Everything You Need to Know Before Hiring a Nanny
From deciding whether a nanny is right for your family to finding, hiring, paying, and building a lasting relationship with your caregiver, this guide walks you through the entire process.
Is a nanny the right childcare choice?
Start with the kind of care, flexibility, and relationship your family needs—not simply the option that appears most familiar.
Nanny vs. daycare
Choosing between daycare and a nanny comes down to your budget, schedule, and your child's needs. Daycare centers are licensed, offer built-in socialization, and provide reliable coverage during fixed hours. A nanny offers one-on-one attention, greater scheduling flexibility, and less exposure to illness.
| Consideration | Daycare | Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Care setting | Group care at a center | Individual care in your home |
| Schedule | Fixed operating hours | Can be tailored to the family |
| Socialization | Built into the day | Planned through classes, outings, and playgroups |
| Illness | More group exposure; sick-child exclusions | Less group exposure; often able to care for mildly sick children |
| Backup care | Staffing is managed by the center | Family should create a backup plan |
What does a nanny cost in Fort Worth and DFW?
Based on applications submitted through The First Milestones, the average local nanny rate is $23.86 per hour. We recommend budgeting at least $25 per hour for a professional nanny with three or more years of paid, private nanny experience.
Rates vary based on experience, the number and ages of children, schedule, location, and whether the role includes household responsibilities. Families should also budget for employer taxes, payroll service, screening, benefits, and mileage reimbursement when applicable.
Cost figures reflect the source outline and may change over time.
A practical professional-nanny starting point
- Hourly wage and overtime
- Household-employer taxes
- Payroll service
- Paid time off and holidays
- Background screening
- Mileage or travel expenses
See the factors that shape local rates and build a realistic childcare budget.
Read the nanny cost guide →Babysitter vs. nanny
A babysitter
Provides occasional, short-term care—such as a date night or a few hours when plans change—and is commonly paid per job.
A nanny
Works a regular, ongoing schedule and supports meals, naps, routines, transportation, development, and other agreed child-related responsibilities. A nanny is typically a household employee.
Many families use both: a nanny for dependable weekly care and a trusted babysitter for evenings or unexpected needs.
What does a nanny do?
A nanny's role centers on your child's needs and schedule rather than a group routine. The exact day varies with your child's age, your household, and the responsibilities you agree on.
Daily care
Feeding, diapering or potty support, dressing, naps, supervision, and transportation when included.
Development
Reading, arts and crafts, age-appropriate play, outings, playgroups, and activities that encourage new skills.
Child-related upkeep
Children's laundry, tidying play areas, preparing children's meals, and cleaning up after activities and meals.
Questions to consider before beginning your search
- Does your work involve travel, long hours, changing shifts, or limited flexibility when a child is sick?
- Do you want individualized, one-on-one care?
- Can your budget support professional wages, taxes, and benefits?
- Do you want direct input into your child's enrichment, routines, and activities?
- Are you hoping for a consistent caregiver who becomes a trusted part of family life?
- What backup-care plan will you use when your nanny is unavailable?
Clarify your expectations before you meet candidates
A strong search begins with a realistic job, clear priorities, and an employment package that attracts qualified caregivers.
Qualifications to look for
Certifications and experience
- Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
- Experience with your children's age group
- Current knowledge of child development and safety
- Early-childhood education or a CDA credential when relevant
Personal qualities
- Patient, loving, calm, and engaging
- Punctual, reliable, and organized
- Responsible and trustworthy
- A strong, proactive communicator
Explore the skills, certifications, and added-value qualities that help a nanny thrive.
View essential qualifications →Benefits to offer your nanny
Your nanny needs time off and predictable income just as other employees do. A competitive package shows that you view nanny care as a professional role.
Paid time off
Offer at least two weeks of PTO and establish how dates are requested and approved.
Sick days and holidays
Three to five paid sick days plus paid major holidays are common starting points.
Guaranteed hours
Pay the nanny for the regular schedule when the family chooses not to use the care.
Learn why guaranteed hours protect a nanny's regular income and create a more stable working relationship.
How guaranteed hours work →Build a thoughtful, repeatable hiring process
Give yourself four to six weeks when possible, use the same evaluation criteria for every applicant, and complete screening before making the hire.
How to find a nanny in DFW
Personal referrals
Friends and family can provide a trusted lead at no cost, although the pool is often limited.
Online platforms
Care.com, Sittercity, Facebook, and Nextdoor provide reach, but families should expect to screen many applicants themselves.
Placement agency
An agency manages recruiting, screening, and background checks, saving time and offering professional guidance for a placement fee.
Compare search options and learn how to keep a great nanny after you find one.
Read the finding-a-nanny guide →What to ask in a nanny interview
Background
Ask about years of experience, past roles, children's ages, training, and why previous positions ended.
Real situations
Explore behavior challenges, emergencies, parent disagreements, communication, and problem-solving.
Daily approach
Ask how the candidate would structure a day, encourage development, handle routines, and plan activities.
Logistics
Confirm schedule, start date, flexibility, driving, household tasks, travel, and compensation expectations.
Specialized care
Discuss dietary restrictions, medical needs, allergies, or special-needs experience relevant to your family.
Mutual fit
Invite the candidate's questions and discuss communication preferences, work style, and long-term goals.
Use a structured list of questions, then evaluate what you learned and consider a paid trial day.
View nanny interview questions →What to include in a nanny contract
- Work hours, location, and routine schedule
- Hourly pay, overtime, withholding, and payroll
- Guaranteed weekly hours and pay
- Childcare and household responsibilities
- PTO, sick leave, holidays, and benefits
- Transportation, mileage, and travel
- Safety, discipline, and screen-time guidelines
- Privacy, confidentiality, and photo sharing
- Absences, schedule changes, and expenses
- Notice periods and grounds for termination
- Review and raise schedule
- Employer and caregiver signatures
Need a starting point? The DIY placement package includes a sample nanny agreement.
Explore the DIY package →Want expert support with the entire search?
The First Milestones can guide your family from job design and recruiting through screening, interviews, and the final offer.
Explore full-service nanny placementPay legally and set up payroll correctly
Legal pay protects your family and gives your nanny documented income and access to important benefits.
Can I pay my nanny in cash?
You may physically pay wages by cash or check, but paying “under the table” is not recommended. Once household-employment thresholds are met, families generally have tax, reporting, and recordkeeping responsibilities. For a full-time nanny, those thresholds are usually reached quickly.
Legal pay gives your nanny reportable income for housing and credit applications, plus contributions toward Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits. Families can manage filings themselves or use a household-payroll provider.
Review household-employer obligations, paperwork, and payroll options in detail.
Read the Texas legal-pay guide →Texas nanny-payroll paperwork
Federal setup and reporting
Texas reporting
A payroll provider can often handle setup, direct deposit, and quarterly and annual filings.
Payroll-service options
Household payroll services can simplify direct deposit and tax filings. The source outline lists the following providers and pricing; confirm current rates directly before choosing.
| Provider | Price listed in source | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Poppins Payroll | $49/month | Visit provider |
| GTM | $70/month | Visit provider |
| HomeWork Solutions | $59.76/month | Visit provider |
| Nest Payroll | $49/month | Visit provider |
| SurePayroll | $39/month | Visit provider |
Plan for real life after the hire
Sick days, changing responsibilities, compensation reviews, and honest feedback are all part of a healthy long-term employment relationship.
What if my nanny gets sick?
Encourage your nanny to stay home and follow the sick-leave terms in your agreement. Communicate about symptoms, the expected return date, and any doctor-note policy. Paid sick days help a caregiver recover without feeling pressured to expose your family.
Build a backup-care plan before you need it
- Explore drop-in care such as The Playspace in Fort Worth
- Check whether your employer offers Bright Horizons or another backup-care benefit
- Build a list through occasional-care apps such as Bambino
- Ask whether The First Milestones has availability within its existing candidate pool
- Identify trusted relatives, neighbors, or sitters who may be available
Does a nanny care for a sick child?
Many nannies are comfortable caring for minor illnesses such as a mild cold or low-grade fever. Set boundaries for severe or highly contagious conditions, persistent vomiting, or illness requiring specialized medical attention, and record those expectations in the work agreement.
How often should a nanny receive a raise?
Review compensation annually, often around the nanny's work anniversary. A typical raise is around 3–5%, depending on performance, experience, cost-of-living changes, and current local rates.
Consider a larger adjustment when you add a child, expand the job, or the nanny earns valuable new credentials. Use the review to revisit responsibilities and benefits as well as pay.
Should I give a holiday bonus?
A holiday bonus is a meaningful way to recognize consistent care. A common full-time guideline is one to two weeks' pay. For a nanny employed less than a year, one day's pay for each month worked can be a useful starting point.
If that is not workable, a smaller cash bonus paired with extra paid time off can still be appreciated. Cash is generally more useful than substituting an expensive gift.
How to have performance conversations
Schedule a first check-in after the nanny's first week, then continue with monthly conversations. Regular feedback helps small concerns stay small and gives your nanny a dependable place to ask for support.
Prepare
Schedule the conversation in advance and share a few questions so both sides can reflect.
Discuss
Talk about wins, challenges, needed resources, communication, and personal or professional goals.
Follow through
Agree on next steps, document meaningful changes, and revisit progress at the next check-in.
Nanny hiring FAQ
How long should I allow for a nanny search?
Plan for approximately four to six weeks when possible. A specialized schedule, narrow requirements, or limited availability can extend the timeline.
What should be in my nanny budget besides wages?
Include overtime, employer taxes, payroll service, paid time off, paid holidays, background screening, and any mileage, travel, or activity reimbursements.
Should a trial day be paid?
Yes. A working interview or trial day should be paid. It lets the family and candidate observe the fit in a real setting without asking the candidate to provide unpaid labor.
Are guaranteed hours the same as a salary?
No. A nanny is generally an hourly household employee. Guaranteed hours promise pay for the agreed recurring schedule when the nanny remains available but the family chooses not to use the care. Overtime rules still apply.
When should we revisit the work agreement?
Review it at least annually and whenever the schedule, number of children, duties, compensation, travel, or other material expectations change.
Ready to find the right nanny for your family?
Get professional support defining your role, reaching qualified candidates, completing screening, and creating a confident placement.