How do we find a good nanny?

I get this question a lot.

I'd have to say that finding a good nanny will take some time. You can go through a ton of interviews without finding someone who your family is compatible with. Believe it or not, this is a new relationship that your whole family is going to have to enjoy. You must make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the new nanny.

The thing I stress the most would be to check references. CHECK REFERENCES! Did I mention you should check all the nannies references!! She only provided a couple? Ask her for more, in fact ask her for around ten. It sounds excessive, yes, but this is your families potential nanny, someone who will care for your children when you are not there and you should know a bit about her before you hire her.
Ask her for not only families she has previously worked for, but friends, neighbors, literally anyone she knows. You learn so much about a person by what other people will say about her.

I would also ask to see her CPR/First Aid card, if you feel that is a requirement, which I do recommend. A background check is also a great way to find out more about the potential nanny. You may interview a candidate that looks perfect on paper and interviews very well, but may have a record of some sort that may make you uneasy. Trustline provides a wonderful background check that is required for all nannies working through any California agencies. A TB test is also another precaution to take in ensuring that your children are as safe as can be.

Think about doing a trial week once you have found a candidate you like. This gives each of you a chance to "try" each other out. She needs to make sure she is happy with the job duties, and the kids she will be taking care of. You need to make sure you feel comfortable with her and the quality of her work.

This person should be someone you could be around on a daily basis and feel comfortable leaving alone in your home for hours. Make sure you gut instincts are giving you the thumbs up sign, so to speak, about this nanny. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. More often than not, they are right! If you don't feel 100% comfortable with this nanny, I would strongly advise you to keep looking. It may take some time time but be persistent and don't settle for something just because you are in a bind. Make sure you take the time to get to know the nanny as much as you can before she enters your home.

Things to ask a former employer reference...

Was she punctual?
Did you ever pop in on her unannounced and see what she was doing with the kids?
How much she charge an hour?
Did you feel this was a fair price for the work she did?
What were her duties?
Does she take pride in her work?
Was she flexible?
What was her best quality?
What would have changed about her work technique?
Would you hire her again?
Were there ever any emergencies while she was watching your children?
If so, how did she handle them?
Did she perform any other duties other than watching your children?
Why did she leave/or why was she terminated?

Things to ask a friend/other reference...

How long have you known her?
How do you know her?
Describe her in three words.
What are her best qualities?
Have you ever seen her around children?
Would you rely on her to follow through with her word?
Do you know she is applying for nanny positions?
If you have children, would you trust her to watch your own children?

Happy Birthday...Happy Anniversary...Happy Mothers Day

What's the hot new item to get that mom who just needs a little break?

A Pink Elephants Nannies Gift Certificate!!

Every mom could use a little break from her kiddos, and what a better way to help her do that than provide her with excellent childcare?

Our custom made gift certificates come ready to present, wrapped in a beautiful bag, complete with a "to and from" card. You get to choose whether you would like to purchase the gift certificate in hours or in monetary denominations.

Call us at 760.231.7182 or email at Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com to order your gift certificate!

Winning isn't everything. Or...Maybe it is.

How does a romantic night out with your husband sound?
How does a night out with the girls sound?
What about a little YOU time?

Pink Elephants wants to give you 3 FREE, yes FREE, hours of our nanny service!

How you ask?

Right now when you sign up for an On-Call Nanny Membership, recieve 3 FREE hours of our amazing nanny services PLUS 20% OFF your total membership cost. And when you refer a family to check out our On-Call Membership services and they sign up for an On-Call Membership, you automatically get your 3 hours FREE and the family to sign up will receive 20% off their total membership cost!!

You could be getting 6 hours of FREE nanny service...That is a $90 value!!!

Make sure you tell them to mention your name when they sign up.


If you have any further questions don't hesitate to e-mail at Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com

We can't wait to provide you with 3 hours of FREE service with one of your amazingly qualified nannies.

Let's give em' something to talk about.

I've been asked a few times just recently,

"So...What exactly does the membership get me?"

The On-Call Membership fee is what you pay monthly (or you can pay a year in full at a discounted rate) to know that a qualified, experienced, and safe nanny will be there to watch your children when you request a service. We have three different On-Call Memberships, that fit different lifestyles and any budget. The Platinum, Gold and Silver Memberhips are outlined with examples below.

If a family subscribes to the Platinum On-Call Membership they would be required to give Pink Elephants 12 hour notice of their need for a nanny. If they called at 8AM on Monday morning and needed someone at 8PM Monday night, one of the Pink Elephants On-Call Nannies would be there promptly at 8PM. Platinum Members also have the luxury of requesting nannies for overnight stays, when the parents are out of town, or simply want to stay out late (or heck, even sleep in a bit!) This is the only membership that provides use of an overnight nanny.

The Gold On-Call Membership allows a family to give Pink Elephants 2 day notice. Should they call on Thursday and need a nanny on Saturday, one of our wonderful On-Call Nannies would be there at the time requested.

The Silver Membership requires 4 day notice. If a family calls on Tuesday and needs a nanny on Saturday, one of our nannies would be there at the time requested.

Platinum Membership: $55/Month or $550/Year
Gold Membership: $45/Month or $450/Year
Silver Membership: $35/Month or $300/Year

Each Membership can be paid monthly, or in full for the year at a discounted rate. The On-Call Memberships are year contracts, however, if there is a problem you can always cancel your memberhship.

We are currently offering $50 off any Membership, when paid in full.

Please e-mail Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies or call with any questions at all! 760.231.7182

Many hands make light work

The Hope for Children of Haiti Charity Event was a great success! I am amazed at how many people showed up to show their support for a great cause. Everyone had so much fun with the Mobile Photo Booth, enjoying cupcakes by Kate and Kaylies Confections, listening to the music of DJ Aesthetix, getting their caricatures done by Jennifer West, watching the beautiful girls walk down the runway in all the Henning boutique clothes, and of course bidding on all the awesome silent auction items and winning all those raffle prizes! We are so glad we had Stacey Dixon Photography there to capture all of the days wonderful events! We are truly greatful to everyone who attended and donated.
We raised over $3,000 to help with all the relief efforts in Haiti!!! We couldn't have done it without all of our amazing sponsors and every person that so graciously attended.
We are looking forward to opening our own non profit agency, and having many more charity events. We hope to see you all next year at the Hope for Children of Haiti Event, as we are making it an annual event! Haiti will most definitely need our help now, 3 months from now, in 6 months, and in many years to come. Thank you to everyone who attended and all of our sponsors! The event has also made the top stories list on The Coast News website! Check it out :)

Come help us spread the love.

Come be a part of something amazing. We are hosting our first ever fundraiser, Hope for Children of Haiti, to raise funds to help all the relief efforts. Join us for a silent auction, raffle, DJ, fashion show, appetizers, bar, mobile photo booth, caricaturist, and face painter. How many of you could use a massage? How about a round of golf? Maybe a romantic getaway for two to the Cardiff by the Sea Lodge? How about a family portrait session at the Carlsbad Flower Fields? These are just a few of the things that will be auctioned. Please come help spread the love by helping us raise funds to donate to the American Red Cross.

What is a Nanny?

What is a nanny?

Pink Elephants believes a nanny is someone who has the utmost patience, a heart that beats to see children thrive and knowledge to implement such growth, a mind that can multi-task, a presence that breeds trust and safety, a genuine care that puts parents and children at ease, and creativity that invites children to blossom.

Think about what you want in a nanny, or already have in a nanny. What are her most important qualities? Does she meet all your expectations?

This is a huge question that many parents should spend some time thinking about. A nanny will literally become part of your family since she is with your children for a large portion of time during the week. It's hard for kids to transition between numerous nannies and child care providers. It's important to remember that your children can get attached to a nanny very easily, so it's crucial to pick someone who will not only connect well with your family, but someone who is passionate and committed to being there for a set amount of time. There are so many amazing nannies out there that are ethusiastic about their work, and encompass' all that Pink Elephants believes is a nanny.