What a real nanny agency actually screens for

'Background-checked' can mean anything from a $12 database sweep to a full multi-jurisdiction investigation. When you're hiring through an agency, ask what's actually included.

What we run on every nanny

Multi-state and county-level criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle record, Social Security trace, and identity verification. If a nanny lived in a state we can't run a proper county check in, we require an in-person background service.

References we actually call

Two family references from within the last three years, plus a professional or educational reference. We call. No email-only references. If a candidate can't produce recent family references, we don't move forward.

In-person interview

Every nanny meets a member of our local team face-to-face before joining the roster. Video calls don't substitute. You learn things standing in a room with someone that no résumé shows.

CPR and first aid

Current pediatric CPR and first aid certification, verified. If it lapses, the nanny comes off the active roster until renewed.

None of this makes hiring risk-free. Nothing does. But it stacks the odds meaningfully in your favor, and it's the reason a real agency costs more than a marketplace app. You're paying for the filter.