A good nanny – someone we can entrust our child to with complete confidence – is a real treasure. How do you pick the best one from among the many candidates?
Define your expectations
- Decide how much childcare you’ll need. Are you looking for a full-time nanny or occasional help (for example, an evening out, when your child is ill, and so on)?
- What duties, apart from looking after your child, do you want to give the nanny? Remember that the more tasks she has to do, the less attention she’ll be able to give your child.
- When choosing a candidate, take your little one’s age and temperament into account. Will an older person have enough energy for active play with a two-year-old? And, on the other hand, will a young student have enough experience in caring for a baby?
How to start looking for a nanny
- Start by asking friends. Perhaps one of them could recommend someone trustworthy? This is the most reliable and most effective way to find a good nanny.
- You can use an agency or an online portal. This usually involves certain fees, and even then there’s no guarantee you’ll find the right person. Our advice: don’t rely on references!
- If you have a young person in mind, put up notices at universities and faculties related to care and helping professions: midwifery, nursing, education, psychology and so on.
- Post an ad on social media. You’ll find relevant forums and groups there, where it’s easier to find people looking for work as a nanny, as well as opinions about them.
A good nanny – trust your first impression
Once you’ve narrowed the field down to a few of the most promising people, arrange an individual interview with each of them. Don’t watch the clock – an in-depth conversation with a candidate and observing her first contact with your child can take several hours. Remember that your child’s safety comes first, and that’s not up for discussion. A good nanny:
- will appeal to you straight away
- takes care of her personal hygiene
- speaks correctly and has a rich vocabulary.
- is well-mannered and courteous
- shares values, attitudes and an approach to parenting similar to your own.
- easily builds a rapport with your child
- has experience working with children
- doesn’t smoke
Especially for you, the notiOne experts have created a FREE QUESTIONNAIRE that is sure to come in handy for anyone interviewing nanny candidates.
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