Where to start the nanny search?

I am due 5/29 and will take 12 weeks off. I'll return to work on a part-time basis (3 days/wk) for 3 months before going back full-time.

DH and I need to start looking into nanny options. We are not opposed to day care but would prefer that someone come to our home. Where do I even begin? This is our first so I'm clueless and nervous!

eta: we live in western Nassau

Message edited 4/5/2012 9:18:06 AM.

Re: Where to start the nanny search?

Try looking on sittercity.com...qualified/screened applicants and there may be someone who would do part-time. You could also ask a daycare that you're interested in if they have any part-time people looking for outside work.

Re: Where to start the nanny search?

Well, online there's Craigslist, sittercity, and care.com.

I personally have found all my nanny positions through postings from families on Craigslist. You can weed through all the emails and then carefully choose who you'd like to interview.

Re: Where to start the nanny search?

I found Sittercity and care.com overwhelming, although I think they are a great place to begin a search. I know people who have found wonderful matches through these sites.

Personally I found mine through our neighborhood parent message board and if I was ever in need again I would look and post on there again. I also think word of mouth is great too. Send out an email to friends and family. You never know who has a nanny but won't be needing them anymore due to school and/or schedule changes, however they want to find them a good place to go....network!!

Good luck and start early. I waited until midway through my maternity leave and that was not enough time to find people to interview, interview them etc.

Re: Where to start the nanny search?

We found ours through care.com- I had a ton of applicants, but she was the only one I interviewed.

If you're not going back until August, I would start interviewing sometime in July. If you start now your going to find nanny's who want to start working right away, so the good ones won't wait until you go back to work.

But check out care.com and you can get a feel for how it works. The annoying thing is even if you say no students, a ton of students apply. Which in my situation would not work.