Nannies are a great resource for your child – individualized attention, regular routines, and environments based solely on your child. Yet finding the right nanny, much like finding the right daycare, can be difficult. A few signs of a good nanny:
- They show a genuine interest in your whole family.
- Your child is excited to see them each day.
- Your child can’t wait to tell you about their activities together.
- You are comfortable having them in your home—they fit.
- Your child (and his or her room) is clean.
- Accidents are rare.
- They are reliable and always show up on time.
- They are open to feedback and easy to talk to.
- They go the extra mile.
- They communicate openly about what is going on with your child.
- How do you find the right nanny though? Consider this list of tips:
- Interview without the children first – get a good feel for who the person is, what their philosophies are, how you envision them interacting with your child
- Obtain referrals and call all of them
- Be upfront and honest – tell them your needs, what hours to expect, other tasks you require, what to expect from your child
- Explain that you will run a comprehensive background check
- Run background checks in all counties they have lived during the last 10 years
- Pay a little more for a background check that uses Social Security numbers
- Ask your significant other or other family to meet the candidates – get their reaction, their vibe, and listen to what they have to say
- Introduce them to your child AFTER the background check
- Spend some time with them and your child together, see how they interact
- Most importantly – go with your gut! If something doesn’t seem right, say something