Nannies who have coronavirus antibodies are in high demand

• As cities open and more people return to physical offices, parents have to make tough decisions about childcare.
• Some families are looking to hire nannies who have already had the coronavirus and tested positive for antibodies, and some are willing to pay more for that reassurance.
• It's not a foolproof plan, since research shows that antibodies may only last about two or three months.
• Many families are requiring potential hires to get tested regularly for the coronavirus, while others are having their caregivers move in with them indefinitely.

When Lena Katz gave birth to a healthy boy in March, the first-time mother was relieved, given her fears about having a baby during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, bringing the baby home brought on a new set of stressors for Katz and her husband.

Katz, a casting producer, and her husband, who works in communications, live in Aventura, Florida and both work full time. Katz didn't take maternity leave, and balanced work with caring for her newborn. But after nearly three months, she was desperate for help with her son.

"We held out as long as we could, but our mental health and productivity were suffering horribly and we just couldn't do it," she told Insider.

The Katzes interviewed a number of qualified candidates. But they ended up hiring a caregiver who already had COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and who tested positive for antibodies. The fact that she also had antibodies — blood proteins that fight off the virus and can prevent reinfection — gave the couple a small added measure of reassurance.

That was a particularly important consideration for Katz since her son has a slight respiratory issue.

"That's actually another mark in your favor," Katz told her nanny when she got the test results back.

As more parents return to work, families have to make touch choices about childcare

After months of balancing jobs and childcare — without school, daycare or private caregivers — parents across the US are now making tough childcare choices as cities reopen. Employed parents need childcare in order to work, but bringing a nanny into the home also means bringing in additional exposure to the coronavirus.

That's why some parents are taking extra precautionary measures, which may mean paying a premium rate. Some families are looking to hire nannies who have already had the disease, but it's not a guarantee of higher pay, said Anita Rogers, CEO and founder of British American Household Staffing, an agency that places caregivers in both the UK and the US. Hiring someone who tests positive is by no means a foolproof plan either, since it's still unknown whether people who have recovered from COVID- 19 can get reinfected.

Other families are having nannies who test negative move in with them and aren't allowing them to leave until there is a vaccine, Rogers said. For that, nannies may be able to command higher salaries.

"This kind of intense time away from home has sparked requests for a higher compensation from the nannies," Rogers said.

Some families are requiring frequent testing to ensure that the caregiver is and remains healthy, an extra measure some caregivers can charge more for, said Katie Provinziano, managing director of Westside Nannies — a Los Angeles childcare agency. Provinziano said that nannies who are willing to get tested frequently can get about 10% more than the average rate. On average, nannies in Los Angeles make between $25 and $35 an hour, she said.

Coronavirus testing could become a common practice before hiring a nanny

"There will be a general shift in the marketplace where almost all families will be requiring a negative COVID-19 test prior to beginning a job," Provinziano said. "If you're unwilling to get one then you just won't have access to the majority of jobs that are available."

Despite the uncertainty, some parents of children with underlying conditions say hiring a nanny with antibodies is a priority.

This was the case for Jamie Davis Smith, an attorney, writer, and mother of four. Her oldest daughter has multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. When the pandemic first hit, Davis Smith was especially careful and didn't have any childcare.

But working full time while also caring for her kids was unsustainable, Davis Smith told Insider.

In May, Davis Smith reached out to a babysitter who had worked for the family previously. She was relieved to learn that the caregiver had had the coronavirus and recovered.

"My daughter is high-risk and I want to be cautious," Davis Smith told Insider.

Dr. Danielle Fisher, vice chair of pediatrics at Providence St. Johns in Santa Monica, California, says the presence of antibodies may offer some reassurance, but no guarantees.

"If you have exposure to somebody who has previously tested positive, you would hope it's an extra layer of protection," Fisher said. "But I don't know I would necessarily hang my hat on it."

Some experts advise parents to focus more on the safety measures nannies take

Dr. Whitney Kennedy, of Highlands Health for Life — a family medicine clinic in Denver, Colorado — advises parents who are hiring caregivers to focus more on the precautions a nanny takes — and their level of exposure outside of the workplace. Kennedy says that's more important than focusing on hiring someone who has already had the disease.

She recommends asking if the candidate works elsewhere, what the exposure level is of the people they share a home with, what the person does in their free time and the measures they take to protect against getting COVID-19.

"The nannies should be equally able to ask the same questions of the employer," Kennedy said.

Provinziano also suggests families focus less on COVID-19 immunity and more so on finding the right fit for the family unit.

"These are unusual times," Provinziano said, "but finding the best caregiver for your children is so much more about intrinsic qualities versus how someone scores on an antibody test."

But for Katz, the two aren't mutually exclusive.

"We felt that the perfect nanny would place a priority on health and safety," she said.

• Read more:
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• Parents are watching kids in shifts and sharing caregivers as schools shut down across the US due to coronavirus fears
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• The riskiest and least risky activities you can do with kids this summer, according to an infectious-disease expert