Do you need nanny services?  While words of mouth and a short tour around the neighborhood can possibly help you find a nanny, many parents ask for help from nanny agencies.

While the traditional roles of mommies were to stay at home and tend to the children, this situation is seldom the case nowadays, at least in highly urbanized cultures and economies.  In fact, majority of American mothers are now employed and getting almost equal employment opportunities enjoyed by men.  Although most mothers still desire to tend over their very young children, financial duties also have to be fulfilled.

While it can be daunting to leave your child at home with a stranger (that is, a nanny), you, yourself, can screen nanny agencies to have an idea of the qualifications they look for in a nanny.  If you have your own set of qualifications to look for in a nanny, you may look for similar, if not the same, qualifications that nanny agencies require of nanny candidate.

In the process of scouring for nanny agencies, ask about the qualifications they look for in a nanny, or whether they actually meet the applicant in person.  Do they also perform background checks, and if so, in what part of the pre-employment process is it conducted or what kind of information do they look for?  References are very important, whom you can personally contact.  Excellent references would be previous employers of the nanny, and at what age their child was when they asked for nanny services.

In addition, nanny agencies should be able to present to you, candidates who possess qualities similar to your specific description.  If your need for nanny services is urgent, it is important to find nanny agencies that can quickly find you a nanny.  Also ask about their replacement policy and how true they are to this.

Quality nanny agencies will have clients returning to them.  You can talk to other parents who used their services or ask information from words of mouth.  A visit to the Better Business Bureau will help you identify complaints issues against a particular nanny agency, if there're any.  

Communication with nanny agencies is also very important if you have concerns regarding the hired nanny.  When you call the nanny agency, does a live person receive your call or do you always get the answering machine?  Do they reply to emails or answer all your questions?  Lastly, do they provide their nannies with support and training?
Nanny agencies can be your partner in taking care of your child if you choose them carefully.  After all, it's your child's welfare that is at stake.