Finding a maid

We have just moved to New Delhi, and will live in a house in Maharani Bagh. We wish to find a maid with the following caracteristics: Must be hygenic, can cook, speaks english, can do babysitting, must have experience with expats and their requirements.

I have read somewhere else in here that the american embassy has a database of registred house staff - is that the best place to find our maid? Or are there other places?

Any other advice in this regard is very welcome!!

Best regards
Biilmann

I found my maid by asking around.

Pricilla works for a neighbour, and only works part time for me, but her references are from someone I know and trust.

yes, always try to share a maid with your neighbor. it is piggyback effect. i let me neighbor translate and make the deal. i pay the local price this way. and, if there are any problems, the maid knows that it is back to the neighbors house for discussions. keeps them (more) honest, i think. they are less likely to disappear on you with your goodies. and, the mere fact that your neigbor employs them (might) mean that they are semi-decent. although western expectations on cleanliness isn't exactly fulfilled by indian standards. (how many dozens of times have i had to take "clean" dishes with food and soap on them and put them back in the dirty dishes pile.)

only downside is that you loose a little privacy. your neighbor will get a window into your house via the maid, which may or may not matter to you.