How long to allow to find a nanny?

[BonaDea]

Really thinking ahead here I think but don't want to be caught short. If we need a nanny from mid-march, when would we need to start advertising / contacting agencies / interviewing?

I would start dec/jan - reason being that many nannies have 6/8weeks notice, tho some have 4 lol

so i think you need to start 3mths before to give you a few weeks to interview nannies, then 2nd interview/check refs then offer job, so a month gone, then the nanny may need to give notice of 2 mths

It varies. I would say 3 months is good if you can, possibly even start the process just before xmas so people can look at the ad over xmas and may even be available for interview between xmas and new year. Some nannies may be planning 3 months ahead, others may not. A nanny in a job will have a notice period, so you will need to have advertised, interviewed and offered the job before the nanny gives notice to their current employer.

I have had situations that agency ad appeared, nanny applied and was interviewed within 3 days. Then second interview within a week of that, then contracts signed. So it can happen quickly.

It has recently taken me 8 weeks.