For working parents, there is no more important decision than choosing a nanny. As a human-resources specialist, Kimberly Porrazzo was horrified by the lack of professional standards in most nanny agencies. So she started the Southern California Nanny Center, an organization that helps parents find nannies themselves. The Nanny Kit is her wonderfully precise and practical guide to finding, interviewing, hiring, and managing the right nanny.

With eleven easy-to-use forms that neatly organize the nanny search, The Nanny Kit saves you hundreds of dollars in agency fees and covers all the bases:

* what to look for in a nanny, and how to find candidates
* what qualifications and references to ask for, and how to verify them
* how to conduct a professional and informative interview
* drafting a nanny work agreement
* managing your nanny, and meeting your tax and insurance obligations

Using The Nanny Kit, you'll be sure that the nanny you hire is safe, qualified, and nurturing -the right nanny for your child's needs.

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Porrazzo has appeared on NBC's Today, the CBS Evening News, and other television shows; she has also been featured in articles about professional child care in Business Week, Working Mother, Parenting, and Smart Money

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However, there were two serious points of frustration for me. First, it seems to assume its reader has unlimited resources, and never discusses any of the compromises that are part of most parents' struggle to find adequate child care, especially in-home care. Second, it seems to assume that all of the job applicants are trained, literate, educated, and fluent in English -- and dismisses those who are not as "illegal aliens." This is not the reality of the market. Many of those who are legally qualified to work in the U.S. are not fluent in English; some cannot read in any language. Additionally, many of them do not have the resources to maintain reliable transportation. Any comprehensive guidebook on hiring child care workers must address these more complex problems.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Good for those hiring a NANNY...Jun 23, 2000
By kb6 "kb6"
While a slim volume at less than 100 pages, this book does give a good overview of the issues involved in selecting a nanny. As the previous reviewer notes, it is aimed as those who will be hiring a Nanny, as opposed to an Au pair, or other type of child care worker. Nannies are generally better educated and more costly to hire and employ, but do provide more intensive and usually education based childcare. Keep that in mind when purchasing, though it does give some good basic information that will apply to all childcare workers.

Good Tips Except for the "Firing A Nanny" ChapterApr 13, 2012
By Deek
As a professional nanny with over 10 years experience, the chapter about firing the nanny left a bad taste in my mouth. Let it be known that I have had wonderful experiences with my families and have never been fired from a job. In my view, the author writes an example of the WRONG way to fire a nanny. In the third paragraph the author writes "What do you do if she gets upset?" Of course she will get upset, particularly if she has given her heart and soul to your children and has no idea you are unhappy. What happened to communication? Of course she'll get upset if all of sudden you decide things aren't working out and the next day she is left without a job and if she is a live-in, kicked out to the curb with no where to live. Honestly, would you like it if she decided she didn't want to work for you and just quit the next day without given you notice? How would that make you feel?

In my view the nanny deserves severance pay and an explanation of why you let her go, unless it's obvious she did wrong and it can be proven. If you have suspicions, you need to be upfront and allow your nanny to defend herself. If allowed in your state, get a hidden camera to confirm your suspicions. Unless a parent has the facts it would be unethical to drop the nanny like a rock without cause or concern for her welfare.

What about the children who have bonded with her? The children would be heartbroken as well if she left suddenly without explanation. If at all possible, they need time to prepare to let go and mentally transition to another nanny.

Now I would understand the abrupt firing if the children were in harms way. But if the parent did everything the book advised, checked references, asked those references probing questions, did a background check, fingerprints, etc...then the likelhood of firing your nanny would be very slim.

The author advises (page 75) to lie to the nanny and say that "We've had a change of plans." "You could add that your aunt has agreed to watch the baby, for instance."
If you tell your nanny that then by law she is entitled to unemployment compensation. If she is fired because of wrong-doing she would be denied the claim. She needs to know the exact reason for her termination. The government will want to know as well when she files her claim.

Most nannies have big hearts otherwise they wouldn't be nannies and the majority would not be vindictive but would leave the family with a feeling of sadness and loss. She and the children will go through a grieving process if they spent a long time with each other regardless of how she was let go. If you must let her go for minor reasons such as a personality conflict, then be kind and respect her enough to give her severance pay for the love and devotion she had for your children while in her care. It's the right thing to do.

If You are Hiring a Nanny You Have to Use ThisMar 12, 2009
By Deborah Najm "oc_mom"
I LOVED what this book did for my family. After using this kit, 3 years later we still have the Nanny that we found. All my friends ask me how we found such a great fit for our family. I always tell them it was because we used this book.

Great! Grab this and go.Mar 06, 2007
By M. Romano
What a wonderful resource. Pick it up and get going. Not to large and long to get through. Take what you need and move on. The forms are great.

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