10 iPhone Apps to Help You Manage Your Nanny Search

December 30, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Finding the perfect nanny isn’t always easy, and often requires a lengthy search in order to ensure that the person you hire to care for your children is qualified, competent and genuinely has your children’s best interests in mind. For busy, working parents, the nanny search is a time-consuming task that often needs to be managed as quickly as possible so that they can get back to the demands of their own careers. These 10 iPhone apps take productivity to an entirely new level, helping you find and hire the best candidate, right from your mobile device.

1. eNannySource.com – This free app puts the power of nanny searching and screening in your hands, providing you with the tools you need to streamline your approach to finding the right nanny. Search the eNannySource.com database by ZIP code and manage background screening and the Nanny Success Kit through the clean, easy-to-navigate interface of eNannySource.com’s powerful application.
2. Care.com – While the Care.com iPhone app is free, it does require a premium membership in order to function properly. Accessing the huge Care.com community of nannies, babysitters, tutors, housekeepers and senior care providers is a snap, with local searches filtered by ZIP code and detailed profiles of all prospective matches. You can even post a job listing in order to encourage nannies to contact you, as well as manage last-minute childcare emergencies with the Care-on-Call function.
3. Background Check App – BeenVerified – Regardless of the methods you use to find your nanny candidates, the most promising ones will still need to be subjected to a full background screening in order to ensure that they have no undisclosed criminal history. Access public records for free with the BeenVerified app, which allows one completely free, exhaustive check each month.
4. Craigslist Mobile for iPhone_iPod – Craigslist is a popular, free local classifieds site that connects buyers and sellers, renters and landlords, and prospective employers and potential employees. With this free app, you can access your local Craigslist boards in order to peruse listings posted by nannies in search of a new engagement, or post your own help wanted ad to invite applicants’ to contact you.
5. UrbanSitter – The UrbanSitter community is a great tool for parents in need of childcare, with the power of connectivity brought to your fingertips through this free app. While you will need an UrbanSitter.com account in order to use this application, it’s also free and can help you connect with childcare providers quickly and easily.
6. Nannies As Needed – Parents in the Connecticut area have access to the Nannies As Needed application, a free offering that provides emergency, short-term or daily childcare services to families in search of a great provider. Schedule appointments quickly and easily through this app, which will help you find either a permanent provider or interim care while you’re in search of a more permanent solution.
7. Background Checker – Making a habit of checking the background of any promising candidate before extending an offer of employment is a great way to be diligent regarding your children’s care. This free app searches 175 separate public data sources in order to return exhaustive results about a potential nanny’s background.
8. SOSsitter – One of the most popular sources of childcare in Canada, SOSsitter is a free English-language version of a popular French-Canadian app. Families across the country can connect with a new childcare provider quickly and easily, filtering by postal code and availability.
9. Sitter Booker – SitterBooker is a free app connected to the Mom’s Best Friend agency, a household staffing specialist that provides nannies to families across Texas and Colorado. Housekeepers and executive household support workers are also available through the agency for families in need of more than childcare.
10. Interview Questions Pro – While this $0.99 app is designed to prepare job seekers for an upcoming interview, it can easily be used by families that aren’t accustomed to conducting job interviews by providing lists of common questions. You’ll never be stumped at an interview again, thanks to the 600 flashcards and prompts.

Regardless of the time constraints involved with your search for a quality childcare provider, it’s important to remember that operating any of these applications and texting or emailing prospective nannies during your commute is reckless and unsafe behavior. While your iPhone does make the nanny search a mobile one, sifting through responses or resumes while you’re navigating traffic can have horrific results.