A great nanny can be key to domestic bliss. Kids are happy, parents are happy, house is happy – life is good. But inviting someone into your life to help take care of your most precious assets can be intimidating, overwhelming, terrifying and supremely confusing. How much to pay? What to look for? How to conduct the interview? Should you run a background check? How do you lay out expectations?

Sadly, there’s no magic bullet answer to these questions, but we’ve rounded up some resources – and will have more coming soon courtesy of our Ask The Expert series. Here are a few great places to start.

Miami Resources

• Nanny Agencies: An ongoing list of Miami's top nanny agencies - great starting place to find pre-screened (albeit potentially more pricy) help.
• Babysitting Agencies: Need help for a day or a weekend? Your regular nanny on vacation? Check out one of these babysitting agencies for pre-screened & vetted (albeit pricey) short-term help.

Hiring Tips

• Cast a Wide Net. Try to interview at least three candidates - the more people you meet, the more confident you'll be about who you like
• Consider Lifestyle. Do you have pets? Smoke? Keep odd hours? Are you kosher? Vegetarian? Be honest about who you are & who you can live with in your house all day/night.
• Think Ahead. Will you be looking for a nanny that drives? Swims? Can travel with your family? Your immediate needs might be very different than your needs a year or two from now.
• Live in v Live Out. This is a completely personal preference, consider your living space, family schedule and parenting needs.
• Language. Looking for someone bilingual? Tri-lingual? English speaking? Again, a personal preference - we just recommend making sure you can easily & clearly communicate with your nanny.
• Interview Better. Check out these tips for screening & interviewing a childcare provider
• Trust Your Gut. Have an instinct about someone who looks great on paper but just doesn't do it for you? Love someone who doesn't have all the experience you're looking for - trust your instinct. Parental intuition is a powerful thing.

Other Resources

• Yahoo’s Guide to hiring a great nanny
• The Good Nanny Book: How to Find, Hire and Keep the Perfect Nanny for Your Child
• Urban Daddies' guide to hiring a great nanny
• Parent Wonder's "Who Makes a Great Nanny & How to Hire One"
• Babble's 25 Rules of Hiring a Nanny by Tasha Blaine, author of Just Like Family

More tips of keeping, working with & living with a great nanny coming soon. Have a specific question? Want to offer your two cents to the converation? Post on our Facebook page or email us and we’ll get right on it…