Help Choosing a Nanny

The biggest thing is the relationship the kids have with the person. Have a day that they can come in and "watch" the kids while you are there. Watch for the way the kids react to the person and the way the person deals with them....
Make a list of house rules and ask the person if they are willing to follow them while in your house...
List EXACT responsibilities (any pets that you would want them to care for, run a load of laundry, load the dishwasher, etc)
And have a clause in your contract that YOU can terminate at any time with out notice but they should give you at least a week notice unless there is a medical emergency on their part.
If I were hiring someone to come into my home I would also include a no short shorts, skirts or low shirts (tank tops, tube tops, spaggetti strap shirts). Its a JOB, not a paid vacation with your kids. But then again I also have an impressionable 7 yr old girl I am trying to raise to be modest with her body...

I have several documents I put together when looking for a nanny. I have hired 2 over the past 3 years for my twin boys. Send me a private message with your e-mail, and I can send them to you. There are 2 sets of interview questions (first and second), a reference check set of questions, a sample work agreement, and I may have some other things too (it's been a while since I've looked at them).

I am a former nanny. If I were searching for a nanny for my own children, I would want to make sure they have a background in Early Childhood Education (preferably a degree). I would put job posting up at colleges with Early Childhood Education programs (Macomb Community College & Rochester College).

I would do a trial period once you find the right person. Watch how the nanny interacts with your children and how your children like her. Make a surprise visit home during the day to check-in.

I would have a contract with everything spelled out clearly. Are you going to pay her for sick days and vacation days? Are you expecting her to do housework? Do you want her to take the children on weekly outings?
Salary, raises, and bonuses should all be discussed. One important thing about pay is: are you going to make her claim her salary? If you do make her claim her salary, you would be responsible for some of her taxes. I only had one family who made me claim my salary, the other two families paid me under the table.

I would do a background check with the Family Independence Agency and check her driving record. Make sure she is First Aid & CPR certified. Ask her how she would handle specific emergencies.

I think you're making the right decision in choosing a nanny. I would definitely hire a nanny if I were to go back to work.

I had a nanny when I worked... It does make things much easier.. And the cost of a nanny is about the same as day care centers for 2 kids..

I would want refernces... I would want someone with experience that has had a previous nanny job that lasted for a while. You absolutely need someone that is dependable.. You can not have a nanny that calls in sick for every little thing.

If you wnt the nanny to cook and clean be sure you get that worked out from day 1. Actually my nanny was more into house cleaning than childcare. NOT GOOD..

Make sure you specify TV time shows.. if you care about the TV shows your kids watch make sure you get that worked out from day 1... I started my nanny when my daughter was 6 months old.. so we didnt discuss TV... didnt even cross my mind that you would turn on a TV for an infant.. Well by the time my duaghter could talk she knew Dora and Barney and all the other cartoon characters...

I think you really have to go with your gut and how you feel about the person -- have her come for a couple of trial days too. It has to feel right to you.

I am hiring someone for two days a week next year...it is someone I already know and who previously worked at our old daycare. She is CPR certified and the daycare performs criminal background checks. I would make sure your nanny knows infant CPR and I would run a background check-- there are online services that will do this for you for a small fee.

Make a chart that has the information you want her to report to you each day (e.g. bathroom activities, what they ate and when, other activities). If you don't want them to watch Tv, or only at certain times and certain shows, tell her. I think the more direct and guiding you are about your expectations the bette the relationship will be.

I would also get a nanny cam.

Good luck.

As a nanny, I would recommend the packet that someone mentioned. From enannysource.com you can buy the packet of info. It includes a detailed contract, questions to ask and a wide variety of other questions...well worth the purchase or you can spend some time googling it and find all the other info.

I would do a trial week. Maybe one day when you stay home from work and 2 days where you go to work late or come home early. I would also try the first interaction to be on the weekend or in the evening so you can see the nanny and the nanny can meet the kids. I would have that BEFORE you sign the contract...see how it all works.

I would also recommend that you get references and ask them any and all questions that you might want. As someone with a degree in Early Childhood, I would also ask to know what the nanny thinks about activities, what is age appropriate in various situations, "How would you handle...?" questions and also get a feel for the nanny's value system. I would also make sure they know that you are working from home and how they feel about that. Personally, I think it's harder to nanny for kids when parents are home. YOu would probably want to describe how that would all work with you at home. I also think that you want to make sure that you do the background check and also let the nanny ask you questions.

As a nanny I am sooo impressed when the family gives ME a reference (otherwise I ask for a phone number of a non relative) so that I can ask someone that knows them a question or two (what are the parents like? what are the kids like? what do you think I would need to know before I work for them? what's their discipline with their kids like? etc....)

If you have any other questions, please email me,
J.