I need to start interviewing nannies asap, and to make sure we find the perfect candidate, I’ve compiled a list of questions to ask during interviews. In the past, I think I’ve just been way too casual about interviews simply because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted in a nanny as a first time mom. But now that I have a little experience under my belt, I think I have a pretty good idea of what we’re looking for. The most important qualifications for us are someone who: has experience caring for a newborn, has experience caring for two children at the same time, loves being a nanny, is flexible, is punctual, whose child rearing style is in alignment with ours, and someone I get along with since I working from home. This is what I came up with:

Our Requirements

– When can you start?
– What salary or hourly rate do you expect?
– What kind of flexibility do you have with scheduling?
– Would you be willing to work extended hours, and occasional evening or weekend overtime?
– Are you open to doing a nanny share?
– Can you do some light food preparation for my toddler?
– Can you cook purees for my daughter when she starts solids?
– Would you be willing to watch my toddler son when he’s sick or daycare is closed?
– How do you feel about light housekeeping duties like loading/unloading the dishwasher and  the children’s laundry?
– Are you allergic to cats?
– Would you take an infant CPR course?
– Would you submit to a background check?
– Would you like to be paid on or off the books?
– Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

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Your Experience

– Why do you like being a nanny?
– How would you describe your personality?
– How long have you been a nanny?
– How many families have you worked for?
– How old were the children you cared for?
– Have you ever cared for two children at the same time? What were their ages?
– What age range are you most comfortable with?
– Why did your previous job end?
– What additional duties did you perform in your past jobs (housekeeping, laundry, dishes, errands)?
– How did your previous employers handle your lunch/food?
– Have you ever had to help with a morning routine or a bedtime routine?
– What were your hours, benefits, pay, raises, overtime, paid holidays, vacations in your previous job?
– Were you punctual and/or did you miss a lot of work for illnesses and/or personal days at your previous job?
– What qualities do you look for in an ideal employer/family?
– What would you have changed about your last job?
– Are you good at communicating when you have any issues re: your job?
– Do you still keep in touch with the previous families you worked for?
– Are you comfortable working for someone where a parent works at home?
– Have the previous families you worked for been very laid back or very hands on?

About You as a Nanny

– Are you familiar with this neighborhood and all the local activities?
– Describe a typical day with my 3 month old daughter.
– What types of activities would you do with my daughter when she’s older?
– Do you tend to stay home more often or be out and about all day?
– Do you proactively make play dates?
– Do you actively play with children (eg at the playground) or do you supervise them playing?
– Have you ever had an emergency situation while caring for a child? How did you handle it?
– Do you have children of your own?
– Do you use baby carriers?
– Do you think having a routine is important?
– What do you think of sleep training? Do you have any experience with sleep trained infants?
– How do you get babies to fall asleep?
– What would you do if my baby refused to nap?
– How do you handle discipline?
– What is your philosophy on food and snacks for children?

I think it’s difficult to tell if a nanny will be a good fit until you really see them on the job. And then there is an adjustment period as the nanny gets used to the baby and the family, so it may take a couple of weeks before everything falls into place. But since I work from home, we can hire someone on a trial basis without worrying too much about leaving our precious Olive with a complete stranger. Hopefully we find someone that we love and can eventually consider a family member.

Is there anything I’m forgetting? How did you approach the nanny interviewing and hiring process?

Hiring a Nanny part 2 of 5

1. The Nanny Search Begins by Mrs. Bee
2. Nanny Interview Questions by Mrs. Bee
3. The Nanny Offer by Mrs. Bee
4. The Nannies Guide by Mrs. Pen
5. Interviewing for a nanny by Mrs. Chipmunk