Do I need to run a background check myself?

Yes - even through an agency, run your own check on the final candidate. For roles with young children, California's Trustline registry is the most thorough background screening option available.

What is a nanny trial period and do I need one?

A trial period (typically 1 to 2 weeks paid) lets both the family and nanny assess fit before committing. California law requires nannies be paid for all time worked, including trials. Most agencies recommend them for full-time placements.

What is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?

A nanny is a consistent professional caregiver working regular hours as a household employee with a formal offer, payroll, and benefits. A babysitter is typically casual and paid informally. The distinction matters significantly for California employment law and tax obligations.

Should I use a nanny agency or search independently?

Agencies pre-screen candidates, verify references, and run background checks before families see a single profile. For most LA families, the time saved and quality of the shortlist makes the placement fee straightforward. Los Angeles Nannies charges 20% of first-year gross salary, paid once at hire.

Hiring a Nanny

Nanny Share Los Angeles: How It Works and Whether It Makes Sense

A nanny share is an arrangement where two families share one nanny, splitting the cost while the nanny cares for children from both households together. In Los Angeles, nanny shares have become increasingly common in neighborhoods like Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Santa Monica, and the Westside.

How a Nanny Share Actually Works

Both families pay the nanny directly as their employer. The nanny typically earns more than they would from a single family (because the workload is higher) but less than two full salaries combined. Each family pays a share of the total rate, making it cheaper than a solo placement.

As an example: a nanny earning $40/hr solo might earn $32/hr in a share arrangement, with each family paying $20 to $22/hr. Both families save 35 to 45% compared to hiring privately.

Where the Care Takes Place

Most LA nanny shares rotate between homes on a weekly or monthly basis, or settle at one primary home permanently. Rotation keeps both homes from becoming permanent childcare venues, but adds logistics. A fixed location is simpler but requires more from the host family.

What Makes a Good Share Match

Compatible ages matter most. Children within 6 to 12 months of each other tend to work best since nap schedules, energy levels, and developmental stages align. Beyond age, look for similar parenting philosophies, neighborhood proximity, and aligned expectations on screen time, diet, and schedule.

Share arrangements fall apart most often because the families were not aligned on these details before they started, not because the nanny was the problem.

The Employer Situation in California

In a nanny share, each family is a separate employer. Each family needs to handle their own payroll, taxes, and employer obligations under California law. The nanny has two employers, two pay stubs, and two sets of tax withholding. Make sure both families are clear on this before the arrangement starts.

Finding a Share Partner in Los Angeles

The most reliable source is your own network: neighborhood Facebook groups, local parenting Slack channels, preschool parent communities. NextDoor and apps like Peanut also have active share-seeking threads in most Westside neighborhoods.

Working through an agency like Los Angeles Nannies gives you a vetted candidate and a structured agreement from the start, and we can sometimes connect families who are both looking for share partners.

When a Nanny Share Does Not Work

Shares get complicated when one family’s schedule changes, one child’s needs increase, or the share partner relationship sours. Build exit terms into the agreement from the start so both families can unwind the arrangement cleanly without the nanny being caught in the middle.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to hire a nanny in Los Angeles?

Most full-time placements take 4 to 8 weeks from first consultation to start date. Part-time and temporary roles can move faster. Specialized roles like ROTA or newborn care typically take longer due to a smaller candidate pool.

How long does hiring a nanny in Los Angeles take?

Most families working through a placement agency in Los Angeles complete a hire within four to eight weeks. The timeline depends primarily on how quickly the family can schedule interviews and whether they have a clear sense of what they are looking for before the search begins.

Do I need to pay a placement fee to hire a nanny?

Yes. Placement agencies charge a fee, typically 15 to 20% of the nanny's first-year gross salary. This covers candidate sourcing, vetting, TrustLine verification, reference checks, and the placement process. The fee is paid by the family after a successful placement.

Should I hire a nanny through an agency or a job board?

An agency pre-screens candidates and presents only those who are a realistic match. A job board gives you a larger unfiltered pool to manage yourself. For first-time household employers or families who want the process handled properly, an agency is strongly recommended.

What should a nanny work agreement include in California?

A California nanny work agreement should include the hourly rate, pay schedule, guaranteed hours, overtime terms (1.5x after 9 hours per day or 45 per week), sick leave (5 days minimum required by law), duties, confidentiality terms, notice period, and termination conditions.

What nanny interview questions actually reveal fit?

Ask scenario-based questions: how they handled a child who would not stop crying, a disagreement with a parent, or a moment where they had to make a judgment call alone. Specific past situations reveal actual behavior. Generic questions get prepared answers.

What should I look for on a nanny's resume?

Prioritize tenure over volume. One candidate who stayed three years with two families is more informative than one who worked for eight families in five years. Check that age-range experience matches your child's age, verify certifications are current, and treat references as the real evaluation.

What are the biggest red flags when hiring a nanny?

Reluctance to provide employer references who can be called directly, a pattern of short stays with multiple families, evasive answers about why previous roles ended, and resistance to TrustLine or background verification. Trust these signals.

How much does a nanny cost in Los Angeles?

A full-time experienced nanny in Los Angeles earns $35 to $45 per hour. Total employer cost including payroll taxes adds 10 to 12% on top of gross wages. A full-time nanny at $38/hr working 45 hours per week costs approximately $96,000 to $100,000 per year all in.

What should I pay a nanny in Los Angeles?

Most strong candidates start at $30/hr. Full-time nannies typically earn $30 to $45+/hr depending on experience, responsibilities, and number of children. Newborn care specialists run $35 to $55+/hr. Budgeting below $30/hr significantly narrows the experienced candidate pool.

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