Homebodies

Homebodies Homebodies is London's most bespoke specialist Nanny Agency Homebodies offers a bespoke service to each & every one of our clients.

We give you as much advice and attention you require, and listen attentively to what you need. We offer our expert advice and often come up with creative options which you may not have thought were possible - saving you both time and money when trying to attract the right type of support for your family. Call us for a no obligation chat to get a feel for who we are and what we can offer you.

A candidate's CV grabbed my attention last week.Norland-trained, twelve years of experience, glowing references, First A...
04/06/2026

A candidate's CV grabbed my attention last week.

Norland-trained, twelve years of experience, glowing references, First Aid qualified, and enhanced DBS check.

On paper? Absolutely perfect.

But when I called to discuss her availability, here’s what she said:

"I need to be honest. I work best with babies, and I’d prefer a family with no older children for now."

The family I was looking to match her with had a baby AND a 7-year old.

Here's what I see happen all the time.

Families get dazzled by an impressive CV and assume that's everything they need. Norland-trained must be brilliant, right? Many years of experience must mean she's great with all ages?

Not necessarily.

Sometimes the most qualified nanny on paper isn't the right nanny for YOUR family.

Maybe she's excellent with babies but overwhelmed by toddlers.

Maybe she has extensive experience but not with your child's specific age group or developmental stage.

Maybe she's technically brilliant but the chemistry just isn't there.

Or maybe your parenting styles don't align.

A CV tells you what someone has done - it doesn't tell you who she actually is day-to-day.

That's why we built our matching process around understanding not just qualifications, but personality fit, parenting alignment, and genuine compatibility.

During interviews, we ask the questions that matter - not just "how many years of experience do you have?" but "how would you handle bedtime resistance?" and "what's your approach to discipline?"

And we always insist on proper paid trials. Because a full day with your children tells you things no CV ever could.

We've just published a complete guide about the most common mistakes families make when hiring a nanny - and more importantly, how to avoid them. It covers everything from rushing decisions to focusing too much on qualifications and missing the personality fit that actually matters. Read it here: https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/nanny-interview-mistakes

Parents - have you ever hired a nanny whose CV looked perfect but something just didn't click? What did you learn?

Nannies - what do you wish families understood about looking beyond the CV?

"[Simone]’s approach is thoughtful and intuitive, and she listens carefully to ensure candidates are the right fit from ...
29/05/2026

"[Simone]’s approach is thoughtful and intuitive, and she listens carefully to ensure candidates are the right fit from every angle, a real 360-degree assessment. My experience with her has been exceptional and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for outstanding support and insight."

Thank you Eve, for this wonderful review, and we are delighted that your experience with Homebodies has been exceptional.

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Are you a family searching for the perfect nanny or a nanny looking for a new role? Head to our website (https://www.homebodieslondon.com/) for more info and read the full review below:

⭐ Truly stands out from other agencies ⭐

"I highly recommend Simone. I’ve had the pleasure of discussing with her specifically on PA, Family Assistant and House Manager roles, positions that are quite niche but where skills are often transferable and can embrace other duties.

Simone was able to fully understand the requirements and nuances of each role with ease. She truly stands out from other agencies. While many claim to offer a bespoke service, Simone genuinely delivers it.

She is warm, understanding and takes the time to look at the bigger picture rather than just ticking boxes. Her approach is thoughtful and intuitive, and she listens carefully to ensure candidates are the right fit from every angle, a real 360-degree assessment.

My experience with her has been exceptional and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for outstanding support and insight."

- Eve, House Manager/PA/Nanny/Family Assistant

A family recently told me they almost skipped the paid trial.They'd interviewed a nanny they really liked. Great credent...
27/05/2026

A family recently told me they almost skipped the paid trial.

They'd interviewed a nanny they really liked. Great credentials, warm personality, excellent references. They were ready to make an offer and have her start.

"Do we really need to do a paid trial?" they asked. "We already know we want to hire her."

I get it. When you've found someone you like and you need childcare sorted, adding another step feels unnecessary.

But I always encourage families to do a proper paid trial, even when everything looks perfect on paper.

Here's why.

An interview tells you if someone can talk about childcare well. A paid trial tells you if they can actually do it well with your specific children in your specific home.

This particular family agreed to a two-day trial. And on day one, everything went smoothly.

Day two was different.

Their toddler had a meltdown about getting dressed. Nothing dramatic - just standard toddler behaviour. But how the nanny handled it told them everything they needed to know.

She stayed calm, she gave him choices, she didn't force or rush him, and eventually, she got him dressed. But more importantly, he felt heard and respected throughout.

"That's exactly how we would have handled it," the mum told me later. "Seeing her actually do it - not just talk about her approach in an interview - made all the difference."

They hired her. She's still with them now, eighteen months later.

But here's the thing that stuck with me.

If they'd skipped the trial, they still would have hired her. She was genuinely excellent. But they wouldn't have had that same confidence going into it.

And I've also seen the opposite happen.

Families who do trials with candidates who seemed perfect in interviews, only to find out the reality doesn't quite match. Maybe the nanny is lovely but doesn't naturally engage with the children the way they'd hoped. Maybe the children just don't click with her.

Better to learn that during a paid trial than three weeks into the job.

A paid trial isn't about catching someone out or testing them unfairly. It's about making sure the match actually works in practice, not just on paper.

At Homebodies, we build paid trials into every placement as standard. Usually 2-3 days, sometimes a full week for live-in positions.

It's one of the most valuable steps in the entire process.

Your children meet their potential new nanny in their own environment. You see how she handles real situations, not hypothetical ones. Everyone gets to know each other before making a long-term commitment.

And when you do make that commitment? You're doing it with real confidence, not just hope.

We’ve written a whole blog post about this if you want to find out more: https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/paid-nanny-trials

Parents - did you do a paid trial with your nanny? What did you learn from it?

Nannies - what helps you feel confident during a paid trial? What do you think families should be looking for?

A family contacted me from Singapore last month.They were relocating to London in eight weeks and panicking about childc...
21/05/2026

A family contacted me from Singapore last month.

They were relocating to London in eight weeks and panicking about childcare.

"Everyone keeps telling us to wait until we arrive to sort out a nanny," they said. "But that feels incredibly risky when we both start new jobs two weeks after landing."

They were right to be concerned.

Here's what I see happen with international families who wait until they arrive in London to start their nanny search.

Week 1: Jet-lagged, trying to register for a GP, sort out bank accounts, figure out where the nearest supermarket is. No mental space for nanny interviews.

Week 2: Finally ready to think about childcare. Contact agencies. Realise the process takes 6-8 weeks. Start to panic.

Week 3: One parent has to take unpaid leave or arrange emergency temporary cover because childcare still isn't sorted.

Week 4-8: Rushing through interviews, skipping paid trials, settling for whoever can start fastest rather than who's actually the best fit.

It's stressful for everyone but also completely avoidable.

The families who get this right contact us 2-3 months before they arrive.

We arrange video interviews while they're still overseas. They can meet candidates, ask questions, and narrow down their shortlist from the comfort of their current home.

Then when they arrive in London, we schedule face-to-face meetings and paid trials for their first few weeks here. By the time they start work, childcare is already sorted.

That Singapore family? We had three candidates lined up for video interviews within two weeks. They chose their nanny before they even boarded the plane.

She started the day after they arrived in London. While they were unpacking and settling in, she was there - helping their children adjust to a new country, a new home, a new routine.

"It was the best decision we made about the whole move," they told me later. "Having that one thing already sorted made everything else feel manageable."

Relocating to a new country is overwhelming enough. Your childcare doesn't need to add to the stress.

If you're planning a move to London - whether that's in three months or next year - getting the childcare conversation started early makes all the difference.

We've written a complete guide about when to start looking for a nanny based on different situations, including detailed timelines for international relocations and what you can arrange before you arrive:

https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/when-looking-nanny

Have you relocated to a new city or country with young children? What did you wish you'd sorted earlier?

A client told me something recently that I haven't been able to stop thinking about."I thought sending my daughter to nu...
18/05/2026

A client told me something recently that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

"I thought sending my daughter to nursery would be good for her. And it was, at first. But by the time I picked her up each day, she was exhausted. Overstimulated. Sometimes in tears."

She'd assumed this was just normal - that all children find nursery tiring.

Then one day, her daughter's nursery key worker left. The new key worker wasn't familiar with her daughter's needs. And within two weeks, her confident, chatty three-year-old started saying she didn't want to go.

"I don't think this is working anymore," she told me.

Here's what's interesting.

She'd never considered switching from nursery to a nanny because she thought her daughter "needed" the socialisation of a group setting.

But when we talked it through, she realised her daughter was getting plenty of social interaction at nursery. What she wasn't getting was one-to-one attention from someone who really knew her.

Someone who noticed when she was getting tired before she melted down.
Someone who could adapt the day based on how she was feeling. Someone who could give her quiet time when she needed it instead of keeping up with twenty other children.

They made the switch to a nanny three months ago.

The difference has been remarkable. Her daughter is calmer, happier, and more herself.

The nanny takes her to a playgroup twice a week and arranges playdates with other children, so she still gets plenty of social time. But it's in smaller groups, at her pace, with someone who understands her temperament.

"I wish I'd known this was even an option," the mum told me. "Everyone acts like once your child starts nursery, that's it until school. But it doesn't have to be."

This is something I see quite often - families assuming they need to stick with nursery because that's what everyone does, even when it's clearly not working for their child.

Some children thrive in busy nursery environments. Others don't. And that's completely okay.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to childcare. The right choice is the one that works for your specific child and your specific family - and that choice can change as your child grows and their needs evolve.

We've written a complete guide comparing nannies, nurseries, and childminders to help you think through what might work best for your family - whether you're making the decision for the first time or wondering if it's time for a change: How to Choose the Right Childcare for your Family - Nanny, Nursery or Childminder:

https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/choosing-childcare-family

Parents - have you ever switched from one type of childcare to another? What prompted the change?

Nannies - what differences do you notice in children who've come from nursery settings versus those who've always had one-to-one care?

"We need a nanny to start in three weeks. Can you help?"I get this call at least once a month.And my honest answer is al...
13/05/2026

"We need a nanny to start in three weeks. Can you help?"

I get this call at least once a month.

And my honest answer is always the same: "Possibly. But you're making this much harder than it needs to be."

Here's what happens when you leave finding a nanny until the last minute.

You can't consider nannies who are currently employed, because they need to give their families proper notice - usually four weeks minimum. That immediately cuts your candidate pool in half.

You're forced to rush interviews and skip the paid trial period, which means you're making one of the biggest decisions of your parenting life based on a single conversation.

You end up settling for "good enough" instead of "genuinely right for our family" because you simply don't have time to keep looking.

And then, three months later, you're back where you started because the match isn't working.

The families who find brilliant nannies and keep them for years? They almost always started their search 8-12 weeks before they needed someone.

Not because the process itself takes that long. Our typical timeline at Homebodies is 6-8 weeks from consultation to your nanny starting, and we can often find nannies in a shorter timeframe if necessary.

But starting early gives you choices.

- You can interview the experienced nanny who's currently working but open to the right new position.
- You can take time with paid trials.
- You can think properly about who feels like the best fit rather than who's available fastest.

You can actually find the right person instead of just any person.

I recently worked with a family who contacted me four months before their maternity leave ended. "Is that too early?" they asked.

Not at all. We found them three excellent candidates within the first month. They interviewed all three, did paid trials with their top two choices, and made their decision with time to spare.

Their nanny started two weeks before the mum returned to work, giving everyone time to settle in properly. No stress, no rushing, and no compromising on what mattered.

That's how it should work.

If you're thinking "I should probably start looking for a nanny soon" - the answer is yes. Now is the right time.

We've just published a complete timeline guide covering exactly when to start your search based on your situation - returning to work, relocating to London, replacing your current nanny, or hiring a maternity nurse.

Here’s the link to the blog post:

https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/when-looking-nanny

The peace of mind that comes from having childcare sorted well in advance? Worth its weight in gold.

Parents - did you start your nanny search early or leave it to the last minute? What would you do differently?

I've been thinking a lot recently about what makes some nanny-family relationships work brilliantly for years, while oth...
05/05/2026

I've been thinking a lot recently about what makes some nanny-family relationships work brilliantly for years, while others struggle from the start.

And I've noticed a pattern.

The families who have long-term, successful placements all do something really well in those first few weeks.

They communicate clearly upfront - their routines, their preferences, their non-negotiables. They're specific about what matters to them, but then they step back and let their nanny do her job.

It sounds simple, but I know it's sometimes surprisingly hard to do.

When you've just hired someone to care for your children, every instinct tells you to watch closely, to make sure they're doing things the way you like, and to stay involved in every detail.

But here's what I see time and time again.

The more you hover, the harder it is for your nanny to build confidence in her role, the harder it is for your children to settle with her, and the more tense everyone feels.

Your nanny second-guesses every decision because she can sense you watching. Your children look to you instead of her because they know you're there. Nobody relaxes into the relationship.

The families who get this right find a balance.

- They're present and available during the first week or two for handover and questions.
- They communicate what matters and why.
- They give feedback on things that genuinely need adjusting.

But they also trust the professional they've hired.

They don't correct how she folds the muslins if the baby is clean and content, they don't rearrange her organisation system if it works, and they let go of the small stuff that doesn't actually matter.

And because of that trust, their nanny works harder to get things right. She feels confident to use her experience and judgment. She builds a genuine relationship with the children.

Trust goes both ways. When you trust your nanny to do her job well, she rises to meet that trust.

One of the qualities we look for most carefully when matching families with nannies is genuine respect and trust on both sides. It's the foundation of every successful placement.

We've written about the essential qualities to look for in a professional nanny - and what makes placements work long-term: https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/qualities-professional-nanny

Parents - what helped you learn to trust your nanny in those early weeks?

Nannies - what helps families trust you? What makes you feel confident in a new role?

"[Simone from Homebodies]'s communication, experience and knowledge of the industry is amazing."Thank you Jodie, for thi...
30/04/2026

"[Simone from Homebodies]'s communication, experience and knowledge of the industry is amazing."

Thank you Jodie, for this lovely review, and we are delighted to have supported you.

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Are you a family searching for the perfect nanny or a nanny looking for a new role? Head to our website (https://www.homebodieslondon.com/) for more info and read the full review below:

⭐ I highly recommend Simone ⭐

"I highly recommend Simone, I don't usually write reviews.

Her communication, experience and knowledge of the industry is amazing.

She is very supportive and respected my situation, and was open minded and not pushy.

She is very supportive of the family as well as the nanny (the family I met rated her highly) as a nanny I do too :)

She is efficient and explains details very well, both to the nanny and to the family.

I look forward to working with [her] in the future."

- Jodie, Nanny

Nobody tells you how hard it is to choose childcare.You're already navigating the overwhelming reality of parenthood, pr...
28/04/2026

Nobody tells you how hard it is to choose childcare.

You're already navigating the overwhelming reality of parenthood, preparing to return to work, trying to figure out if you can even afford any of the options.

And then you're supposed to make one of the biggest decisions of your parenting life.

Nanny, nursery, or childminder?

Each option has genuine benefits. Each comes with trade-offs. And what works brilliantly for your friend's family might not suit yours at all.

Some children thrive in the busy, structured environment of nursery. Others need quieter, more personalised attention.

Some families need extreme flexibility for unpredictable schedules. Others prefer the routine of set drop-off and pick-up times.

Some want their child immersed in social settings from an early age. Others prioritise one-to-one developmental support.

There's no universally "right" answer - and that's exactly what makes the decision so difficult.

We've written a comprehensive guide to help you think through the key factors: flexibility, cost, attention versus socialisation, your child's personality, and your family's specific lifestyle - https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/choosing-childcare-family

And here's something many families don't realise - you can adapt as your needs change. Nanny for the early years, then nursery mornings with nanny afternoons.

Or keeping your nanny full-time when your child starts school, with her role evolving into family assistant work during school hours.

The key is finding what works for your family now, and being open to changing it later.

What helped you make your childcare decision? What do you wish you'd known earlier?

A client recently told me she was heartbroken.Her daughter was starting nursery in September, and she assumed that meant...
23/04/2026

A client recently told me she was heartbroken.

Her daughter was starting nursery in September, and she assumed that meant saying goodbye to their nanny.

"We love her so much. She's been with us since Lily was six months old. But we won't need her anymore, will we?"

Actually, you might.

Many families assume that once their child starts nursery or school, they no longer need their nanny. But your nanny can adapt her role as your child's needs change.

Instead of providing full-day care, she can manage nursery drop-offs and pick-ups, help with homework, and provide crucial continuity during a big transition.

During nursery hours? She handles nursery duties - meal planning, organising your child's wardrobe, managing schedules.

Keeping your nanny as your child grows means maintaining that invaluable continuity of care. Plus, you're not starting from scratch with someone new just when your child is already adjusting to nursery.

We've published a detailed guide about how to adapt your nanny's role when your child starts nursery or school, find it here: https://www.homebodieslondon.com/post/start-nursery-school-nanny .

Is your child starting nursery soon? What are you planning to do about your nanny?

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