Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing a Nanny
Camille Ho / Monday, April 18th, 2011 / No Comments »
Making the decision to hire a nanny can often be time-consuming, as families struggle to decide whether or not bringing in an extra pair of hands to assist with childcare is going to be beneficial for them. However, once the decision to hire a nanny has been made, there are often a whole host of other issues that can come up when looking for the right person to fit into your family dynamic. It is important to make sure that families search for a nanny that is going to fit in well with the family in many different ways—personalities will need to mix well, as long as childcare philosophies and the comfort of the children with the new person coming to take care of them.
Although choosing the right nanny can seem like a daunting task, there are a few ways to simplify the process and ensure that a family chooses the right addition for them. Before interviewing any potential prospects, it is important for the parents to sit down and make a list of things that are important to them relating to their new nanny. This list may include the acceptable age range, the amount of time that the nanny will need to commit to the family, whether or not housing will be provided, and any important childcare philosophies that the caretaker should have. Clarifying these issues beforehand will ensure that both parents are on the same page when they begin the interview process, and it will also ensure that time isn’t wasted on candidates who just don’t fit the criteria from the beginning.
After making the list of requirements for the new nanny, parents can begin the interview process. When interviewing a potential nanny, it is important to be as thorough in the questioning as possible, and if you don’t have a good feeling about a potential candidate, rule them out and move on. Parents shouldn’t leave their children with someone they don’t feel that they can trust completely. Make sure to ask the potential nanny about previous childcare experience, and obtain at least two references that you can talk to about the candidate in question. It can also be a good idea to discuss any expectations that the nanny might have, in order to avoid confusion and mix-ups in the future. This will give the nanny a clearer picture of what the job is going to be like, ensuring that the family finds someone who isn’t surprised by an aspect of the job and decides to quit because they aren’t happy.
Finally, make sure that the potential candidate gets a chance to spend some time with the children while the parents are available to check in and see the interactions going on. If the children seem to be happy and satisfied, this is a good indicator that the nanny you’ve chosen is going to fit in just fine.