Finding the right Nanny for the child is a significant step for any working parent. Searching for a Nanny can feel overwhelming since you have spent months or years taking care of your child, and now you’re about to leave all the nourishing, lulling, educating, and playing responsibilities to a stranger while you go back to work.
How do you know it’s a good fit for not only your child, but also for you? Here are the secrets to help you find the best Nanny for your family:
Define your expectations by making a list of what you and your partner expect of an ideal Nanny:
- Do you want someone older with a lot of experience, or do you need a younger nanny who can keep up with the energy level of your child?
- Are you looking for someone who is bilingual?
- Do you consider male Nannies as well?
- Do you need a person who lives close by, so they won’t ever be late?
- Is it important that a Nanny has a valid driver’s license?
- What are your house’s rules that a Nanny should follow?
- How much are you willing to pay a Nanny?
There are a lot of things to consider, so take your time discussing your priorities before starting your selection.
Use Happymamma’s Family Guide for Interviewing Candidates
The interview is a two-way process where you and the prospective Nanny can exchange information and most importantly find out if you get along and whether you could work together. Your first impressions are very important so don’t ignore your instincts or your children’s reactions towards the prospective Nanny. Throughout the interview remind yourself that you may have to work closely with them and leave your children in their care, so you must like, trust and feel comfortable with them.
Introducing the Children
It is important to introduce the most suitable prospective Nanny to the children before making the final decision. Decide whether to bring them in for part of the interview or arrange a more informal second interview to observe the interaction between the children and the Nanny as you will learn a lot about them from the children’s reaction and the way they approach them. It is not advisable to have the children present for the whole first interview since this may be distracting.
Make an Interview Summary and fill the Evaluation Check List
There is clearly a lot to remember when you interview prospective candidates for the Nanny position. Many people will wish to take notes during the interview or make brief notes immediately after, other people will just go with their natural instincts and recruit the person they felt most comfortable with. Happymamma will provide you with the check list which may help you ensure each candidate is being assessed consistently.
Whoever spends the most time with your child instantly becomes the primary caregiver in the family, which very much includes your Nanny. Parents need to recognize that a strong bond should form between the Nanny and their child, because that means your Nanny is successfully doing her job. You should prefer your child has a safe attachment bond with the Nanny rather than not having a bond at all. The more your caregiver cares for your child the more your child will feel loved. Keeping this bond intact will ensure your child feel safe and be calm enough to experience optimal development of their nervous system. The attachment bond is a key factor in the way your infant’s brain organizes itself and influences your child’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development.
