Last reviewed 20 October 2026 by the ApnoKeCare team in Bangalore.
01Decide what kind of help you need
Most hiring problems start with an unclear job. Before you speak to anyone, write down the hours, the days, your child’s age and whether you need help at night. That decides which kind of caregiver to look for:
- Part-time nanny: a few hours each day, for school pick-ups, your work hours or meals and naps. Part-time nanny plans.
- Full-time or live-in nanny: lives with you and cares for your child through the day, with night help as agreed and fixed rest time. Live-in nanny plans.
- Babysitter at short notice: a few hours or days, booked for 2 to 24 hours. Instant Booking.
- Japa maid: care for the mother and newborn in the first weeks after delivery. What a Japa maid does.
02Set a realistic budget
In Bangalore the cost has two parts when you hire through an agency: the caregiver’s monthly salary, paid to the caregiver, and the agency’s fee. With ApnoKeCare, a 24-hour live-in nanny’s salary is ₹24,000–₹26,000 a month. A part-time nanny’s salary depends on the hours.
Ask any agency for the first-month total in writing: salary, fee and GST. Ours is worked out for every service in the nanny salary and cost guide.
03Ask exactly which checks were done
“Verified” can mean very different things. Ask which checks were done for the person you are meeting, not for the agency in general. These are the checks we do:
- ID and address: We check Aadhaar and address proof.
- Past work and references: We look at their past jobs and talk to families they worked for.
- Skills and behaviour: We meet them to see how they care for children and how they speak.
- Police verification: Available as an optional paid extra. We tell you if it’s done before you confirm.
Police verification is a separate step from an ID check. If an agency says it is “in process”, it is not done yet. Ask for the date and the reference once it is complete.
04Meet the nanny, and watch her with your child
Talk to the caregiver yourself before you decide. Ask about her last two families, the age of the children she cared for and why she left. Call at least one previous family if you can.
Then watch her with your child for an hour: how she speaks to them, whether she gets down to their level, how she handles a cry or a refusal. That tells you more than any certificate.
05Agree everything in writing before day one
Write down the timings, the duties, the rest time, the weekly off, the salary and the date it is paid. It protects the caregiver as much as you, and it is what most disagreements come back to. Our salary rules, for example:
- If there is a salary, you pay it straight to the caregiver on the 1st of every month.
- If care starts in the middle of a month, you pay salary only for the days worked (counting 30 days in a month).
- Please don’t pay salary in advance. We can’t take responsibility for money given to caregivers in advance.
Be clear about housework. Cooking for adults and cleaning the house are a different job; if you want help with them, agree it separately and pay for it.
06If she will live with you
A live-in caregiver needs:
- 8 hours of proper sleep every day
- Healthy food, three meals a day
- A clean and safe place to sleep
- Emergency contact numbers
- Clear house rules
- Respectful behaviour and salary paid on time
“24-hour” means she lives with you, not that she works without a break. Agree night duties and rest time up front.
07Red flags
- A request for salary in advance. Pay salary only for days worked.
- No references you can call, or references who are relatives.
- Vague duties or timings (“she will manage everything”).
- An agency fee with no written replacement or refund terms.
- Pressure to decide today without meeting the caregiver.
08If it is not working out
Talk early and specifically: one clear point at a time is easier to fix than a long list. If it still does not work, a good agency replaces the caregiver. Our terms:
- You can ask for a new caregiver any time while your plan is active.
- We send a new caregiver within 2 working days. If we can’t, we refund the fee for the unused part of your plan.
- If the caregiver doesn’t join on day 1 or day 2, you get a full refund or a replacement.
- If a caregiver leaves in between, you pay salary only for the days they worked.
09Questions parents ask
How long does it take to find a nanny in Bangalore?+
It depends on the hours and your area. We share caregivers who fit once we know your timings, your area and your child’s age, and you meet them before you decide. For a few hours or days at short notice, Instant Booking covers 2 to 24 hours.
Should I hire a nanny directly or through an agency?+
Hiring directly costs less up front, but you do the checks, the references and the replacement search yourself. An agency charges a fee for those. Either way, insist on the checks and a written agreement.
Is police verification compulsory?+
It is strongly recommended for anyone who will be alone with your child. With ApnoKeCare it is an optional paid extra, and we tell you whether it has been done before you confirm.
What is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?+
In India the words overlap. A nanny usually works the same hours every week, part-time or live-in. A babysitter is often booked for a few hours or days when you need someone.
More guides
- Nanny salary and cost in Bangalore. Salary, our fee and GST, with worked first-month totals for every service.
- What a Japa maid does, and how to choose one. Duties day and night, what is not included, salary, and the questions to ask.
