A Note About Us
As a new mom and surgeon, my busy schedule did not leave much room for seeking out and interviewing qualified nannies, never mind writing contracts and figuring out payroll taxes. Whether or not I’d pick the best caretaker kept me up at night—was I looking in the right places? Were all the great nannies already snatched up? All I wanted was to find that unicorn nanny who would love and care for my daughter and at the same time have all the legal issues and payroll items just figure themselves out.
​
I spent hours sifting through listings and articles to try and point me in the right direction. When I reached out to other parents in professional forums, I found I was not alone. The task of finding the right caretaker and ironing out the details proved to be much more daunting than we hoped.
​
Fast forward to the present, I am happy to report that I did find my unicorn nanny, but not without a lot of searching. When I realized my nanny, Iris, had also been through an equally rigorous search to find a family that she felt she would be a great fit with, I saw a chance to make the process less of a headache for everyone involved. Knowing that our obstacles were very similar, we became invested in finding a solution that would benefit both sides. Our wish is that The Urban Nanny will pave the way for others to find their perfect match as well.
-Emily and Iris
Meet the Minds Behind
The Urban Nanny
Emily Prendergast
Founder
Emily founded The Urban Nanny in 2021 out of a strong desire to support hard-working, professional parents in their search for a caretaker. Growing up with live-in nannies, spending time as a babysitter, and then experiencing the process of hiring a nanny for her own daughter, her experiences give her a well-rounded view of what good caretaking looks like.
Outside of The Urban Nanny, Emily is a women’s cancer surgeon who works hard and also enjoys adventuring and hanging out with her husband, children, and two dogs.
Meet the Minds Behind
The Urban Nanny
Iris Erickson
Co-Founder
Iris is thrilled to join Urban Nanny, bringing with her more than eight years of experience as a nanny. She has worked with families both internationally and here in the Twin Cities, in both shorter term and long term contracts. While she has cared for children aged newborn to 13, she has found that she especially connects with babies and toddlers. Iris’ nanny experiences have given her a unique perspective in understanding the relationships that nannies juggle – especially those with the children as well as with the parents.
​
Iris is currently finishing her B.S. in Finance online through the University of Minnesota, and looks forward to blending her degree with her love for children. In her spare time, she loves to travel, cook and spend quality time with friends and family. She values her time outdoors taking walks and rollerblading, and hopes to resurrect her college rowing skills!
Tonya joints Urban Nanny, bringing with her vast experience as a nanny and as a past director of a childacare agency. She has worked in all environments and thrives on ensuring a the "fit is right". In addition to childcare she has dabbled in fashion. In 2023, she was selected to join our team and help with recruitment and placement for Urban Nanny families.
​
She currently resides in Minnesota with her fiancee, dog and daughter.
​
In her free time she loves spending time with family, ice fishing and doing all things outdoors.
​