Summer is a season filled with sunshine, adventure, and endless possibilities for kids. However, for working parents, it can also pose a logistical challenge of ensuring their children are cared for while they’re at work. This is where the summer nanny comes in – a reliable and nurturing individual who can provide a safe and stimulating environment for your children during the summer months. But how do you go about finding the perfect summer nanny, especially when you’re super busy yourself? In this guide, we’ll walk you through 10 steps to finding the ideal caregiver for your family.

Start Early:

  1. Like any important decision, finding the right summer nanny requires time and preparation. Start your search well in advance of the summer months to give yourself ample time to find, interview, and hire the perfect candidate. Starting early also allows you to explore multiple options and ensures you’re not scrambling to find childcare at the last minute.

Determine Your Needs:

      2.  Before you begin your search, take some time to determine your specific childcare needs. Consider factors such as the number of hours per week you’ll need childcare, any special       requirements or skills you’re looking for in a nanny, and your budget for summer childcare expenses. Having a clear understanding of your needs will help you narrow down your search and find candidates who are the best fit for your family.

Payroll Decisions:

  1. Once you decide how many hours and days per week you will need, you will need to decide how much to pay your nanny and how you will pay them. You should find out what local nannies are being paid for jobs that are similar to yours. You want to pay fairly or you may be faced with a nanny quitting before the summer is over. Look over job profiles on online sources, call an agency to ask their advice and referral to payroll companies, find out what your legal obligations are, and talk with colleagues.

Utilize Trusted Resources:

  1. There are many resources available to help you find a summer nanny, including nanny agencies, local community bulletin boards, and word-of-mouth referrals from friends and family. Consider reaching out to trusted sources for recommendations or listing your job with a reputable nanny agency like Choose The Right Nanny and tax and payroll specialists. They are experts and will be sure to thoroughly screen candidates ensuring they meet your standards and qualifications before you allow them into your home.

Conduct Interviews:

  1. Once you’ve identified potential candidates, it’s time to conduct interviews to learn more about their background, experience,  childcare philosophy, and what their salary expectations are. Having a list of questions to ask during the interview, covering topics such as their previous childcare experience, their approach to discipline, and their availability during the summer months.  An agency will usually provide a list of questions. If your children are present, take note of how they interact with you during the interview process to gauge their compatibility with your family. Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something feels off, pay attention to that. While it’s important to consider factors such as experience and references when hiring a summer nanny, ultimately, you should trust your instincts when making a decision. Pay attention to how you feel about each candidate and whether you can envision them caring for your children during the summer months. Choose a nanny who not only meets your practical requirements, but also shares your values and parenting style.

Check References:

  1. Before making a decision, be sure to check the references provided by each candidate, even if your best friend or neighbor referred them to you.  Reach out to previous employers or other individuals who can speak to the nanny’s character, reliability, and caregiving abilities. Ask specific questions about their experience working with the nanny and whether they would recommend them for a summer childcare position. If you decide to use an agency, this is where you can truly save some time. They are experts in conducting reference checks and listening for potential “red flags”.

Be a Detective:

  1. Do your best to check out the social media profiles of the individuals you are considering hiring. People often behave very differently in public settings versus online. Do a search on the candidate’s name on all social media platforms.

Make an Offer:

  1.   It’s best to make an offer to your preferred candidate once you’ve conducted interviews with any others.  Make the offering in writing and provide the details such as the start date, schedule, rate of pay, benefits, paid time off,  and any other important details the nanny needs to know in order to make an informed decision.

The Final Step:

  1. Once you are ready to make an offer of employment, take the final step of ordering a thorough background check. This is an important step which legally must be completed only following an offer of employment with the candidate’s permission. Keep in mind, many online babysitting sites allow anyone to register as a care provider. It’s up to parents and trusted sources to verify the background of those they allow into their children’s lives. 

Set Clear Expectations:

  1. Once you’ve hired a summer nanny, be sure to communicate your expectations clearly from the outset. Create a written work agreement outlining your childcare needs, scheduling requirements, and any household rules or routines you’d like them to follow. Include the employment details as well such as start date, rate of pay, overtime rate, how they will be paid, benefits, payday, paid time off and other details. Establish open lines of communication and encourage feedback to ensure a positive and collaborative relationship between you, the nanny, and your children. 

Finding the perfect summer nanny for your kids may take time and effort, but the peace of mind and reassurance of knowing your children are in capable hands are well worth it.  Choose The Right Nanny can take the work out of your search, saving you time and stress.  By starting your search early, defining your needs, and conducting thorough interviews and reference checks, you can find a summer nanny who not only meets your practical requirements, but also enriches your children’s summer experience with love, care, and laughter. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your needs let’s set up a quick call here! Schedule