidor” asked Nuria to tell us in more detail how the search for a nanny for baby Safira went and what, based on her own experience, she can advise other parents.

Nuria Arkhipova

Finding a nanny is not as simple a task as it might seem at first glance. As soon as I decided to hire an assistant, I was faced with several questions:

1.** Where to look:** on the Internet or through an acquaintance?

2.** Which nanny is better:** an older woman (40-50 years old) or a young one (under 30)?

3. How important availability of pedagogical education at the nanny's?

4. Is a fact important? the nanny has her own children? Does this fact affect the attitude towards students? Or is it more important to find a person who simply loves children?

5.** How to pay:** every day, once a week or monthly? What do you prefer: hourly or daily?

6. And, despite the fact that I have conducted more than one job interview in my life, I thought: what to look for when hiring a nanny?

7. Health status of the future nanny: is it necessary? availability of a medical certificate?

8.** How to control the work of a nanny**?

Where to look for a nanny

Despite the fact that I was extremely determined, I cannot deny that I was not tormented by vague doubts. After all, it’s normal to worry and worry about your children.

Initially, the search for a nanny was carried out with the help of specialized recruitment agencies, of which there are quite a lot on the market today. I settled on one of the most popular sites specializing specifically in the service of selecting nannies. It had filters based on criteria, an interactive map showing nannies in the area, and the presence of reviews from former employers. In addition, on the site you could immediately see their age, education, experience, find out what work schedule suits them and whether it matches your preferences.

True, searching for a nanny on your own on the website is not a free service: to find a nanny, you need to pay 1,290 rubles.

It seems to me that the money is reasonable, and it is possible to spend it to get full access to the database and passport data of applicants. So, we sorted out the question of where to look.

Nanny age

As for age, I considered a minimum of 40 years.

It seems to me that a younger nanny, especially with children of her own who may still be young, will be more distracted by her children. A woman over forty has sufficient life experience, is more responsible, and, as a rule, has adult children and experience in raising them.

I decided that the upper age limit is strictly 55 years.

Children grow quite quickly; you won’t even notice how the child turns one year old and begins to walk and then run. Therefore, the nanny should, in my opinion, be a woman active enough to run after the child if the need arises.

And in general, quick reaction and mobility, as you yourself understand, are very important when it comes to babies - before you have time to look back, everything that was found nearby is dragged into your mouth.

Availability of pedagogical education

While the child is small (1-3 years), in my opinion, pedagogical education is not an essential thing. Preferred, but not required. But a teacher won’t hurt a three-year-old child.

But what a baby needs is a medical education from the nanny.

She must know how to lower the temperature, what medications to stop the first symptoms of a cold, and can generally distinguish when a child is being capricious and when he is being mischievous because he is getting sick. Such a nanny knows everything about complementary feeding: when and what can be introduced, she will quickly understand if the child is allergic to something.

Another wonderful bonus, in my opinion, is the skills of professional massage for children under one year old.

It is very important to do gymnastics and massage with children - this has a great effect on both physical and emotional development.

The nanny has her own children

Having her own children, in my opinion, is a good bonus for a woman, because it means that she has her own maternal experience.

In some reviews on the Internet, I saw advice that you should definitely inquire about the nanny’s marital status, whether she has children, how old they are, what they do, where they live. In general, to find out how accomplished she was as a mother.

But it seems to me that a woman’s worth as a mother has nothing to do with her professional skills.

For me, having children is not a priority. If a woman loves children, knows how to get along with them, has extensive experience in caring for children, which is confirmed by positive recommendations from previous employers, has a medical and/or pedagogical education, then the absence of her own children will not be a reason for me to refuse her a job.

How to make payment

On the website, each nanny applicant has a tariff in the “Payment” column.

The average price in Moscow today is 300 rubles per hour. You can find it cheaper - 150 rubles / hour, and more expensive - 350-450 rubles / hour.

You can choose a live-in nanny - here everyone proceeds from what is convenient for him. For me, hourly pay and a nanny who lives not so far from us turned out to be an excellent solution to all problems: she comes at the agreed time, spends a certain number of hours with the child and leaves.

By the way, you can agree in advance with the nanny to help with housework and carry out some errands. Of course, I am against the nanny doing household chores at the expense of working with the child - it is more important to me that the baby is under constant supervision. But sometimes I still give her some instructions.

It is also worth talking to the nanny in advance about overtime, possible overnight stays and feeding the child. How a child will eat is a very important question. You must think through everything in detail, because preparing food for your baby takes time. And it would be a good idea to conduct an aptitude test for a potential nanny if you want your child to eat something other than cans.

For us, this problem was solved by itself: our grandmother is the responsible chef who monitors the quality of the dishes. But the nanny cooks and feeds Safira - this was my condition when hiring.

What to look for when hiring a nanny

During an interview with a nanny, you need to pay attention to EVERYTHING: how she behaves, how she speaks, how she dresses, how correct her speech is, how she smells.

Even though our nanny is mostly a visitor, she comes to our home every day. She spends several hours with Safira and with those who are currently at home.

You need to understand that by hiring a nanny, you are gaining a new family member who will be next to you and your baby for quite a long period of time. Therefore, be attentive to the smallest details.

Even if you are satisfied with everything - age, education, experience, recommendations - but you feel that something is wrong, that your heart is not in it, then it is better to refuse and continue your search.

At the interview, do not be shy about asking for certificates, diplomas and other documents. Ask for recommendations and be sure to call the numbers that the potential nanny provides you with. Meticulously find out everything, including the family situation: who he lives with, what he does. If a woman does not live alone, but, for example, with children and grandchildren, you can ask why she does not take care of them.

But something else is more important: children of preschool and school age often get sick, and the nanny will in this case be a constant source of infections for your child. You need it? I think no.

So the marital status of a potential nanny is no less important than her skills and education.

Availability of a medical certificate

A medical certificate is required! I'm sure you understand why. In kindergartens and schools, teachers will not be allowed to fire a cannon shot at children unless they have medical permission, appropriate tests, and all possible vaccinations.

If you are afraid that her certificate is invalid or purchased, offer to go get tested and visit the doctor together.

What should a good nanny be like? Where to find it and how to choose? These questions are asked sooner or later by any mother who decides to return to normal life, in which there are not only children. In fact, you can still find a good nanny. The main thing is to be patient and listen to your feelings!

So, you have firmly decided that you need a nanny and that you are ready to entrust the most precious thing you have to another person. But where can we get this very person who must stop being a stranger and immediately inspire trust? There are several ways. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages.

Where to find a decent nanny

Even in your closest circle, there will always be a woman who will be ready to babysit your child. And not because this is a way to earn money, but because your children are not strangers to her either. If desired and under certain circumstances, your mother, mother-in-law, aunt or close relative can take on the role of nanny. The advantages of this arrangement, as they say, are obvious: firstly, this is not a stranger - leaving the child to the mother or mother-in-law is always safer. Secondly, it is always easier to agree on some everyday issues with relatives; there is no need to get used to each other and look closely at each other. Thirdly, the material component may either be absent altogether or represent some amount convenient for everyone.

But the disadvantages, which at first seem implicit, can sooner or later cover all the advantages. In this case, there is a high probability of ruining relationships with relatives and friends, because acting as a “boss” with them will be very difficult. In addition, your mother, aunt or mother-in-law will invariably have their own opinion on diet and diet, and you will often have to step on the throat of your own song.

Recruitment agencies

At first glance, this is the best option, especially if funds allow, but there is neither time nor energy to search. The plus is that in the agency you can, which fully meets all your requirements. Applicants usually have work experience and the necessary medical certificates, and if the employee does not suit you, the agency is obliged to quickly find a replacement.

But the experience of working with an agency can bring an unpleasant surprise. A nanny with excellent recommendations and medical education may in fact turn out to be a citizen of a nearby country without registration. Unfortunately, no agency is responsible for any harm caused by an employee, and no agency can guarantee that an employee will be of good faith and meet all requirements. You should also not forget that the services of a good reputable agency will cost you a pretty penny.

Internet, advertisements

This method is good because you will immediately have a large choice, you will be able to compare several candidates: agree with several at once and check them until there is only one left with whom you agree on everything. What’s also great is that you don’t have to pay anyone money for this.

But the disadvantages are also obvious. Firstly, a high degree of unreliability. You don't know the person you're inviting into your home. What will a couple of lines from an advertisement or the recommendations presented tell you about him? How will you verify what she says about herself and her family? In addition, such a painstaking and thoughtful search on your own, of course, takes a lot of time and effort. But if you're ready for it, try it. First, it is better to arrange a telephone interview in order to immediately weed out candidates who do not fit the price and schedule, and invite the remaining applicants not to your home, but to ask for a visit yourself. Believe me, a person’s home and environment will say more about him than any recommendations.

Friends of friends, neighbors, former nannies of friends

Nannies who are inherited by friends or relatives, as well as neighbors, acquaintances and friends of acquaintances who worked as nannies, are an almost ideal option.

There are a lot of advantages! You will learn first-hand detailed information about the candidate; he is recommended by a person who is already convinced of his professional qualities. In this case, a nanny with a bad reputation is unlikely to be recommended. The percentage of finding a good nanny for a child using this method is quite high.

But the downside is that some of your family information may spread among your circle of friends, although this is already a matter of trust and family behavior. It is important that the acquaintance is not too close (otherwise the relationship with the nanny will automatically develop into a family relationship and we will get option No. 1), but at the same time it is important that the employee is recommended by people who know him well. And if you and the nanny immediately agree on issues of price, schedule and responsibilities, then most likely there will be no problems!

Difficult choice

Only a clear strategy, a skillfully conducted interview, observation and intuition will help you avoid making a mistake in your choice. Allow enough time for the interview when no one will tug or distract you; it is advisable that all family members are present in the house. Be sure to ask the nanny questions about how old she is, is she married, does she have bad habits, does she have children and what are they doing now, is everything okay with her health, what families did she work for before, why did she leave? , what the problems were and why she chose to work as a nanny in the first place.

Listen very carefully to the answers and watch the reaction. What questions put her at a dead end, where she hesitated. Everything is important here - from documents and recommendations to your own feelings. Pay attention to how she behaves when she first meets the child, how the child reacts to her, whether she sets too many conditions at once, and whether you generally like her purely outwardly. No matter what they say, the first impression is often the most accurate.