The resources page has lived on this site since its agency days, when it pointed families to caregiver-communication software, payroll tools, and the International Nanny Association. The curation continues — pruned to the sources that have earned a permanent place. Each entry says what it is good for, because a list of links without judgment is just a search results page.
Health & development
- HealthyChildren.org — the American Academy of Pediatrics' parent-facing site. The first stop for safe sleep, feeding, screen-time guidance, and choosing childcare. Their Ages & Stages library pairs well with our own activities guide.
- CDC Child Development — milestone checklists and the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." materials caregivers and parents can track together.
- Poison Control (poison.org) — the national poison help line and prevention guides; the number belongs on every family's emergency sheet.
Safety & training
- American Red Cross CPR & First Aid — find infant/child certification courses by ZIP code. Certification is the baseline credential for any professional caregiver; cards renew every two years.
- NHTSA Car Seats & Booster Seats — the authoritative fit-and-installation guidance, plus free inspection station locator. Required reading if your caregiver drives.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — recall alerts for cribs, toys, and gear; worth a quick check before accepting hand-me-down equipment.
Taxes, payroll & employment law
- IRS Publication 926 — Household Employer's Tax Guide — the primary source for the "nanny tax." Our pay & tax FAQ is the plain-English companion.
- IRS Schedule H — the form household employment taxes actually ride on each April.
- U.S. Department of Labor — Domestic Workers — federal minimum wage and overtime rules for in-home employees, including the live-in distinctions covered in our live-in guide.
- Household payroll services — several reputable national services run nanny payroll end-to-end (withholding, filings, W-2s) for a modest monthly fee. We don't endorse a specific vendor; search for "household payroll service" and compare against the obligations in Publication 926.
The profession
- International Nanny Association — the industry's professional body: standards, ethics code, credential exam, and definitions of caregiver roles. Useful to families writing job descriptions and caregivers building careers alike.
- ChildCare.gov — the federal childcare portal: state licensing rules, financial-assistance programs, and what regulated care looks like in your state. The neutral reference behind our nanny vs. day care comparison.
- U.S. State Department — Au Pair Program — the official rules for the J-1 cultural-exchange alternative to employing a nanny.
Day-to-day tools
The caregiver-communication software this page once recommended has been reborn many times over as ordinary apps. What matters is the habit, not the brand: a shared daily log (feeding, naps, activities, anything unusual), a shared calendar for schedules and appointments, and an agreed channel for in-the-moment questions. Families who keep the log religiously have the easiest annual reviews — the year documents itself.
Looking for organizational links instead? Our helpful links page collects the professional and government organizations in one place.