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Practical Parenting | Parenting in the 90s | News & Alerts
Pediatrics | Family Matters | Mothering

What should I know about choosing an in-home caregiver?

Nanny care isn't just for the rich anymore. Many middle-class families with two working parents are discovering that the advantages of hiring a private caregiver outweigh the expense. And if you arrange sharecare (one sitter cares for two kids together), it's even more affordable. Au pairs — young women, often from overseas, who live in your home in exchange for childcare — are another popular option.

What are the advantages of a private caregiver?

Your baby gets to stay in the comfort and safety of her own home.
Your baby naps and eats on her own schedule.
Scheduling is flexible.
Your baby gets personal care.
Your baby is less exposed to germs, resulting in fewer colds and ear infections.
Parents don't have to deal with dropoff and pickup at daycare.
A sharecare situation offers opportunities for sibling-like socializing.

What are the disadvantages?

The main ones:

There's little or no monitoring of care setup, as baby and nanny are unsupervised.
Turnover is high (au pairs can stay in the country usually only for one year).
One-on-one care is the most expensive form of childcare.
Parents must pay employment taxes.
There's no backup care if nanny gets sick or takes a vacation.
As babies approach one year, parents may want them to have more interaction with other babies.

How should I evaluate an in-home caregiver?

Before you meet a potential caregiver, interview her over the phone. In addition to determining her fee and availability, you should ensure that she has experience, references, and is in good health. Ask her why she left her last job and, if she's from overseas, if she has a green card. Make sure that language won't pose a barrier to daily communication about your baby.

If you like her answers, arrange for an in-person interview. This interview should be lengthy, as you really need to get a strong, positive sense — as well as sterling references — for anyone who would care for your child. Your gut instincts should be heeded, too, and one of the largest measures of her suitability is how she interacts with your baby — so be sure to schedule the interview after naptime.

If you're pleased with the interview and your baby seemed to respond well to the candidate, you should check her references and then consider paying her on a trial basis to spend an afternoon or two with you and your baby. You may want to try out several leading candidates in this way to find a caregiver who fits your family.