It seems that the best sources for finding a nanny are: agencies, online services and word of mouth. We've added information for each. Please add your suggestions and personal experiences with those listed below.

__Agencies__

Beacon Hill Nannies

Beacon Hill Nannies only does full time nanny placements. The have good quality candidates but generally these nannies expect to be paid top dollar (at least $16+ per hour for live-out nannies).

Nanny Poppins

Parents in a Pinch - www.parentsinapinch.com or 617-739-KIDS. They charge $300 to join (you need the Premium Membership for access to nannies) and then $640-3000 placement fee if you hire a nanny through them. The placement fee is generally on the higher side if you are hiring a nanny for more than just a few hours per week. The website describes the placement process and screening process. You can also hire PIAP to conduct a background check on a nanny you fine yourself. There are several options available (i.e., criminal records search only, credit check, etc).

I am currently using PIAP to find a nanny. Although I have not yet found a nanny, they have sent me lots of candidates and generally seem to do a good job of screening the candidates and finding high quality sitters. They seem to be the most responsive and professional of the various agencies that I have contacted (perhaps because much of their business is working with large companies to provide backup child care so they are a bit more professional than the others).

Bostons Best Babysitters

I was referred to Bostons Best Babysitters by someone at Beacon Hill Nannies because I was looking for a part time nanny and BH Nannies only does full time nanny placements. I called twice over a two month period and both times the person I spoke with took all my information (contact info, information about what I was looking for, etc) and never called me back with a single candidate.

__Online Sources__

Sitter City - www.sittercity.com. Created as a way for college students looking for parttime childcare work to connect with parents looking for babysitters. The site is organized geographically. Users type in their zipcodes and preferences for full/part time sitters and age of the sitter and all the candidates within a 10 mile radius of their zipcode pop up. The website also has a rating system so you can see what other parents thought of the sitter. It is free to search on the site but you need to join to get the contact information for the babysitters you find on the site. Membership cost $8/mo for an annual membership or $10/mo plus a $40 registration fee for a month by month membership.

I didn't have much luck finding a part time nanny on sitter city but it does look like a great resource for finding babysitters for evenings and weekends or for finding a full time nanny.

Craigs' List