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Top parenting stories this week
How to Interview a Babysitter or Nanny
Asking the right questions can help you get the best care for your child
by: Martha Scully
In This Article
Interviewing a Nanny
- Always do a face-to-face interview and contact all references.
- Ask the caregiver about age-specific activities to gauge their experience.
- Ask scenario questions to determine if the caregiver has the common sense you need.
- When checking references, be sure to ask specific questions about conflict that arose and how the caregiver handled feedback.
- Only hire a caregiver who agrees to a trial day before hiring.
iring a nanny or babysitter can be a time-consuming and stressful time for a parent. The first step is to dedicate enough time to the hiring process so you can make sure that you’re making the best decision for your family.
When hiring a caregiver of any kind, you should always do a face-to-face interview, as well as contact her references and review her police or criminal record check.
When you’re interviewing, here are the top five things you should keep in mind:
1. Safety
Does the caregiver have First Aid training? When did she take it? Is she willing to take a refresher course? (There are specific courses for Infant and Toddler First Aid–and it is strongly recommended that these courses are taken by caregivers and are kept current.)
When you’re doing your interview, ask if the caregiver has ever been in a situation where she needed to act fast–or give her an example of a situation that could arise and ask her how she’d handle it.
