subject: What You Need to Know About Nannies [print this page] What You Need to Know About Nannies What You Need to Know About Nannies
If you are a first time mom, and you are thinking about having to return to work, you are probably having concerns about where you are going to find a competent person to care for your child, and rightly so. You may be considering interviewing nannies for the position, instead of employing a babysitter or two to cover the hours that you are gone. It may make you a bit nervous knowing that you are leaving your precious newborn in the care of a stranger, but there are several things you can do to ensure that you hire competent care.
The best way to ease your fears is to make sure that the potential employee is screened carefully and thoroughly. If you are planning on doing the hiring yourself, there are agencies that offer full background and criminal checks on any person applying for the position. This is often the most critical part of the hiring process, and should never be overlooked no matter how impressive the credentials may be. Do as much investigating as you have to do to ensure the safety of your child and give you peace of mind. If any possible employee objects to this, be aware that there is probably something in their background they don't want you to know about.
Once you have narrowed your selection to a few candidates, the interviewing process can begin. Each nanny should be interviewed more than once by both parents. It's also a very good idea to have the child present at least one of these times so you can observe how the nanny interacts with him or her. Many parents neglect to do this one very important step, relying on the results of the background check and past experience. Keep in mind however, that each child is a unique individual, and the needs may vary from child to child.
Don't forget to personally check all references you are provided. Even though the background check may be spotless, you still need to talk to previous employers to get a personal account of the nanny's work ethics. Since nannies work for families, child care was undoubtedly the main job duty, and the parents will more than likely be glad to answer your questions. Hopefully, you have found the perfect person to care for your child in the same manner you would, and you can return to work knowing your baby is in good hands.
