When to look for part-time nanny?

[AJHCFamily]

I'm due early April and will start work again in June. I will need someone about 12 hours per week then and about 20 hours per week come September. I want a sitter to come to the house (I work from home). DD will be in pre-school.

A few questions:
Anyone have luck finding someone for months down the road? I know if we were looking for daycare now would be the perfect time, but I'm afraid I"ll have to wait until right before we need someone for someone to come to our house.

I'm considering offering/paying for 20 hours per week from the beginning (and probably not using all those hours) just to make it a "good deal" for the sitter. Would you offer this upfront or just wait and see with each candidate?

Thanks!

[kennedy444]

It's never too early start asking around and telling people that you will need childcare. Word of mouth is a good first step and it can be hard find someone you love.

[HollyBearsMom]

I agree. its never to early. Interviewing, background checks etc is time consuming and exhausting. You want to give yourself plenty of time.

It tooks me a good 2 months before I narrowed it down a to 3 candidates and then I started the in home interviewing. Once I have made the connections, had phone and off site interviews and completed the background/refernace checks then I have them come to my home, meet my child and my partner.

I think you can start 12 with the agreement it will become more but if the canidate who is the best fit needs more it sounds like you can work with that. It would actually allow you some one on one time with your DD during the transition between being home and starting work. A real bonus.

[AJHCFamily]

Thanks for the response. I think I'm realizing it's closer than I think. Some days I feel like we are forever away and then others I realize it will be here before we know it. I didn't have to look for a sitter for my first until she was much older. It was very part time and I wasn't so worried but an infant is an entirely different ballgame.