What Families Should Consider When Choosing A Nanny for U

A Nanny for U is a Seattle nanny agency founded in 1994 by former nanny Rebecca Dyk, and it's worth considering if you want an agency to run the search and screening for you rather than sourcing caregivers yourself. The site reports more than 30 years in business, 2,000+ long-term placements, and four ParentMap Golden Teddy awards, and it serves families needing full-time, temporary, event, summer, and newborn care. The main trade-off: you get expert screening and placement support, but you're working through an agency's process and its available caregiver pool rather than choosing independently.

What the agency says about itself

The page positions A Nanny for U around a specific promise: taking the guesswork out of hiring by screening caregivers so only "the most dependable and qualified nannies" reach your home. The stated approach is personalized support with clear expectations set for a successful placement.

Concrete signals from the site:

• Established 1994 by Rebecca Dyk, described as a former nanny — the founding purpose was to bring "greater professionalism, care, and structure" to in-home childcare placements.
• 2,000+ long-term placements completed.
• 4× ParentMap Golden Teddy Winner — a regional recognition relevant to Seattle-area families.
• Proud Community Partners — the site lists community partnerships without naming them in the available excerpt.
• Client testimonials emphasize professionalism, fast response, proactive schedule updates, and being "on top of things."

Services to match against your situation

The agency organizes its offerings into six categories. Use this to check whether your need is actually covered:

If your need is short-term or event-based, the temporary and event options matter more than the long-term placement track. If you're bringing home a newborn, the newborn care specialist category is the relevant one.

Questions worth asking before you commit

The website doesn't publish pricing, contract terms, or replacement guarantees in the material available, so treat those as things to confirm directly rather than assume. Practical items to raise:

• Screening specifics — what the screening process actually includes, and what documentation you receive about a candidate.
• Matching process — how candidates are selected for your family and how many options you typically see.
• Fees and structure — agency fee, any ongoing charges, and what happens if a placement ends early.
• Availability in your area — the site has a "Service Locations" section; confirm your neighborhood is covered.
• Timeline — how far ahead to start for full-time versus temporary or event care.

Who this fits, and who it may not

A good fit if you're a busy professional in the Seattle area who wants the search and vetting handled for you, values an agency with a long local track record, and needs a category the agency explicitly offers — full-time, temporary, event, summer, newborn, or household staffing.

Think twice if you want to personally interview a wide open pool of caregivers, you need coverage outside the listed service locations, or you need published rates before making contact. In those cases, compare against other Seattle agencies or direct-hire platforms on the same dimensions: years in operation, placement volume, screening depth, service categories, and local recognition.

The bottom line

A Nanny for U's case rests on longevity (since 1994), volume (2,000+ long-term placements), regional recognition (four Golden Teddy awards), and a founder with hands-on nanny experience — backed by testimonials about responsiveness and professionalism. Those are verifiable claims you can weigh against your own priorities. The gaps to close before deciding are pricing, contract terms, and confirmation that your specific location and care type are served. Start by requesting a nanny through the site and asking the screening, matching, and fee questions above in your first conversation.