An agency finds candidates. It can't tell you which one is right for your child — and it has a fee riding on you saying yes. That's where an independent expert comes in.
A reputable agency saves you real time: it sources candidates, does initial screening, checks eligibility, and usually offers a replacement guarantee if a placement doesn't work out. For busy families, that's worth paying for.
What it can't do is know your child, and its incentive is to place someone. An agency is paid when you hire — typically a fee based on a percentage of the nanny's annual salary. That isn't a criticism; it's the business model. It just means the final judgment has to be yours.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Tammy has no affiliation with any agency and nothing to gain from which candidate you choose. She works for you: reviewing the résumés the agency sends, joining your interviews, making targeted reference calls, planning the trial day, and building the onboarding plan once you've chosen.
She ran a nanny placement practice for years before focusing on the clinical side of care — so she knows exactly what agencies do well and where families still need someone in their corner.
Local rules and rates matter. Using a nanny agency in Los Angeles · Using a nanny agency in New York
One hour with Tammy alongside your agency search — before you commit to a hire you'll live with for years.
$189
Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
Download free ↓Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 · info@caremapmethod.com
Tammy is not an agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any agency you use. She provides independent expert guidance; hiring decisions remain your family’s. Legal, tax, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or state agency.