Los Angeles Nanny
Finding the right nanny, agency or job in Los Angeles has a uniques set of challenges to be aware of. Primarily the distances in Los Angeles make finding a nanny near you almost impossible. Conversely, finding Los Angeles nanny jobs may mean a long commute to and from work every day if you do not find a live in situation that works well for all parties.
What are the location challenges in LA? The primary issue is that Los Angeles is a city of residential suburbs with low population density compared to other cities. This means everyone is spread out across a very large place. The resulting issues for parent and nanny alike are important things to consider, such as traffic, proximity to activities, familiarity with the local neighborhood, etc. The second (and related) issue is that the income distribution in LA is very stratified with high income and low income neighborhoods typically not being in the same proximity. Translated: Parents and Nannies are not likely to live in the same area, or even nearby.
My recommendation for parents who need a nanny, and equally true for those who are seeking a nanny job in Los Angeles: consider a live in situation. While I normally am not that enthusiastic about the idea of having a nanny live in the home. I think having the nanny in the house mitigates the main issues that will come up on a regular basis such as having the nanny arrive on time, having the nanny know the local area, having the nanny be available if you are late coming home from work etc. For the nanny seeking employment, this will cut down on the amount of commuting time, stress over whether you will arrive to work on time and it will give you more free to time to spend on other interests.
As in all cities, I would recommend that you find a quality national or local Los Angeles nanny agency to help you in you search for a nanny. Los Angeles is a big city, most likely you do not want to do background checks, drivers license checks, referral checks, etc on each candidate, nor will you likely have the time to do so. You will want to focus on the personality of the nanny candidate, how well they relate to your kids, and what other type of work they will be willing to do in the home in addition to watching the kids, ESPECIALLY if they are going to be living in your home. Try some of the services listed within this website, some of the local advertisers, or do a search in google for Los Angeles nanny agency and try some of the results that surface. A nanny agency will also give you the flexibility of allowing you to change out a nanny quickly if the person you hired is not a good fit for your family.
