Some things you shouldn't buy online

Online Nanny Services are Not the Same as Nanny Agencies

Why not buy online?

• Customized Search: Your family is unique, your job is unique, and you want to find a candidate who is uniquely suited to your position. Sure, you can sift through dozens of resumes looking for nannies who meets all of your criteria, phone screen them, and decide who to interview. Or you can let us hand-pick 3-4 people who we believe your family will love! Our families' hardest decision is deciding which candidate they love best!
• Industry Expertise: You can't beat the direct access to a person who knows all about the FAQs of hiring a nanny, and can help you avoid common challenges and pitfalls. We can tell you what families normally pay, what are typical benefits, and what expectations you should have of your nanny. We also write your job description for you, give you household employer tax information, and provide you with a comprehensive, finely tuned employment agreement to complete.
• Screening: Various online services suggest that they offer screening, sometimes at an extra charge. We believe that you should not let a person into your home who has not completed a comprehensive screening process. This should include a written application (work history, past addresses, open-ended questions about their caregiving philosophy, education, citizenship information, etc.), reference checks for all past employers, an extensive criminal background investigation, a sex offender search, verification of Social Security number, a motor vehicle records check, and CPR / First Aid training. These are all part of the Mom's Best Friend 10-step screening completed prior to any family interviews.
• In-Person Interview: There is no substitute for an in-person meeting. If you choose to do all of these yourself, you are exposing yourself, and possibly your home and family, to unknown, un-screened individuals. We have met each and every one of our caregivers and interviewed them in-person, ensuring that we feel comfortable sending them to your home. Besides getting to know their experience, we get to know their character, such as personality, attitude, and whether or not they have a service heart. We can screen out individuals who are not a match with our agency's philosophy of service.
• Local accountability / Support: Let's face it - the internet can't help in a crisis. It doesn't listen to our concerns, give us advice, or provide coaching to nannies. Our offices are locally owned, and have been in business for over 17 years, giving you the peace of mind that 2 months, 1 year, or even years from now, you can pick up the phone and speak to a person about your placement. We offer a free replacement for the first 4 months (with a sliding discount scale thereafter), but more than that, we want to help you along the way including communication advice, problem solving, regular check-ins with you and your nanny, and monthly and annual review forms.