Hard To Find

[colly122303]

When I first came here I knew it would be tough. Single mum with six month old baby and I got an agency to help out with a nanny while I studied for a Tefl and looked for a job here. I had a few interviews, mostly people not suitable for chilminding at all and one decent candidate, I was desperate so I took her on. The contract was for three months and the agency charged 10000 a month. It was a bit expensive as I had no income at the time and I knew the rough expected salary of a nanny. She also told me how much a month they took from her. The hours she could work were limited and she would only take care of my daughter and make her milk. No cleaning, nothing else. I noticed she distanced herself from my daughter and I came to the conclusion her experience was limited.

When I needed someone for Saturday or the occaisonal evening I had to pay someone else 1000 a day.

Later, I moved house and got my job and a new nanny through my job. She seemed okay at the time. She could speak a little English and she got on well with my daughter.We agreed on details and a salary of 7000 a month. As time went on she took more and more advantage of me and it became apparent she was a very cheeky person. However, I felt stuck. She took good care of my daughter and I believe changing nannies regularly is not good for young children. In the end, she had many personal problems, was not sleeping and turned crazier by the day until one day she practically threatened to take my daughter and all sorts of terrible things. I decided this was no longer a safe situation for my daughter.

Now I need someone new. After what happened in the past though I'm so worried what may happen when I leave. I've heard many people tell me how you don't know what goes on when you're not there, but you always have a feeling. I knew the first was ignoring my daughter's needs and the last was shouting at her. I always try to find out as much as I can about the people I interview and trial run them too, but are there any other tips to finding someone who is a good nanny.

I'm on holiday now but I'm so worried about leaving my daughter with someone else that I can't sleep at night. I know this happens to other parents too. Is there anywhere where there are decent nannies that you can trust with experience. I need to know she is safe when I'm not there. I would pay(she's everything to me) but I don't wanna be ripped off.

[leisurely]

First of all, where are you? Do you want live in or out? What salary are you offering for what hours? I know that there will be two nanny/maids looking for jobs in July when their current employment ends.

Give us more details, I know how hard it is to find someone you like and trust, we are dead lucky - I am not trying to rub it in by the way.

Let me know the answers to those questions and I may be in a position to help.

Leisurely

[chanchao]

Finding a good maid / nanny takes time.

We're now in contact with a person in Chiang Mai who can come up with prospects pretty quickly. Still in your position it would be tough; you're not going to find a truly affordable person who speaks English. Actually I consider myself lucky when a maid can speak Thai properly.

I suggest you try day-care centers. That too takes time to find a nice one, but it's perhaps better for the kid also. Some day care centers accept kids starting at very young ages, 6 months old wouldn't be a problem.

Where are you located? If Chiang Mai then I can give you some options. It's not actually legal for the maids/nannies I source to cross into other provinces.

Edited April 5, 2007 by chanchao