Morningside Nannies | Houston's Best Nanny Agency

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle LaRowe, owner and Executive Director of Morningside Nannies. I found her to be genuinely passionate about her work, and the nannies, parents, and children Morningside Nannies serves. Morningside Nannies is Houston's premier nanny agency, with a reputation for partnering families with the very best childcare providers possible, their work has been awarded national and international acclaim.

Michelle was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about herself and Morningside Nannies. 

What made you decide to open Morningside Nannies?

In 2012, we purchased Morningside Nannies with the commitment to continue the mission of matching the best nannies with the best families in the Houston area. As industry insiders, we knew the previous owner through our involvement in the International Nanny Association and the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies and when the opportunity to purchase the agency came up, we were glad to take it.

What types of services do you offer? (overnight, on call, Nanny Share, event care)

Morningside Nannies refers screened, verified and background checked full-time, part-time, temporary, on-call, and back-up care providers. We also refer overnight nannies, hotel nannies, Newborn Care Specialists and provide childcare staffs for events and functions.

Do you cater to a particular age group? (toddlers, newborns)

While many expecting parents hire a nanny for their newborn, parents of newborns through teens consistently request care. Parents who need full-time care during the early years and part-time care when the children need afterschool care and transportation to and from activities are consistently looking for qualified caregivers.

What activities do you do with the children?

At Morningside Nannies, our nannies take on all tasks related to the children. They are actively engaged in the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth and development of the children in their care. Typical nanny duties include general childcare, children’s laundry, children’s meal prep, transporting the children to and from activities and outings and keeping the children’s areas clean and tidy.

Can you tell me more about your nannies (certifications, training, etc)?

At Morningside Nannies, we take great pride in our screening process. Only about 2 or 3 out of every ten applications are extended representation through our agency. All of our candidates must be legally able to work in the US, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, read, write and speak English fluently, have proof of auto insurance, at least two years of verifiable childcare work experience, great references and be non smokers and at least 19 years of age. We provide complimentary first aid and CPR training and certification to them, which is required before they start a job, and offer complimentary training through our educational partner at www.NannyTraining.com.

Who benefits the most from your services?

While we make nanny care easy for parents, it’s really the children who benefit most from parents who utilize our services. Children who receive attentive, customized, and one on one care from qualified and screened childcare providers receive the best childcare possible.

What is your favorite part of Morningside Nannies?

At this point, I have been in the nanny industry for more than half of my life. I am in a unique position as I am really the only person in this industry who has worked as an award-winning nanny, has developed content and CACHE Endorsed training for nannies, has served as the executive director of the International Nanny Association and has written several parenting books including Nanny to the Rescue! (buy here on Amazon). At Morningside Nannies I get to combine all my experiences and interests to deliver an outstanding service to Houston area families and nannies. That is my favorite part.

What is the biggest surprise parents learn after using your service?

Many parents are surprised to learn that employing a nanny isn’t a casual arrangement and there’s a business side to having a nanny. When you hire a nanny, you become an employer and as such, have legal and tax obligations. We educate our clients on how to be a great employer and provide them the resources and tools to start their nanny/employer relationship off right.

What do your clients enjoy most about your services?

I think parents love working with Morningside Nannies because we take the guesswork out of hiring a nanny. We do all the legwork for them and only present them with candidates that are a great match for their job and their family. This is a huge timesaver for our busy families. Clients also know that before they even see a portfolio of the nanny, the candidate has already undergone our screening process. Some agencies wait for an offer of employment to do their screenings, as they do cost time and money, however, we believe it’s essential to really know who we are representing, so parents can have confidence that when they offer a job to a Morningside nanny, there will be no surprises.

What is one bit of info you wish all of your client/parents/potential clients knew about nanny care?

Having been in the nanny industry for over 20 years at this point, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Parents must know who is caring for their children. Parents must invest the time and energy in screening their nanny. It takes more than a trendy profile picture and caption to determine if a nanny is the right nanny for your family and once you hire a nanny, investing in the relationship is essential.

What advice would you give parents looking for childcare? 

Regardless of how you find your childcare provider, you must know who is caring for your children. From interviewing to checking references to doing a background check and looking at their Internet footprint, parents must really know who will be caring for their children.

If you are looking for childcare services in the Houston area I strongly encourage you to give Morningside Nannies a call 713.526.3989 to schedule a free consultation or register at morningsidenannies.com.

Michelle LaRowe is the executive director of Morningside Nannies, Houston’s award-winning nanny referral agency. Michelle worked as an award-winning nanny, executive director of the International Nanny Association and has developed CACHE Endorsed Nanny Training which is offered through NannyTraining.com.