How to Find an Ideal Nanny – Tips for Searching for a Nanny
Perhaps one of the most stressful decisions any parent has to make is when it is time to find a nanny. This is one decision where you want to be prepared, and do some serious homework before hiring just anyone to watch over your most precious possession.
An unfortunate reality today is that a nanny is often a necessity in the home, so this situation is a common problem that is facing many parents.
With all the uncertainty out there, how do you go about finding the ideal nanny? There are many important things you need to do in order to find the ideal nanny that will fit not only with your children, but with you as well.
There are really two main stages of hiring a nanny: the pre work and the interview session. The pre work you will do is very important, so do not skip this step in the process.
Pre Work for Hiring an Ideal Nanny
Approach the hiring process just as you would prepare yourself for an interview for a job. You will want to start by listing out what the most important criteria are for you, and for your children. Here are some examples of things you need to think about, and be clear on, before going to interview, or even start looking for, a nanny.
Detailed Job Responsibility - Are you going to expect more than just home care from your nanny? Many people will expect some basic housework, like laundry and cooking meals, as part of the nanny process. Be sure you know exactly what you are wanting your nanny to do before you start your interviews.- Vacation Time / Time Off - Nannys are just like anyone else, and will want some vacation time or time away from work. Just because you would not view taking care of your child as “work,” your nanny absolutely does view it as work! Be prepared to talk about how you will cover time off and vacations from your nanny.
- Experience/ Personality – Think about what personality traits you want from your nanny, as well as if they have any children of their own (which certainly qualifies as experience).
The Ideal Nanny Interview Process Tips
Now that you have an image of what you are looking for in a nanny, it is time to start the interview process. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Interview In Home - Always interview at your house, with your children present. This is the most important part of the process as you can see how comfortable the candidate appears in your home, around your children. Be sure to be very observant and take plenty of notes.
- Background Checks – Always do a complete background check on your nanny candidate. There are some services out there to make this a simpler process for you. NannyPro.com is one such service.
- Be Professional – Many parents will develop a bond with their nanny, but be sure to always make sure you do not cross a line between being professional, and being someone’s friend. Many relationships become more strained when you become too friendly with your nanny instead of ensuring the nanny is doing their job.
Hiring someone to look after your children is a stressful experience. However, prepare well, do some homework, and chances are you will find the ideal nanny for you and your family!
Let the professionals help you find a reliable, kind and trustworthy nanny that fulfills all your expectations.