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FAQ

F-A-Q

GENERAL FAQ

At the heart of The Nanny Loft lies our passion to provide families with customized, competent, and visionary care over the developmental journey of each family.

While choosing a Caregiver is about finding the right person – it’s also about finding peace of mind. Amidst the tactical and practical activities of administering a Caregiver search, we know first-hand that each family has a whirlwind of questions like

  • “Will our Caregiver really know how to nurture my loved one as I do?”
  • “Can my Caregiver respond to emergencies with the same sense of urgency I do?”
  • “Can I rely on my Caregiver to be as committed as I am to the person I love”?

The reality is every family will have different needs and different sets of concerns that they may or may not share.

Our commitment is to offer our proprietary assessment and screening protocols to ensure we have heard what each family is saying – and what they may not be saying.

In addition, our expertise will ensure that we have conducted pulse checks throughout the screening, vetting, and onboarding process to build a relationship of trust and openness that is a hallmark of The Nanny Loft brand.

When it comes to caregiving, every decision counts. Whether short-term or ongoing care, The Nanny Loft pairs you with trustworthy professionals who match your family’s unique needs. At The Nanny Loft, you don’t just get a provider – you get a dedicated specialist invested in seeing your family and loved ones thrive.

We currently cover all of Lehigh County and the surrounding areas. We also help families in parts of NJ for long-term Nanny searches.

The best way to reach someone is by clicking the contact us link on our website or calling us at 610-212-6656.

A Nanny is long-term care for a minimum of 12 months or more and has the qualifications listed in our Career Nanny question.

A Babysitter is for occasional childcare for date nights, school closings, evenings and weekends. They traditionally have a little less experience and tend to be college students or empty nesters. 

A Household Assistant does not have any child care experience and is only focused on keeping your house well kept and organized and can run errands.

A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) is a highly and specially trained individual who focuses on the complete care of infants. An NCS often has extensive training involving optimal sleep habits for newborns, caring for multiples, and promotes best practices for the health and safety of a newborn.
An NCS is generally hired to care for newborns either overnight or around the clock and works independently with minimal guidance from parents. They are familiar with all of the “normal” appearances and behaviors of a newborn and can help families determine when something is outside of that range of normal in order for parents to have peace of mind that their newborn is developing appropriately. An NCS often has extensive knowledge in caring for multiples or premature infants, and is well versed in establishing good eating and sleeping habits to set the optimal stage for sleep conditioning, with the goal of getting the newborn to sleep through the night and take age appropriate naps as soon as is healthy and possible for that individual newborn. An NCS is also well versed in supporting family values and understands the importance of a child having healthy, educated, and empowered parents.
An NCS will understand the value of and will support a breastfeeding/chest feeding parent and will also understand and support without judgment a parent who chooses to formula feed, no matter the reason. They will also have a basic understanding of Postpartum Mood.
Disorders and can help keep the entire family healthy by knowing when to suggest outside help. The most recent information on optimal newborn care is something that the NCS keeps up with, and those resources are shared with families in order for parents to make educated decisions based on current research and what works best for their family dynamic and values. The NCS is willing to mentor others and be mentored whenever it is appropriate, and fully understands the scope of practice they should work within at all times.

A Night Nanny is a nanny who typically works overnight to ensure that the parents are able to get sleep. While he/she doesn’t have the training or the expertise to get your child sleeping through the night. He/She is able to handle all feeding and changing duties to help the parents get adequate rest.

A nanny is a child care specialist whose workplace is a family’s private home. A nanny is employed by a family to provide the highest level of customized child care and to give personalized attention to the family’s children. A nanny may be employed full time or part time, and the nanny may or may not live with the family. The nanny’s role is to provide support to the family by serving as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy companion to the children. 

Ideally, a nanny will have specialized childcare skills, a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high-quality child care by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

A temporary nanny accepts short term employment. Temporary nannies may provide emergency care, sick care or backup care. These assignments may last anywhere from a few days to several months. Some temporary nannies travel with families to assist with child care. 

Ideally, a nanny will have specialized child care skills, a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high-quality childcare by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs. 

A parents’ helper is employed by a family to provide full-time or part-time child care and domestic help for families in which one parent is home most of the time. Parents’ helpers may be left in charge of the children for brief periods of time and may or may not have previous child care experience. 

Ideally, a nanny will have specialized childcare skills, a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high-quality child care by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

Postpartum Doulas provide families information and support on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, and coping skills for new parents. They might also help with light housework, fix a meal and help incorporate an older child into this new experience.

Ideally, a nanny will have specialized childcare skills, a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high-quality child care by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

A sleep trainer specializes in developing individual routines and systems for helping babies and children develop solid, healthy sleep habits.

Ideally, a nanny will have specialized child care skills, a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high-quality childcare by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

FAMILY FAQ

The candidates find us through our website, referrals, job listings, and weekly emails sent out from our database. Our jobs are posted on all major job boards and are also listed on our own social media platforms. 

All our candidates undergo a rigorous screening with a leading third-party provider to complete the following checks:

  • Sex Offender Registry Search: A query of all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam
  • Driving Record Inquiry: A search of previous tickets and accidents (in the past 39 months)
  • Social Security Trace: Verification that the Social Security number you provided belongs to you
  • National Criminal History Search: A search for criminal reports from 38 states (those allowed by law)
  • Criminal Background Check: A check of every county that you’ve lived in for the last seven years
  • Fingerprinting: A search of your fingerprints against the national database
  • Child Abuse History Search: A search of any reports of child abuse in your past
  • Civil Records Review: A search of civil records to uncover any relevant lawsuits, liens, or judgments
  • Drug Testing: Five-panel, state-of-the art hair-follicle or urine drug testing to expose any prior drug use

 

The remaining checks are performed internally by our experienced team of investigators:

  • Reference Checks: We will speak with your friends and family as well as any regular healthcare providers that you see to verify all the information you have provided and to glean information about your character as it is viewed by others.
  • History: We will also verify your employment history and educational background

We have the ability to customize a search specific to you and your family’s needs. Alternatively, we can defer to our large database of nannies who have been previously vetted and approved through our process, which can greatly expedite the process for a busy family in a rush to find a caregiver. The Nanny Loft takes all the difficult parts of finding a nanny, and makes the search both smooth and enjoyable for a family!

The search can vary depending on several factors and our rigorous vetting process. Our turnaround time can be anywhere between 2 to 8 weeks from entering into a family/agency agreement (starting search) to drafting an offer letter and the nanny starting shortly after.

Our placement process usually takes anywhere from 2– 8 weeks depending on the position details, the availability of qualified caregivers, your availability to interview and many other factors. We are constantly vetting new candidates to keep our pool of qualified professionals plentiful. There are many variables that arise when searching for your custom placement and we feel it is most important to make sure the candidates we represent are the “right” fit for you and your family. Sometimes this takes a little extra time and patience. Only 2% of applicants pass our vetting process. We typically review 90-100 applicants prior to making a match.

If you need assistance with your children immediately we would be happy to enroll you into our babysitting membership and match you with one of our incredible agency employed nannies who can relieve the pressure of feeling like you have to hire in a rush. This provides both parties the time needed to ensure we find the best nanny for your family.

At The Nanny Loft we stand behind our placements. We want both our clients and our caregivers to be completely happy with the placement. If for any reason within up to the first 30, 60 or 90 days (depending on package) of employment the candidate does not work out (within law), The Nanny Loft will work with you to help find a replacement nanny. It is our ultimate goal to make lasting connections the first time and we have a 95% success rate! **We require a signed employment agreement to be in place for your replacement policy to be valid**

The Nanny Loft does not employ any caregivers (outside of our babysitting membership). All caregivers are employees of the families’ and will be paid directly by the family. We assist our clients in getting proper payroll set up and help to make this part of hiring a nanny easy.

According to the IRS your nanny/household employee is to be paid as a W2 employee of the household. It is not legal to pay your nanny as an independent contractor. For more information on taxes and payroll, please ask a professional.

Legal Pay: Nannies are legally required to be paid as W2 employees of the household and paid time and a half for all hours over 40 within a 7 day period. Nannies are never independent contractors

Guaranteed Hours: Paying your nanny for a set amount of hours each week. For example, if a you go on vacation your nanny would still get paid her regular wage.

Competitive Pay Rate: We work with the BEST in our industry! The Nanny Loft nanny rates range between $22 – $3O+/hour

Paid Sick Leave: Various State Laws ensures that employees are entitled to 24 hours of paid sick leave per year

Additional: Industry Standards recommend a medical stipend, retirement contribution, mileage reimbursement and annual cost of living increases.

At The Nanny Loft, we charge a retainer fee to begin a job search, and a placement fee once a nanny we have provided has been hired.

Paying your nanny legally is a requirement for all of our clients, as it ensures both your family’s and your nanny’s financial safety as well as the right to have access to our guarantee policy. While it may seem inconvenient now to sign and file tax documents, it will avoid potential fines and massive headaches in the future. Additionally, should you decide to part ways with your nanny down the line, they will be able to file for unemployment. Why does this matter to you? Because if they file for unemployment without any record of you employing them, you could be audited and / or required to pay a hefty fine. The same applies for if your nanny is injured on the job. Though these occurrences may seem unlikely, paying your nanny legally is added insurance for your future with your caregiver.

Remember that your nanny is a caregiver to your child first and foremost. Their primary responsibilities should involve the maintenance of the health, safety and wellbeing of your child. It is absolutely within your discretion to request that your nanny assists in household chores such as laundry, meal prep, tidying and errand running. It is however, paramount that the expectations of the role are made clear during the hiring process so that any added responsibilities do not interfere with the quality of support the nanny may lend as a child caregiver, and that they are reflected in the nanny’s compensation package.

In long term jobs, there should be an agreement with your employee about how paid time off is used. In most compensation packages, there are days that are paid as paid vacation, paid holidays and paid sick/personal time.

Yes. The Nanny Loft Nannies and Babysitter Pros can drive children. 

We are excited for the opportunity to assist you in finding a great nanny/household employee for your family. To begin the process please complete our form online and a placement coordinator will be in touch with you.

NANNIES FAQ

Below are the basic requirements to apply:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be legally able to work in the United States
  • Have a valid driver’s license AND your own vehicle
  • Have a clean driving record
  • Have a minimum of three unrelated personal references whom we can contact to verify your background and character
  • Have a minimum of two professional references whom we can contact to verify your experience, qualifications, and behavior
  • Have a minimum of two years of childcare experience (not including children related to you)
  • Have a minimum of one year of related professional work experience (prior daycare, nanny, teaching, etc.)
  • Possess valid CPR and first-aid certifications (or be willing to obtain/renew prior to placement
  • Possess mandated reporter and carseat safety trainings or be willing to obtain during the hiring process

  • Commit to being paid legally, or “on the books,” as a W-2 employee

  • Consent to ongoing, periodic background screening

If you’re confident that you meet these initial qualifications, please complete the Nanny Inquiry Form and we will contact you to begin the process.

 

Here are the next steps after you are approved:

  1. Phone Screening: This call is an opportunity for us to gather our initial impressions of you. During our conversation, we will be assessing your verbal communication skills and inquiring about your background and experience to determine whether you are a suitable potential candidate for The Nanny Loft. If you pass this screening, we will invite you to an in-person interview.
  2. In-Person Interview: During this face-to-face meeting, we will delve deeply into your personal and professional backgrounds as well as gather information regarding your current interests, needs, and expectations. We use this data to assess your viability as an appropriate candidate as well as create a full and accurate profile for our clients. Make no mistake—this is an intense, comprehensive evaluation and you may feel some questions are invasive. We model our interview process after state guidelines for assessing potential foster parents with the goal of meeting a similar standard.

At the time of your interview, you will also be asked to complete the International Nanny Association Basic Skills Exam. In addition, we will collect the information we need to complete our background checks and inquiries (these checks will only be completed if we elect to move beyond this stage with your candidacy evaluation).

If you pass the in-person interview, you will undergo extensive background screening including fingerprinting and drug testing. We are partnered with a proven, leading third-party solution providers to complete the following checks:

  • Sex Offender Registry Search: A query of all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam
  • Driving Record Inquiry: A search of previous tickets and accidents (in the past 39 months)
  • Social Security Trace: Verification that the Social Security number you provided belongs to you
  • National Criminal History Search: A search for criminal reports from 38 states (those allowed by law)
  • Criminal Background Check: A check of every county that you’ve lived in for the last seven years
  • Fingerprinting: A search of your fingerprints against the national database
  • Child Abuse History Search: A search of any reports of child abuse in your past
  • Civil Records Review: A search of civil records to uncover any relevant lawsuits, liens, or judgments
  • Drug Testing: Five-panel, state-of-the art hair-follicle testing to expose any prior drug use

The remaining checks are performed internally by our experienced team of investigators:

  • Reference Checks: We will speak with your friends and family as well as any regular healthcare providers that you see to verify all the information you have provided and to glean information about your character as it is viewed by others.
  • History: We will also verify your employment history and educational background

If you have reached this stage, Congratulations! you have passed our rigorous screening process and are ready to join the ranks among the highly qualified candidates at The Nanny Loft. At this time, we will sit down with you to gather a few more details and discuss your desired employment arrangements to complete and finalize your Nanny Profile. We will provide this profile to prospective employers as we match you to those families we feel are most suited to your experience and expectations.

Nannies and caregivers must be willing to commit to one year to be represented for a permanent placement. If you are unable to commit to one year please inquire about our temporary services.

Our screening process typically takes 1 week depending on your communication as well as how quickly we can reach your previous employers. Once you are through our screening process most nannies find their dream job within 1- 4 weeks. 

Being represented by The Nanny Loft is absolutely free!

Yes. We do not accept jobs from families who are unwilling or unable to pay their employees legally.

No. The Nanny Loft is an agency dedicated to finding you your perfect family to work for, but does not employ you. You would be employed and paid by the family with whom you agree to work with.

No. As a nanny, you are under no financial obligations to The Nanny Loft. We do not take a cut of your pay.

At The Nanny Loft, the average pay for our nannies is a rate of $25-$30 per hour.

No. While caring for your family is certainly an invaluable and rich experience, we consider only paid opportunities with someone outside of your family as professional childcare experience. This applies as well to unpaid volunteering.

Rachelle Gershkovich

Rachelle Gershkovich

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

Cheryl Abrams

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.  

Gabriella G

Gabriella

Hello, families! My name is Gabriella, and I am currently studying Biology Education! I have five years of formal babysitting/nannying experience, with many more years of caring for my younger siblings and cousins. I have experience with all age groups, with most experience at the early and late elementary age. As a future educator, I also have abundant tutoring experience (K-12) and am more than happy to help with any educational needs! I never shy away from light housework, meal prep, transportation, pet-sitting, etc, so don’t be afraid to ask!

Summer

Summer

Hi, I’m Summer! I am a college student. I have been babysitting for six years and love hanging out with and caring for kids.

Samantha

My name is Samantha. I am a single mother of three sons. My two sons are adopted from Colombia, South America. I have an Early Childhood Education degree and a Social Work degree. I have worked in child welfare, foster care, adoption, and mental health. I was a stay-at-home mother for fourteen years. My middle son has mild autism and ADHD. I am very knowledgeable about resources in the community and the Lehigh Valley area. For the past four years, I have worked as an intervention teacher for a local school district and supported children in learning support classrooms.

Jocelyn

Jocelyn

Enthusiastic & diligent caregiver to children of all ages & abilities! Available weekday afternoons and evenings. Eight years of experience with special needs individuals. Pet Friendly.

Nora

Nora

Starting with experience in babysitting and watching my younger cousins and sisters, my passion for working with kids grew into a career goal. I went to DeSales University and graduated with a BS in Computer Science. Though I had a degree in the design field, I felt the pull to the caregiving field. I decided to get my clearances and try out working in the preschool system. After about two years of this, I sought a better ratio.I believe that children thrive when given more attention and the tools needed to turn struggles into stepping stones. 

Erin

I’ve lived in the Lehigh Valley area for almost my entire life and have gotten to know the community and local centers well through leisure, work, and volunteer time. I have a big, cuddle monster dog who loves running around and playing outside more than any treat in the world. And to finish this off, here’s a new word of the day: eclectic, and it means to have views, ideas, tastes, and styles deriving from all over, and I think if you need a word to describe me, that’s the one!

Gabriela M

Gabriela

 Hi! I am currently an occupational therapy student. I have experience as a caretaker in schools and group homes, working with various individuals with various special needs. I have taken care of several dog breeds and have a pup of my own; she is a Shihtzu. As a TNL babysitter, I can attest that caring for others is my second nature. I am passionate about being there for others and helping as much as possible. I love spending time with my family, going on walks, going to the gym, and playing with animals.

Maddie

Maddie

Hello! My name is Maddie and I’ve been working in childcare for about 5 years. My goal is to radiate positivity and kindness onto everyone I come across!

Grace

Grace

I have experience with infants and special needs care. I have worked with children of all ages and I am completely comfortable with pets in the home.