An often unrealized challenge of finding safe and reputable childcare is that the nanny and babysitting industry is unregulated. Because there are no legal standards for health and safety, education, or age-appropriate development, finding the right childcare solution for your family can seem impossible. It’s important to consider all your options when making the best choice for your family. Read on as we explore the question “is it worth it to use a nanny agency?” by discussing the key features of using a nanny agency versus hiring independently, and their distinctive benefits and challenges.
What is a nanny agency?
A nanny agency is a professional service that sources candidates to find the best and most qualified nanny for your family’s unique needs and preferences. A nanny agency will discuss your family’s needs with you, create and post a job posting, vet all candidates, and find you you a suitable candidate. The agency will then assist you in hiring your nanny directly, or in some cases, the nanny might remain an employee of the agency while still providing care for your family. The Nanny Loft is one of the few agencies that also employs caregivers directly, while many agencies facilitate the recruiting process and assist the family with the actual hiring process.
Benefits of using a nanny agency
Using a nanny agency takes the time and energy commitment of finding a nanny off of your plate while ensuring a smooth hiring process. Additionally, agencies help ensure that the nanny you’re hiring is legit through a rigorous vetting process. This might include reference checks, state and/or federal background checks, clearances and drug testing, training and certification requirements, and more.
Challenges of using a nanny agency
Using a reputable agency comes with a higher price tag. Because these agencies are utilizing their resources such as administrative staff support and their own childcare expertise, there will often be additional fees such as initial and placement fees. Also, because nannies recruited through agencies are typically more experienced– these are called “career nannies”– their hourly rate will likely be higher than an independent nanny hire. The idea is that you get more bang for your buck, but this feature can be a financial burden for some families. Private in-home care is also a highly dysregulated industry– in fact, The Nanny Loft is one of the few agencies going above industry standards. Using an agency comes with the risk of inadequate health, safety, and wellbeing standards if you don’t know how to research reputable agencies. Additionally, using a nanny agency does not guarantee that they will provide you with a perfect candidate. Their search timeframe might take longer than expected, and they might turn up with no suitable results. So let’s explore the pros and cons of DIY hiring to get a full picture.
What is DIY hiring?
Hiring a nanny independently means that all recruiting and hiring processes would be solely your responsibility. You would post a job, interview and vet candidates, and hire your chosen nanny independently through community groups, word of mouth, or caregiving databases. The nanny you choose would be your employee and this would include all legal requirements and processes of being an employer, such as paying taxes, having workers’ comp insurance, paying overtime, and drawing up a contract.
Benefits of DIY hiring
Hiring independently guarantees you have full control over the hiring process. While a nanny agency might be making some recruiting decisions behind the scenes, hiring independently would allow you to make decisions about every candidate and application. This can be especially helpful if you are worried the nanny agencies in your area have poor hiring standards. Additionally, you might be able to save more of your investment on a nanny who has less experience or qualifications but is willing and eager to learn.
Challenges of DIY hiring
While having full control over the hiring process has its pros, this can be a huge time commitment. For example, The Nanny Loft filters out 100 candidates for every 1 good nanny. On your own, this can take upwards of 50 hours a month (or more). This is especially true for a family already overwhelmed without consistent childcare who is looking for help. Additionally, because private in-home care is so dysregulated, finding someone who is safe and has legitimate qualifications can be difficult. You can conduct your own vetting process to weed out any bad eggs, but the vetting process of a nanny agency is typically much more robust and expansive. Complementing the challenges of using a nanny agency, a lower hourly rate for your nanny might mean you’re getting someone with less experience or a temperament that doesn’t match what you’re looking for.
Final Thoughts
Finding safe and consistent childcare is hard enough, let alone finding a nanny that fosters development for your child within your family’s needs and preferences. That begs the question once again: is it worth it to use a nanny agency? If you are willing to pay an elevated rate for a thoroughly screened caregiver, then the answer is yes. Nanny agencies provide safety, security, and optics through things like reference and work history verification. DIY hiring can be time consuming, especially for families who don’t have the bandwidth to add something else to their plate. But if you need more flexibility, it makes sense to explore all your options, including DIY hiring.
At the end of the day, every family is different. What works for your neighbor down the street might not work for you at all. It all depends on your family’s financial situation, time commitment, and priorities for the care of your child.
Rachelle was 17 when she realized she had a gift for nurturing and soothing infants while also getting them to sleep longer. She began working part-time as a night nanny through her sister’s nannying agency and continued this work through college. As a nanny, Rachelle realized that infants often can sense anxiety in their parents and caregivers. She learned how to reset her own internal nervous system to reach a real sense of calm, so she could help the infant do the same. Most nannies, doulas, and infant care specialists get their insights from having their own children. Rachelle, however, was able to develop a specialized approach that works for every baby through her infant care working with many diverse families and children.
Through nursing courses, Rachelle discovered the undeniable value of nutrition and switched her major to Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Combining her experience with new parents, babies, nannying, and nutrition, she was able to bring a restful night’s sleep to every home. After graduation, she officially founded Maternal Instincts in 2010. Rachelle has served over 5,000 families through her sleep groups and as a night nanny, newborn care specialist, doula, and sleep specialist. She has worked with newborns, multiples, and high-risk infants. Rachelle has supported families who were dealing with heart surgery recovery, feeding tubes, oxygen, colic, allergies, reflux, and more! Today, with nearly a decade of service through Maternal Instincts, Rachelle’s goal is to end sleep deprivation for babies AND parents, and to make parenthood a more restful, harmonious, and loving experience. To learn more about Rachelle and her staff, as well as her book “Creating Sweet Dreams,” visit her website below.
Cheryl Abrams comes from a close knit family in Philadelphia, PA. She joined the US Army because she wanted to travel and see the world. After ten years of Military service, she got married and started a family of her own. Cheryl attended intense classes on early childcare learning and became a Home Daycare provider for the Ft. Lewis Washington childcare system. In 2013 she studied to become a birth & postpartum doula and Night Nanny. Through her work as a night nanny, she noticed that some new moms were depressed which was concerning. She sought out information to become a certified postpartum doula in order to help new moms develop more confidence after giving birth. She also pursued newborn care and sleep training to enhance her ability to support families. Her desire is to help you and your family transition and to help educate about the importance of being a mother before and after giving birth. Cheryl Lives in Ft. Worth Texas her company is Babymoon Concierge.
Gianna is a part-time nanny at The Nanny Loft and has 5 years of babysitting experience. She loves being a nanny because kids bring so much joy and energy to any space. She likes to balance fun with safety and quality care. Her favorite age to work with is 3 to 5 years old because it’s a great age to get the kids outside and playing! She is about to start her junior year of undergrad majoring in business with a focus in marketing and sales with the goal of going into medical sales. She is an extrovert who loves being around people and loves to do activities with kids such as going to the park and doing arts and crafts. A fun fact about her is that she wants to travel and explore the world!
Summer is a babysitter and household manager at The Nanny Loft and has over 10 years of experience in childcare! She loves working with kids because she loves making each child feel special and cared about. Her babysitting style includes maintaining a positive and constructive environment where everyone can have fun, while also incorporating the structure and rules of the family. She loves toddlers because they are so excited to explore new things. She loves to play board games, hide and seek, and making forts. She is currently studying psychology and working on her masters in clinical mental health counseling with the goal of becoming a counselor. A fun fact about her is that she has a leopard gecko!
Kaelee is a babysitter with The Nanny Loft and has over 10 years of childcare experience. She has major experience working with infants but has experience with all ages. She loves working in childcare because she gets to support families when they need it the most. Her babysitting style is flexible and laidback to fit whatever preferences the family has for their childcare needs. Her favorite age to work with is infants but she enjoys working with kids of all ages. She loves doing arts and crafts with kids and is very pet-friendly! In her free time, she likes to cook. She has previously worked as an instructional assistant, is currently training to be a teacher, and is working towards her masters in special education. A fun fact about her is that she loves autumn!
Maria is The Nanny Loft’s Onboarding Specialist and has worked in Human Resources and recruitment for over 5 years. She is one of the point staff at The Nanny Loft for matching nannies to clients. Maria loves being a recruiter because it helps her get to know new people and be a bridge to helping people find fulfilling work. She aspires to grow in HR and earn additional HR licenses in the future. She loves to travel, play sports, and spend time with her kids! A fun fact about her is that she loves to sing!
Nora is a sitter at The Nanny Loft and has over 2 years of childcare experience in the preschool system and with 1:1 care. She has additional experience working with special needs children. Nora loves being a nanny because a personalized approach allows her to get to know a child and their individual interests and needs. She is passionate, outgoing, and always willing to adapt to a child’s style. She loves working with all ages, but especially toddlers who are knowledgeable, funny, energetic, and enthusiastic! She aspires to continue with nannying and also help The Nanny Loft with future programs. She loves to play video games, go on walks with her husband and dog, and do art projects.
Cameron is a babysitter at The Nanny Loft and has 5 years of childcare experience. She also used to coach cheerleading for ages 3-8 years old! She loves working in childcare because she enjoys seeing how children express themselves and discover their personalities. Her favorite age to work with is toddler to school age because they are learning who they are and are excited to communicate with you and share their discoveries. Her babysitting style is relaxed and flexible. She will always cater to your family’s preferences and activities your kids are interested in. She loves leaving room for exploration and creativity! She loves board games and arts and crafts. She is currently in school to be a physician assistant. A fun fact about her is that she can do a backflip!
Elaine is a babysitter at The Nanny Loft with 10 years of experience in childcare and early intervention. She has extensive experience in early childhood development and she has always been very passionate about working with children. She loves seeing their face when they learn something new and she makes sure to incorporate learning into her care. Her favorite age to work with is infant to 5 years old because the kiddos are experiencing everything for the first time! She loves to take the kids to museums and libraries so they can always learn new things. In her free time she likes to bake and spend time with family. A fun fact about her is her favorite movie is “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” and she watches it every December!
Maddie is a babysitter at The Nanny Loft and has 3 years of experience in childcare. She has multiple certifications including the Better Kid Care training from Penn State. She describes her babysitting style as flexible, choosing open play and letting kids guide the activity based on their interests and feelings. Her favorite age to work with is newborn to toddler because they are learning new things and realizing what they can do. She loves being outside, photography, and animals! She hopes to be an elementary school teacher and is currently working towards Associates and Bachelors degrees in early childhood education. A fun fact about her is that she loves dirt racing!
Logan is The Nanny Loft’s Communications Coordinator. She is a recent college graduate with 3 previous years of experience in communications. She loves working in Communications because she loves reading, writing, and making the world a more accessible place through language. At The Nanny Loft, she hopes to strengthen connections between TNL and the local community across our social media and website. She loves creative writing, hiking, going to the lake, and spending time with family. She aspires to enter the editorial and publishing industry in the future as well as publish her own novel. A fun fact about her is she has been a choral singer for over 10 years!
