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Looking at the real deal of staying at home with your baby. Before becoming a part of the Tiny Treasures Team, I was a SAHM aka stay-at-home Mom for the first year of my son’s life. I decided to leave my sparkling teach ing career and venture full-time into mommy life. I, like many moms, wanted to embrace the joys and challenges of motherhood and be there for every milestone along the one year path I had decided to commit to. Once the year approached, I found myself a bit stuck in deciding my next move. I decided to share with you some pros and cons of being a SAHM. The Decision: Making the decision to stay at home and undergo one of the most thankless jobs is something to consider. There really isn’t much time for the “self” and a baby is really all-consuming to say the least. I often found that my personal endowments fell by the wayside. There are no breaks and babies by nature need a lot of constant attention. Also, regard the gap in your resume and how this will be accepted in your line of work. My point, if you will not be full happy with only looking after your baby, then perhaps working in some capacity will be a better balance. Your Support: This is where I saw a lot of variations in the SAHM experience during my year staying home with my son. Support. Do you have other SAHM friends you can meet up with to talk and socialize? Maybe friends that can lend a helping hand? Do you have family members that are able to help out so you can step away from baby? Perhaps your budget allows for a Mother’s Helper? There is nothing wrong with asking for help. You're a mom. You need and deserve some "me" time. Make sure you have a good support system if you are opting out from work so you can still feel a part of the world and do things for you. It is crucial to illuminate the importance of self-care when being with your love bug full-time. Finances: It is essential to look at your financial situation before making the final decision to quit your job. Review and review. Feeling financially secure is pivotal to staying at home. You will have enough on your plate to worry about as a (new) Mom. For many, totally suspending financial contribution to your family is not possible. If your network of support allows, perhaps you can recruit help from family for free or low cost while you pick up some working hours until you can hire a professional nanny or enroll baby in daycare once you are working full-time. The Benefits No one will take care of and look after your baby like you. That is just how it is. Daycares are full of babies who are seeking the attention of a few caretakers and a sitter will not really fret over the little things that are important to you. The milestones are vast in the first year of life which is why many moms make the leap into full-time motherhood. The first attempt to crawl, rolling onto her tummy, a full belly laugh, cruising, starting solids and the attempts at Mama and Dada might be missed if you are working full-time. Having a front row to all the “firsts” you also assist in providing the emotional support that baby needs when attempting all these firsts. If you have a social platform of mom and babies, you can engage in mommy and baby social times which are a wonderful way to stay connected, get some adult conversation in while your little ones socialize. Many SAHM’s enjoy being involved with what their babies are eating when they start solids and many mom make their baby’s food. Often this is something that is a bit of a challenge to the working mama understandably. Making food and eliminating the high cost of quality childcare is definitely a benefit to staying with your baby. Coming to this decision is easy for some and a hard decision for others and in the end we do what we feel is best for our families. For me, the best indicator to my success to staying with my son the first year was financial security. It can be tight and you might have to modify your lifestyle, but knowing you will be monetarily safe brings peace of mind: Very much needed when looking after baby solo. Lastly, you can modify being a SAHM with working. Many moms go from SAHM to WAHM-Work at-home Mom and start a new business, freelance or start working and developing a business plan to that “thing” they have always want to do. Congratulations either way on your decision and your growing family. You got this! #work #momlife #mothershelper

The task of hiring someone to take great care of your child(ren) can be a challenge within itself and it could be downright stressful. We want to provide some insight and bring to your attention some red flags to look for during the interview process. These are just a few of the things we look for as a nanny agency. Use some of these when sourcing amazing nannies on your own. Let's have a look at professionalism. Lateness, as with any profession, is unacceptable. The candidate is applying for a work position, therefore, should respect time. Attire: How is the candidate dressed and are their clothes tidy and clean? Cleanliness and good hygiene are essential when taking care of newborns, babies, and children. Phone Use: Does the candidate answer the phone or text while interviewing or seems distracted if the phone rings or vibrates? Lastly, does the candidate understand professional boundaries? Is the conversation relevant or does the candidate talk about personal issues? We feel professional integrity is a hallmark of any caretaker. It’s essential to have verifiable work references that reflect the experience of the candidate. Being transparent with work experience and one who is able to confidently talk about past jobs shows credibility. Now let's have a look at the interaction with the child(ren)? Does the candidate engage or do they appear impatient, distracted, or anxious? If they don't meet the child(ren) during the interview, do they ask about them to get a sense of who they are? Asking about the children's day-to-day is very important for any candidate. We understand salary and benefits are integral to one's position, however, at this time you are interviewing simply to see if the candidate will be a match for your family. If you posted a position and have indicated the compensation range. you know that candidates will apply in this range. We feel a candidate that is overly concerned with pay rate and benefits during the initial interview shows their main focus is not on the children. Lastly, we look at mental health. Does the candidate question or doubt their abilities to perform a specific task, talk about financial or personal issues or seem a bit off-centered? Or even self-centered. being a Nanny is a very selfless position. These women love the children they help raise. The conversation should not be just about them. Definitely use your gut and best judgment. As a parent you will know intuitively the right person to take care of your kid(s). We at Tiny Treasure Nanny Agency are here to help ease your stress. We certainly hope you found this helpful. #hiringananny #Nannyinterview

Tips for hiring a Nanny: We at Tiny Treasures Nanny Agency feel it’s important to share some of our useful Nanny hiring tips. The idea of hiring a stranger to take care of your children is very overwhelming. In addition, we certainly understand sometimes anxiety and stress can come with the hiring process. We hope you find this information useful. Nanny Schedule and Skill set: Identify what your family's specific needs are. This is where you can really fine tune and manifest the best caretaker to fit the requirements of your family. Be definitive. For example: figure out your ideal schedule and hours for the nanny. Consider if having a nanny with an educational background, whether it is some college or masters, is important to you. Do you want a nanny that can tutor or is particularly skilled with music and/or the arts? How about private home or daycare experience? Do you require your nanny to possess any distinguished skill sets? Are you considering a bilingual nanny? Lastly, what about compensation and/or benefits? When you have figure this out to the best of your ability. Then it’s time to search. Like many other pursuits, word-of-mouth is the first go-to. Ask close friends, other parents, those in your community, your pediatrician, and any other trusted sources about a caregiver they personally know. If that leads to nowhere, the next best option is to use a reputable and trusted childcare agency. Next comes the interview process. You will be able to identify and notice mannerisms that can help you with you decision. Look for signs, does the potential candidate wash his/her hands after entering? Does the candidate look casual, but professional? Does she/he look bored, watches the time? Get to know the candidate as much as you can during this brief encounter. Then the real hard work begins. Once you believed you’ve found the right fit for your family, make sure to check a minimum of three references. This is automatic with a reputable and trusted childcare agency such as Tiny Treasures, however, if you find a nanny through word-of-mouth make sure to check references. You would be surprised how many families skip this step. So “trust but verify” Before you make the candidate an offer, we strongly recommend having a trial. Here you can see and feel if the nanny is a match for your family. The nanny might be ideal on paper, but you also must see the interaction the nanny has with your children to make the correct decision. Last but not at all least, and we cannot stress this enough. Do a criminal background check! Our agency will always check the background of our candidates and we recommend you do as well if hiring through word-of-mouth. Remember the nanny will be in your home taking care of your children. After this we recommend creating an employment contract and NDA (non-disclosure agreement). An employment contract is important to clearly stipulate the responsibility, duties, salary and benefits regarding the caretakers position. An NDA is a comprehensive contract that states your personal information is confidential while the nanny is gainfully employed and thereafter. Remember, you are hiring a new person to join your parenting team, to look after, engage and keep your children safe. Use your intuition and be sure to to do a thorough vetting process. They are indeed looking after your Tiny Treasures. #hiringananny #EducatedNanny #careernanny #backgroundchecks #Nannyinterview #bestnanny #nannysalary #nannyschedule #fi #fulltimenanny

With the year 2017 right around the corner, we are steadily outgrowing old traditions and understandings of what a family “should look like.” No longer are moms expected to stay at home with the kids, and no longer do women get dirty looks for putting on a pair of pants and aspiring to have a career. So, why are dads taking so much heat for considering a role change in their households? Let’s dissect the most common questions that pops up at even the slightest whisper of the words “stay-at-home Dad.” “But where will Timmy look for a strong male role model?” Timmy’s role model is right there in front of him helping him with his homework. Now little Timmy will get to watch his dad prepare lunch for his mom (if she isn't dashing out the door)- demonstrating the love and affection a man can show to his wife. Now little Timmy will have more time to hear his father’s thoughts on life. And now little Timmy is less likely to feel unwarranted pressure to conform to gender roles just like his father. According to Psychology Today, children whose fathers play an active role in their life tend to be more emotionally secure and show advanced levels of social development. “Doesn’t it feel emasculating to have your wife as the breadwinner?” Only to men who already feel emasculated. In reality, it takes a strong man who is secure with himself to be at peace with the decision to take on traditionally what's been a female role. A stay-at-home Dad is already well aware of the judgments and remarks that are going to be made, but he doesn’t care. So, why does everyone else? Studies show, that when a husband and wife share the responsibilities that come with being a family and raising children, the couple grow closer through a newfound mutual understanding. “Won’t he just turn into a couch potato?” Stay-at-home Moms don’t turn into couch potatoes- they don’t have time! Why would it be any different for the dads? This notion of “lazy dads” has no basis and is just thoughtless input. If dad manages to make the lunches, do the laundry, run the errands, pick the kids up from school, help with homework, cook dinner and get them to bed on time…then he can be a couch potato if he so pleases. By that point, he’s earned it. Let's not forget that some stay-at-home dads may just be lucky enough to be working from home. So unless there is a nanny that can help with the children. This person now has to take care of the little ones while calling into a conference call. According to Pew Research, as of 2014, around 2 million men were stay-at-home Dads in the US. This movement is already happening, but why is society so slow to stand behind it? As a people, we need to make up our minds: do we want our fathers present? Also, do we want to empower women with the option of having kids and a career? If so, we’ve got to stand up for these adaptations in the home. I’d like to see more stay-at-home Dads represented on television and I’d like to see more men feeling comfortable expressing the desire to raise their children. America, it’s time for a Stay-at-Home Dad Revolution! #dads #baby #work #nanny #workingmom #Genderroles

My husband is from England. When he was 5 years old his parents took him to France; he went to Spain at the age of 7; when he was 11 his family visited the United States; he has cherished memories of holiday in Portugal when he was 15- and by the age of 28, he has been to 30 countries around the world. And guess what… he hasn’t been kidnapped, ruined his parents marriage, or contracted some incurable exotic disease (that we know of). He has grown up extremely well adjusted, just like so many other children from that part of the world. For our British counterparts, traveling with kids abroad is just a way of life. Yes, yes, living on continents like Europe offer the incredible convenience of being just a skip away from new languages and cultures; a luxury that most of us Americans don’t have. But we can learn something from this example of family adventuring: we don’t have to give up traveling the world, or even the country, just because we have kids. In fact, there are incredible benefits to traveling with your children-benefits that can enhance parenthood for you and can set your children on a path to becoming amazing human beings! Just scratching the surface, these benefits of traveling as a family are clear: Bond Your Family Together Studies show that the family who travels together, stays together! Any situation that is new for all parties involved creates a certain closeness. You rely on each other to solve problems, or you laugh at each other when a mistake is made. These are deeply felt emotions that will stay in a child’s memory for years to come. Family photos are such a beautiful added benefit, allowing you to capture these moments to look back on when your children are older. Plus is you need a moment with your partner or just yourself. Hire a babysitter or bring along your nanny. Bridge the Culture Gap A good friend of mine has been raising her daughter abroad since she was just a toddler. This adorable little girl has blonde curly locks, and is growing up in a culture where most women cover their hair with a Hijab. This tiny ball of smiles stands out like a sore thumb- but do you think that she knows that? Or even cares? Not one bit. This is simply life as she knows it- full of diversity. Often, children that are exposed to cultures different from their own grow up more open-minded, receptive to diversity and less biased to other beliefs. Discover the World Outside of Electronics Playing with crabs on the beach, watching dancing festivals in the street, the taste of a new flavor on their tongue, or shoot, even flying in the sky on a big jet plane- the world will come alive for your children the second you take them out of their natural habitat! Let them dream and wonder without the iPhones and 3D video games. Spark their curiosity now and their possibilities for their future are endless. www.mommynearest.com just publishes a list of kid "friendly" airports. Well friendly enough that your vacation is not ruined before it really starts. Challenge Your Child’s Developing Mind If you were born before the year 2000, you probably have memories of growing up climbing trees and playing make believe with your siblings when you were younger. You traveled to imaginary worlds on your own where you learned how to problem-solve and learned how to create. You spent your days outside scraping your knees and becoming experts on bugs that lived under rocks- and this made you smarter! Research shows that even the smallest bit of time spent in nature, boosts a child’s cognitive abilities! Unfortunately, our kids are growing up in a different time; they spend more time indoors and their environments are more sterile and controlled. This is an injustice to human nature! And, this is even more reason for you to take them by the hand and show them adventure. Pack a bag and go! Whether you take them an hour outside of your hometown, or on a flight to another part of the world, they will grow up to be well-rounded individuals with tighter bonds to their family and a hunger for exploration. The moment you stand watching the wide-eyed wonder on your child’s face will make it all worth it. #Travel #children #Europe #Nanny

Just like us adults who dread going back to work when the weekend is through, our kids have the same anxieties when summer vacation wraps up and it’s time to get back in the classroom. By planning fun routines or activities tied to the school week, you can give you kids incentives to be excited about this time of year! Check out these ideas: Start the Day with Positive Affirmations Together We are all guilty at one point or another of shouting at our kids to get out of bed, and get ready for school…but what we are really doing is shouting at them to get motivated for their day. Instead of begging them to get motivated, let’s show them how to get motivated. No age is too young or too old to benefit from daily morning affirmations with mom or dad. Sure, some days your older child might not be in the mood, or the younger one too groggy, but keep pushing. The goal is that this little routine will be the bridge that transitions them from ‘homebody mode’, to ‘conquering the world mode’. Homework Adventure Day Make homework time fun by designating a day in the week where you and your child do homework outside of the house. Let’s say every Wednesday you go to a new spot, whether it be a Frozen Yogurt joint, the park, or the public library- make it a surprise! This will elicit positive feelings for your child when it comes to doing homework and they will begin to associate homework time with more optimism and less dread. Setting aside special time to help them will show your child that you support their studies, and it gives you time to bond with your child in a way that many parents don’t. Tip: If you are too busy during the workweek, make time on the weekends- insist on it! Random Acts of Kindness for Teachers, Staff and Students Giving feels so good. Each week, have your child think of someone at school who they really feel compelled to recognize. Maybe it’s their teacher, the janitor, the boy in class who not many people play with- and set out to make that person feel special. Take on a little craft project, or a dollar store gift purchase with your child. Encourage them to put their own personal touch on this gift in preparation to give it as a random act of kindness. Studies find over and over again that children have an extreme wealth of inherent compassion, and desire to help others. This Random Act of Kindness routine will hone in on those positive feelings and allow them to get excited to go to school on a mission. Let your child take control and trust their heart, but make sure you’re guiding them into doing these acts for the right, selfless reasons. Watch the smile on their face as they recount the stories of giving each week with pride, and plan what the next school week will look like. Hopefully, with these few simple additions to the school week, you will be able to shift your child’s attitude of looking forward to the weekend, to looking forward to the school week. These fun activities have so many additional benefits outside of a positive-school attitude; these activities will bond you closer to your child, help your child develop healthy school year habits, instill beautiful characteristics into their personality and identity, and many more hidden benefits that we can’t even predict. With support from mom and dad, your kids will learn that life does exist outside of summer vacation! #school #kids #nanny #nannyagency #homework #goingtoschool #MakeSchoolFun #EducatedNanny

Have you ever heard the phrase, “A child’s mind is like a sponge?” This analogy isn’t quite far from the truth. Children soak up so much information than adults when it comes to language. Studies show that between the ages of two and six, children are learning up to 10 new words per day! And in the several years that follow, that number increases to 20 new words per day. If there was ever a time to approach the challenge of becoming bilingual, it’s when you’re young. Why a Bilingual Nanny? Face it; if your child is growing up in America, they will be met with the task of learning a second language sometime in their life. Most American students start learning a second language in middle school or in high school, most Universities require language courses, and there are estimates that America will be the largest Spanish speaking country in the world by 2050. No matter which language you desire your child to learn, full immersion with a bilingual nanny is the way to go. Where do you start? Firstly, when looking for a bilingual nanny, don’t get so excited about her language skills that you forget to check if she meets your needs as a childcare provider. Cover the basics: you need someone who is flexible enough to adapt to your schedule requirements; maybe you need someone who can cook, or possibly, someone who can drive. Sometimes it helps to use a nanny agency to help you with the hiring process. She must tick all the boxes, and the bilingual aspect is just the cherry on top. Be Involved Now, in order for you to be a participant in the bilingual growth of your child, you must educate yourself a bit on how a child’s language skills develop. Know that whichever language your nanny uses to speak to your child, it’s important that she communicates in solely that language- not a mixture of English and said foreign language. You want to create distinct lines between one language and the other so it is clear which vocabulary belongs with which language. Understand that speaking to children in full sentences like you would with an adult, instead of broken baby sentences, promotes healthy mental and lingual development. Communicate what you learn and desire to your nanny initially, so that the whole family is on the same page. Children all over the globe are learning to become bilingual at a young age, to the point that it becomes a cultural norm. America is behind in this skill, but that doesn’t mean that your child can’t get ahead. Equipping your kids with a second language at as a youngster will give them a leg up in their scholastic studies, and open their minds to different cultures. Your child will thank you for opening doors for them in an ever-blending world. #language #french #diversity #travel #nanny #nannyagency #Language #SpanishSpeakingNanny #FrenchSpeakingNanny

Whether you have a bit of a problem child on your hands, or you simply want to raise your toddler with good behavior, it’s really simple. Really. As early as 3-years-old, children start picking up on social cues and begin developing psychological awareness. They quickly become little scientists, running social and psychological experiments on their friends, siblings, and even you- their parent. They test the limits, and see how far they can push. The good news is this: kids have better things to do than become household political activists constantly fighting the power. Deep down, kids want rules- it removes the anxiety of not knowing when or how they’ve done good or bad. They just want to know that things are fair, and they look to you, the lawmaker, to keep things fair. You can do this by making sure that boundaries are set, and those boundaries don’t change day to day. Your household is now a kingdom, with rules, consequences and rewards. And you are the benevolent Queen who sets the law of the land by following these simple steps: Designate Rules Whether your household rules are displayed, or are spoken- they need to be the way of decree in your home; black and white. The lines need to be clear to you and your child. For example; Rule 1: No Hitting. Ever. Rule 2: No Throwing Balls in the House Rule 3: No Sneaking Treats from the Fridge Make some rules based off of human decency, and make some rules that address existing problems. Don’t Be Flimsy Whenever a parent threatens their child with a consequence without following through, it’s like taking half a bottle of antibiotics without finishing the prescription; the bad habit just grows stronger and more resistant. If you have established a ‘No Candy Before Dinner’ rule, catch your child eating candy before dinner, and then say, ‘Next time I catch you doing that, you’ll be in trouble”…well, you’ve just created the beginnings of a monster. Your child will only push you further the next time by crying, or bargaining. By omitting a consequence last time, and then applying a consequence this time, your child feels like this is an unfair situation. No one wins. Use Productive Language When rules are broken there are consequences; this is just a fact of life. Your kid isn’t going to take it personal, and neither should you. When applying a penalty, commentary should go like this: “It’s unfortunate that you hit your brother, and broke our ‘No Hitting’ rule. As you know, once a rule is broken there is a consequence.” Say nothing more, nothing less. It’s not a conversation. Productive Consequences No consequence should ever be cruel, or personal. Taking away a game console might have a dramatic effect in the moment, but if it has no connection to the crime, it might insight more anger than understanding. Have a few consequences in your back pocket for various circumstances, and a one staple consequence that will elicit introspection. The most productive penalty used in my house is The Naughty Chair. There is a chair in our living room that is rarely sat in on a daily basis, which makes it the perfect designated Naughty Chair. This is basically ‘time out’ but in an isolated, consistent and non-threatening area. You don’t want to overlap good places and bad places. So, once a rule is broken, I walk my child to the chair, explain to them why they are here, and tell them their penalty of X amount of time. Stick to your guns; if your child moves from that chair then more time is immediately added on. No exceptions. Furthermore, when The Naughty Chair time is up, a conversation is necessary to turn this crime into a learning opportunity. Mine goes a little something like this… “Can you tell me what you did wrong?” “I hit my brother” “Exactly, and that’s not okay. You are a good boy, but you did a not-so-nice thing. Go say you’re sorry and let’s move on. I love you forever and I forgive you.” And it’s over! We can all get on with our lives. Your child should never feel like they are bad; rather, it was their actions, which were bad. More importantly, they shouldn’t feel like mom or dad holds a grudge against them. Love them, support them and move past it. You can help your child build maturity, logic and rationalization while developing a healthy set of morals by being the pillar of reason. If you take away anything from what you’ve read here today, it should be this: be consistent. Whether you choose to abide by one rule, or ten rules- stick to them and you will never be that parent of the screaming child in the grocery store. #ChildBehavior

We all know the attributes you should look for in a nanny: flexibility, creativity, responsibility and so on. But is that all? One of the most important elements in the healthy development of a child is stability. When hiring a nanny, you want to be certain that the relationship your children build with this important person is going to be consistent and lasting. To make sure you don’t end up bouncing from nanny to nanny, you need to think about how this relationship will progress into the future. Consider these questions when interviewing for the newest extension to your family. Does your nanny have roots in your area? A potential nanny doesn’t have to be from your area, but it’s important that she has more reasons than just work to hold her down. School, family or some other important element of passion in the area can be huge incentivizes for a nanny to stay with your family long-term. Is your nanny asking questions during the interview? A sure way to tell if the person you’re interviewing is deeply interested in becoming part of your family-versus solely finding a job- is if they are asking questions. Interviewing a nanny who is saying, “yes, yes, yes” to everything might outwardly seem like you’re on the same page- but the nanny needs to be making sure this is the right situation for them as well. Asking questions about your child’s interests or sleep schedule is a sign that they are taking this seriously. Does your nanny have a passion for children? A nanny is different from a babysitter. You aren’t looking for someone to watch your child for a couple hours per night; you are looking for someone to contribute the emotional needs of your little one. Hiring a nanny that has a passion for children, whether they want to pursue a degree in childcare, or even want to have children of their own someday, can be a fantastic indicator that your nanny will treat your child with love. Can you openly communicate with your nanny? The nanny-parent relationship is key! You are inviting someone to essentially be a part of your family, and families need to get along! Not everyday is going to be peachy. There are going to be stressful days in the future for your nanny, and for yourself, where an open dialogue is the only way to progress through tough conversations. Effectively, you need to like your nanny as a person in order to enjoy a lasting relationship. An inconvenient truth to consider when hiring a nanny is that they can leave at any time. This is scary but completely unavoidable as long as you find the right match! That is why it is important to be absolutely certain that this dynamic is realistic and consistently strong. The ultimate goal is to find a stable nanny who will contribute to the happiness and development of your child, while giving you a hand in balancing your life as a responsible parent. Know what it is you’re looking for and don’t settle for anything less than what you’re tiny treasures deserve. #nanny #nannyagency #babysitter #parenting #NannyCommunication #Nannyinterview #nycbabysitter #nannyservice

As a mom, I understand just how difficult it is to trust another person with your child’s safety and well being. We brought those tiny babies into the world; we nursed them, cared for them and were by their side day and night – how can anyone else possibly do a good enough job? Well, while no one could ever replace you, there are some amazing people out there who can take care of your little one and ensure he or she is well looked after when you can’t be there. The key is to find a nanny who not only has the experience and qualifications but who slots right into your family like a missing piece. However, finding a nanny you feel comfortable trusting can be difficult and that’s why many parents turn to a nanny agency for expert guidance. But how do you know which nanny agency is right for you? Well, as someone who worked as a nanny for 12 + years, has matched nannies with families for almost as long and most importantly, has a little girl of my own, I have some valuable insight… 10 questions to ask yourself when searching for the perfect nanny agency Q1. Does your nanny agency assess a caregiver’s work history? This really is so important. A lot of people lie on their resumes and an agency that takes a nanny’s word at face value isn’t worth their salt. As well as carrying out a personal interview with the applicant, your nanny agency should be able to provide you with accurate previous employer information, including phone numbers, ages of the children, reasons for position ending and the responsibilities held. Q2. Do they perform a criminal background check? Another very important one and something that I have always taken seriously even while I was a nanny myself. Before recommending them, a great nanny agency will confirm a candidate has no criminal record on file using a multi-state search. A thorough search includes convictions, arrests, sex offender registries and administrative court records from across the United States. You can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of your little one! Q3. Do you know who is behind the agency? Agencies run by big corporations don’t have the same care for their customers that a smaller nanny agency has. Profits are the top concern and the specific needs of each customer aren’t viewed as a priority, meaning you get conveyor belt, ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment. Smaller nanny agencies overseen by involved individuals ensure you have a warm, caring experience. In my case, being both a mom and a former nanny, I know the industry from multiple angles and therefore know and understand what’s truly important. Q4. Does the nanny agency have INA Membership? The International Nanny Association is a not-for-profit educational group responsible for the in-home care industry. They provide “information, education and guidance to the public and to industry professionals” and hold member agencies to a high standard of quality. Being a member of this association shows your agency is an approved company who cares about being on top of the latest industry information and tools. Q5. How long have they been in business? A new agency just won’t have the systems or nanny networks you need to find a high-quality childminder. Often this inexperience means poor matches or careless rushing on the part of the agency as they struggle to build their portfolio as quickly as possible. On the other hand, a nanny agency that has been running for numerous years shows you they’ve had plenty of success in pairing families with the right nannies and they’ll have a reputation you feel comfortable trusting. Q6. Is there a charge for registering? Finding the right nanny for a family takes time and careful research. Personal interviews need to be carried out for both parties, background checks need to be done and suitability assessments need to be calculated. It should be a thorough process. Agencies that don’t charge a fee up front are doing all that work for nothing, which means processes are likely to be rushed and corners cut. Registration fees prove the agency understands the importance of the research process and intends to do a quality job. Q7. Does the agency have a list of requirements? You may have hired your neighbor’s daughter to watch your child one evening or you may even have been that neighbor’s daughter during your teen years – either way, there’s a big difference between trusting someone you know to watch your little one for a few hours and leaving them in the care of a stranger several times a week. With this in mind, a great nanny agency will ensure your caregiver is qualified with relevant experience. For example, any nannies registered here at tiny treasures must have two years of verifiable professional childcare experience AND be CPR certified. Q8. Do they offer a guarantee period? Very simply, if the agency doesn’t offer a respectable replacement guarantee period for a nanny that doesn’t work out, you should walk the other way. Q9. Are they easy to communicate with? The agency responsible for finding you the perfect nanny should be as respectable, trustworthy and accessible as you’d expect your new childminder to be. Phones should be answered when you call, messages should be returned at a reasonable speed and they should be all-round professionals each time you deal with them. A shady agency means a shady nanny. Q10. What is the agency’s stance on payment for their nannies? Legally, household employees such as nannies should be paid according to the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights. This means a live-out nanny must be paid AT LEAST minimum wage for every hour worked and overtime at the rate of at least 1.5 times their base hourly wage. If an agency is encouraging or allowing you to pay the nanny they provide less than that amount, this is a serious warning sign. So there you have it! Keep an eye on our blog for more expert advice on childcare, being a mom and balancing work with home life. #nanny #nannyagency #babysitter #childcare #nycbabysitter #newparents #parenting #pregnancy #newborn