Our Process
Step 1
We learn about your family's philosophies, values, needs and schedule.
Step 3
You meet carefully selected matches.
Step 2
We start a customized search recruiting and thoroughly screening qualified caregivers.
Step 4
We handle employment, onboarding, and ongoing support.
Our process is built to save you time and reduce stress. Giving you an extra 40+ hours to spend quality time with your family!
NURTURING NANNIES COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING PROCESS
Committed To Hiring Only The Best
When it comes to trusting someone to come into your home and care for your most prized possessions, “good enough” just doesn’t cut it.
At Nurturing Nannies, we hold our caregivers to the highest standards. Every applicant who comes through our doors is carefully screened through a multi-layered process that evaluates more than just experience. We look for character, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and a genuine passion for children.
Our process is intentionally rigorous, and only about 8% of applicants are invited to join our team. We take time to verify references, assess communication and caregiving style, conduct in-depth interviews, and run comprehensive background checks before any candidate is ever introduced to a family.
Caregivers who aren’t aligned with our values or who lack transparency rarely make it through the first steps of our process. The ones who remain? They’re the real deal! Experienced, trustworthy professionals who bring consistency, warmth, and skill into every home.
1
CANDIDATE APPLICATION
We carefully review each application to verify work history, assess relevant experience, and identify each candidate’s strengths, areas of expertise, and overall fit for our team.
2
INITIAL PHONE SCREENING
Applicants who meet our minimum requirements are invited to connect with our team for a brief phone screen. This conversation helps us learn more about their job search goals, communication style, and what kind of family and role they feel most aligned with.
3
PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW
Applicants who stand out during the initial screen are invited to a one-on-one interview with our team. We take a deeper dive into their childcare philosophy, experience, career goals, and what kind of family environment they thrive in. Ensuring alignment before they ever meet a client.
4
IDENTITY VERIFICATION
As part of our background screening process, through Yardstik, each candidate’s identity is verified using a secure SSN trace and cross-checked against address history and federal records. This helps confirm that the individual is who they claim to be and adds an additional layer of safety to our vetting process.
5
BACKGROUND CHECK
We partner with Yardstik, a trusted third-party background screening provider, to conduct comprehensive checks on every candidate. This includes identity verification, SSN trace, address history, national and federal criminal searches, sex offender registry, and motor vehicle records when applicable.
6
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING VERIFICATIONS
We verify that each candidate holds current certifications in CPR and First Aid, and confirm any additional training such as SIDS prevention, newborn care, or early childhood education. We only move forward with candidates who meet or exceed the safety and training standards required for the role.
9
CHARACTER REFERENCE CHECKS
In addition to professional references, we reach out to individuals who know the candidate personally to gain a deeper understanding of their values, temperament, and overall character. This helps us ensure each caregiver not only has the skills, but the heart, for the job.
7
SOCIAL MEDIA & INTERNET SCREENING
We thoroughly review each candidate’s public online presence to ensure their conduct aligns with our core values both online and offline.
8
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE CHECKS
All candidates are required to provide three professional references, with at least two from prior private in-home childcare roles. We verify employment details and speak directly with former employers to assess each candidate’s reliability, communication style, and performance in real-world family settings.
10
VALUES & COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT
Each candidate completes our agency's Values and Compatibility Assessment to help us better understand their caregiving philosophy, communication style, and work preferences. This allows us to make thoughtful matches based on alignment with each family's parenting approach, household dynamics, and core values.
11
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Before beginning any placement, every nannies and sitter completes our agency onboarding and training program. We cover expectations for professionalism, communication, safety, and in-home conduct. Ensuring each caregiver is fully prepared to represent Nurturing Nannies with confidence and care.
12
ONGOING EVALUATIONS
Our support doesn’t stop once a placement begins. We conduct regular check-ins and performance evaluations to ensure our caregivers continue meeting the high standards of Nurturing Nannies. These evaluations help us provide feedback, celebrate strengths, and offer support when challenges arise, so families receive consistent, high-quality care and caregivers feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow.
TIME & INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
The Search Timeline
Because every search we conduct is highly personalized, most families are matched with their ideal nannie within 4 to 6 weeks of beginning the process.
We recommend starting your search at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially for more specialized placements like Newborn Care Specialists, overnight support, or non-traditional part-time schedules (e.g., evenings, weekends, or split shifts).
Some matches happen faster, and others may take longer depending on the specifics of your needs and candidate availability. But we’re committed to finding the right fit, not just the fastest one. Our goal is a placement that lasts and truly supports your family’s specific needs.
The Investment
We understand that hiring a nannie is one of the most personal investments you can make for your family, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, all-inclusive hourly rate model that reflects real family feedback and includes:
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100% of your nannies pay (we never take a cut)
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Payroll, taxes, and agency fees
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Ongoing support, training, and nanny benefits
You’ll also pay a $188 one-time family registration fee, a $700 search fee (both are non-refundable and due upon signing) and just two weeks of your nannies salary up front (not due until we've matched you with a nanny) to lock in your match.
Fun Fact: Families who try to DIY their nannie search spend on average 30 - 40 hours over 6–10 weeks. Working with Nurturing Nannies we do it all for you and help streamline the process! What will you get done with all that extra time?
Ways We Can Support Your Family
Newborn Care Specialists/NCS
Whether you need overnight help, daytime newborn care, or short-term postpartum support, our experienced Newborn Care Specialists provide gentle, reliable, and professional care during the most delicate season. Services are customized to fit your family's unique needs and schedule.
Corporate Childcare
Nurturing Nannies offers trusted on-site childcare for conferences, events, and employee benefits across the Midwest. Our fully employed, CPR-certified caregivers keep children safe and engaged while parents focus on their work. We customize every partnership to fit your organization’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do We Have to Fill Out An Application?
We like to get to know our families before our discovery call to make sure we can serve you. The application gives us a better understanding of your unique needs and helps us source candidates that meet your requirements.
Why Do We Have to Have a Discovery Call?
Here at Nurturing Nannies we believe that it's extremely important to take the time to fully understand your families unique needs and what it is exactly that you are looking for in your ideal nannie. We take the responsibility of finding your ideal nannie very serious. This is going to be the person you are trusting your kids with after all.
Where Do You Offer Your Services?
At this time we are only focusing on servicing Minnesota.
What Are The Required Fees?
All of our nannie placements require a non-refundable search fee of $700.00 and a $188.00 New Family Registration Fee to get the process started. For full pricing details click HERE.
What Are Your Family Requirements?
For family requirements click HERE
Are We The Employers or Are You?
Nurturing Nannies is the legal employer of all nannies and sitters placed through our agency. This means we handle payroll, taxes, insurance, and employment compliance—removing that burden from families entirely. You get all the benefits of having a trusted caregiver without the legal and logistical responsibilities of being an employer.
Please Note
Nurturing Nannies reserves the right to refuse service to any new or current clients for any reason deemed necessary. We do not allow discrimination by reason of race, creed, color, age, disability, national origin, sec, sexual orientation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.