Nanny Search Leads Couple To Start Their Own Service

Ready to return to work after the birth of her son in 2004, graphic designer Erin Krex and her husband, Steve, went in search of childcare. But their experience was uncomfortable and unsettling, to say the least. 

“Most of the agencies we found were actually illegal,” Krex recalled. “They didn’t perform background checks or even seem to know anything about the candidates they were offering.”

The couple encountered one agency that consisted of a man on a cell phone who would send a girl to the house, sight unseen, while another dropped off several women at their front door—and expected them to simply choose one. 

Unsure of how to go about selecting a nanny, the new parents found the process quite unnerving, considering they were about to leave their most prized possession with a complete stranger, Krex said.  In the end, they wound up hiring a nanny from one of the agencies but found out that the agency had lied about the status of her driver’s license. (It wasn’t valid). 

Having identified a need, Erin and Steve Krex soon decided to fill it and started their own agency, Northbrook-based First Class Care Inc. 

“Basically we decided to build our business with the knowledge of everything we didn’t want the experience to be like,” said Krex, who lives in Glenview.  “We wanted our clients to know that we had thorough knowledge of our candidates, had done our background checks and were basically handing everything to them on a silver platter.”

Celebrating their fifth year in business this fall, Krex and her husband believe that outstanding childcare is fundamental for creating harmony at home. In addition to nanny placement, the company offers newborn care, housekeepers, house managers and even elder care companions. 

The couple’s business has continued to grow over the years. Together with North Shore Pediatric Therapy in Glenview, Erin started the “Super Nanny Academy,” a training program for nannies who care for children with special needs. The academy covers many aspects of behavior including potty training, tantrums, mealtime, sleeping issues, following directions, transitions and more. First Class Care also offers its candidates classes in house management and professional housekeeping and has even partnered with Sunset Foods to teach cooking classes.

“We try to help our candidates be as successful as possible,” said Krex. “Sometimes the classes enable them to take on more responsibility in the home or to boost their resume if they are trying to find placement.”

Client Blair Klein recently celebrated her two-year anniversary with First Class Care nanny Kellie Thompson.  Before Klein hired her, Thompson had worked as a nanny for First Class Care, but had subsequently moved back to her home state of Texas. 

Erin Krex admits that it was an unusual situation. She knew Thompson from her previous work with First Class Care and also knew that she wanted to come back to the Chicago area.  Anticipating that a match with the Klein family might work out well, she arranged for the two to meet on one of Klein’s regular business trips.

As it happens, the two hit it off and Thompson moved back to Chicago as a live-in nanny for the Kleins.

“First Class is great,” said Thompson. “I never even thought of signing up with another agency when I knew I was coming back to Chicago. They don’t just rush to put you with a family. They want you to have a perfect fit.”

Blair Klein was pleased with the experience as well. Having used another agency before where she admits to feeling slightly uncomfortable, Klein found First Class Care professional, above board and very approachable, she said.

“I never felt rushed and I never felt as if they resented any of the questions we asked,” Klein said. “And Erin was as invested in us getting off on the right foot as we were.”  

Of course, the best part about the experience was finding a nanny she could trust.   

“My kids love Kellie,” said Klein, who has a 9-year old daughter and 6-year old twin boys.  “They know the difference between Mom and the nanny, but I think if you can both find peace in your places and depend on each other, it works.”