| Nanny agency | Facebook parent group | |
|---|---|---|
| Vetting and background checks | Agencies usually screen candidates and check references, and can step in if the match does not work out. | Recommendations come from other parents, so vetting really depends on how well you know the person posting. |
| Cost level | Higher, since the fee covers screening, placement, and ongoing agency support. | Lower, since you deal directly with the nanny and skip any placement fee. |
| Speed of finding help | Can take longer, since the agency needs to match you with someone available. | Often faster, since a single post can bring in several interested candidates within a day. |
| Ongoing support if issues arise | The agency can mediate or replace the nanny if problems come up. | Any disagreement is worked out directly between you and the nanny, with no third party involved. |
| Community connection | Mostly transactional, with little social exchange beyond arranging the placement. | Comes bundled with a wider circle of parents swapping tips on schools, doctors, and playdates. |
| Consistency of quality | More predictable, since candidates tend to meet a baseline standard the agency sets. | More variable, since quality depends entirely on who happens to respond to your post. |
Choose Nanny agency if…
Choose a nanny agency if you want a screened candidate, a replacement option if things do not work out, and someone to call when a problem needs sorting.
Choose Facebook parent group if…
Choose a Facebook parent group if you want to move quickly, keep costs lower, and gain a wider circle of parents for recommendations beyond just childcare.
Still weighing it up for your family?
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