A Nanny's Love

It's time to grab the kids and the boogie boards, head to the beach and spend hours and hours there.

Oh wait—we can't! We have other obligations; many of us with a job. This is where a summer nanny comes into perfect place.

Brooke Barousse, owner of Lexington Nannies and Household Staffing, has been "nanny matchmaking" for Malibu families for the past five years.

"I say matchmaking because we help families find the best nannies and personal assistants," she said as we chatted between her interviews for new nannies. "We do all the background checks, reference checks for our clients."

But nannies in Malibu have also been screened to endure the sun, surf and sand. According to Brooke, Malibu moms and dads want sporty!

"We placed a nanny for a single dad in Malibu with four kids and he needed someone who could skateboard, surf, ride bikes and be very active," Brooke said.

She continued, "Today, families want educated, active, sporty nannies when there is a house of kids. Of course, some of the moms want an older woman in her 50s for a newborn who stays with the family for several years, and then they hire someone else more active for the gradeschool years."

More often than not, Malibu families request the water friendly nanny, Brooke said. There is a royal family with six children that comes to Malibu every summer. Brooke places the nannies every year.

"Those nannies have to be top-notch," she said. "They need to be ocean swimmers, lifeguard-certified, minimum 10 years experience …”

I see why she calls herself a matchmaking service. "It really is about personality matchmaking, but for kids," Brooke said. "You’re bringing in someone to be part of the family, so it has to be someone you like and who will follow how you want to raise your kids."

She also places temporary nannies for when your permanent nanny goes on vacation! There is also when you have relatives come into town with an influx of kids -- there is a temporary nanny for this as well. And, of course, she specializes in permanent long-term nanny placement.

But Brooke will also find you a baby nurse, a housekeeper, a personal chef or a personal assistant.

"We are constantly interviewing with a database of the best candidates," she said. "There is a three-month guarantee, but if a nanny leaves, it is usually a breakdown in communication. I work hard to put everything on the table initially so I have a really low turnover rate."

And nannies with degrees are in high demand! It is believed that someone with a college degree shows dedication. Families feel more comfortable with someone who can really help the kids with homework. Throw in someone with child development stages or psychology and it is like striking nanny gold.

"We also have families who request their nanny speaks at least one other language—one family requested someone who speaks four different ones," she said.

And then, of course, there is the celebrity family who needs a nanny well-versed in the paparazzi.

She fills the requests and watches them stay for years with families. 

"You see nannies stay in homes a long time and have influence on kids—finding the best nanny is rewarding. It is an important job.”

Lexington Nannies and Household Staffing: www.lexingtonnannies.com