A short, practical interview guide for parents who are meeting nanny candidates for the first time.
Start with the daily routine
Ask the candidate to describe an ordinary day with a child the same age as yours. Listen for detail. Someone who has really done the work will talk about nap times, meals, tidying up after play and the small negotiations that fill a day with a toddler. Vague answers usually mean thin experience.
Ask about difficult moments
Every child has hard days. Ask how the candidate handles tantrums, refusing food, or a child who will not sleep. There is no perfect answer, but you want to hear patience rather than punishment, and a willingness to follow the rules you set as the parent.
Cover the practical ground
Working hours, transport, stay in or stay out, days off, and what happens during school holidays. Settle these before the placement starts so nobody is guessing later. Put the agreed duties in writing, even a simple one page list, and give a copy to the nanny.
Check references properly
Phone the previous employer rather than relying on a letter. Ask how long the person worked there, why the placement ended, and whether they would take the person back. A short honest call tells you more than a page of written praise.
Watch the first meeting with your child
Arrange a short visit where the candidate meets your child while you are in the room. Children read people quickly. If the candidate crouches to the child's level, speaks gently and gives the child space, that is a good sign.
Talk to us about your placement
If you are working through a decision like this and want a second opinion, phone or WhatsApp 060 884 3533. We are happy to talk it through even before you commit to a placement.
