Searching for a Nanny | Babysitter

So you're looking for a nanny or a babysitter, someone whom you will entrust your littles with. It's hard. It's hard to know who you can trust your kids with and even harder when you've found someone amazing and have to say goodbye to them and start the process over. We get it, it's overwhelming so we've rounded up questions for you to get started:

Experience & Credentials

• Where did you previously work?

• How long were you at your previous job? Why are you leaving?

• What is your experience working with children, particularly those who were the same age as mine?

• What do you love about working with children? And what do you find challenging?

• What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

• Are you trained in infant CPR and first aid?

• Did your previous job require any housework?

• Have you taken classes in child care? Would you be willing to take classes if presented with the opportunity?

• What is your education level?

• Are you fluent in any other languages? If so, would you be comfortable speaking in another language to the children?

Lifestyle

• Do you have children of your own? Family?

• What are your hobbies and interests?

• Can you cook and prepare meals?

• Do you drive or are you comfortable taking public transit?

• Are you comfortable with pets?

• What do you like to do on your days off?

• What other weekly commitments do you currently have?

• Do you have any dietary restrictions or allergies?

Handling Children

• Why did you choose to become a nanny/ get involved in child care?

• What do you find to be the most challenging part about working with a child this age?

• What kinds of activities would you do with a child this age?

• How do you handle a crying baby?

• Have you bathed children, dealt with diaper rash, given medications, etc?

• Are you open to following specific sleep-training methods? E.g. cry it out vs. rocking to sleep

• Can you swim? Have you taken care of children at a pool or beach?

• Are you comfortable taking children to music and other classes or playdates outside the home?

• Are you able to follow our specific parenting style? E.g. positive parenting vs. time outs and consequences

• What kinds of meals would you give to a child this age?

• In what instances would you use your cell phone while with the children?

• Do you have any experience with dietary experience or working with children who have allergies?

• How do you discipline or deal with a child who is misbehaving?

Scenarios

• You are at the park with a child and they fall, hit their head, and are unresponsive. What do you do?

• What are the signs that a child may be sick? What would you do if a child had a high fever?

• What would you do if you were feeding the kids lunch and they broke out in hives (having no known existing allergies)?

• What would you do if there was a fire in the house?

• If a child started choking, what would you do?

• Our younger child bites our younger child. What do you do?

Job Description & Salary

• What are you looking for in this job?

• When would you be available to start?

• Are you able to make a one-year commitment?

• What is your availability for evenings and weekends?

• What kind of housework are you comfortable doing?

• What are your expectations from us?

• Do you have any questions about the job description?

• Do you know your way around this town/city/neighborhood?

Questions for you to Avoid

Questions about age, race, religion, sexual orientation, and relationship status should be off the table. You are becoming an employer just like any other employer, so you'll need to adhere to all the labor laws that go with that, such as discrimination laws and employment laws.

Things to think on:

• Does your state require you to file W2 taxes for your nanny

• Be sure to look up any laws in your area for hiring a nanny

• Have a paper contract that lays out salary, time off, sick days, expectations, etc.

• Consider having a lawyer look over your paperwork, to make sure you are following all the local labor laws

• Always run a background check and call referrals

Additional Conversation:

These are just questions to get you started, you may want more background on health (vaccines, illnesses, etc.) or home life. Just remember to be cautious of your labor laws.

In the Nashville Area? Check out the Nashville Nanny Agency