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There is a lot to consider when hiring a nanny. Interviewing, screening and selecting potential nanny candidates can be a daunting task, but it is an important part of finding a nanny that is a good fit with your family. Try to use open-ended questions that will prompt for informative answers, such as questions starting with: What? When? Why? How? Where? Or tell me about… This will avoid getting yes and no answers. Experience and background: Look for a nanny who has experience working in a position similar to what you are hiring them for. Finding someone who has experience working with multiple families will ensure they are familiar with adjusting to the needs of your family. Ask for a resume and have them include at least three family references. Sample questions should include: Tell me about your educational background. Do you have any formal early childhood development or childcare training? How long have you been a nanny? 2. Nanny and philosophy/approach: Make sure a nanny’s philosophy about childcare is in line with yours. Discipline is an area that needs to be discussed up front to avoid any differences of opinion on how children should be disciplined. You need to know your candidate is in the field for all the right reasons, and enjoys children. Important questions to ask are: Why did you choose a nanny career? Why do you like being a nanny? What do you think are the qualities needed to be a good nanny? 3. Your requirements: Make sure the nanny’s approach to work lines up with your own requirements. Your ideal candidate should be someone who has similar values, goals and work ethic to your own. Key questions should include: Are you familiar with the neighborhood? What is your philosophy on food and snacks? What is your flexibility with scheduling? 4. Additional considerations: Give the candidates some time to spend with your child in home. We also suggest families schedule a working interview with finalist candidates. Are they attentive? Do they keep your children engaged? Your observations matter a great deal when you finally make decision. A few good questions are: Are they comfortable holding and/or speaking to your child? Was the nanny pleasant and have a positive and upbeat personality? Are you able to communicate easily and effectively with each other? Doing your homework and asking questions that are important to you and your family will make selecting the nanny that much easier. If you allow these questions to guide your interview process, you will find a great match in no time at all.

I must admit: I never thought I would travel with childcare. That was a luxury that never entered my mind until we hosted our first au pair over four years ago. One of the premises of the au pair program is the cultural exchange between the family and au pair so it was a natural fit to let her explore the USA with us. Now, having taken more trips with our au pairs over the years than I can count, I must say it is a huge relief to have an extra set of hands around while navigating the stress of travel with young children. This doesn’t necessarily mean you are sipping margaritas at the beach solo, and it does take preparation to be executed well. We found having our au pair with us allowed us to do special activities with each of our children, while not being confined to nap schedules as our au pair could stay with the nappers. Squeezing in a few date nights is a perk, too! Here are my best practices for travel with caregivers: Set a schedule Explain your plan for the trip as well as the daily schedule while on vacation. Be specific about your caregiver’s schedule and hours expected to work. Let her know of any days off or downtime, and when that will be (and stick to it!). Sort out sleeping arrangements Will your caregiver be sharing a room or bathroom with your children? If so, are they expected to wake up with the children in the middle of the night or morning? Will they have their own space where they can go at the end of the day? Whichever you choose, make sure they understand the rooming situation and responsibilities. Define responsibilities Discuss your expectations for childcare as well as other chores that will need to be done on vacation. Will they only be responsible for playing with and watching the children? Are they also responsible for laundry, meal preparation, clean up, driving? If they will be in charge of the children near water, find out their water safety knowledge and comfort level with children in water. Clarify payment Define what compensation they will receive for their time. It is expected that the family pay for the travel and accommodation costs for the sitter. In addition to those expenses, what rate will the sitter receive? Is it an hourly rate while she is “on duty” or will it be a flat rate for the entire vacation? Communicate In addition to communicating all of the above expectations before departing, it is important to continue to have open communication while on the trip. Have daily check-ins to go over the schedule for the day and rest of the week. Communicate how they can be most helpful during their hours and what you would like them to prioritize in terms of responsibilities. Most important, tell them how much you appreciate them and point out what they are doing well! Following these guidelines will alleviate much of the stress of traveling with children and allow you to enjoy your vacation time together. Happy travels!

With our first child, we agonized over most decisions, but deciding what to do about child care was the hardest. It gave me constant anxiety and frequently kept me up at night. It was one of those BIG scary decisions we procrastinated making. My husband and I grew up with stay-at-home moms, and while I knew I would go back to work, it took me a while to realize what that meant. Would we still be raising our daughter if she spent more wakeful hours in child care than with us? What type of child care would be best for her and our lifestyle? Would we feel more “in control” of our daughter’s schedule if we went with a nanny or would socializing her early be best for her development? Many questions ran through our minds. Because of my slow emergence from the hazy, sleepless bliss of maternity leave, selecting a nanny became more realistic than getting into a respected daycare center. Our demanding jobs, our travel schedules, my volunteer commitments and my husband’s grad school program also factored heavily into this decision. We were strapped for quality family time and wanted to preserve as much of it as we could. With a nanny, we hoped we would be able to keep our daughter in her own environment, maintain her routine, have help with laundry and cleaning around the house and, most of all, find someone who would care for her with almost as much love as we would. The process of finding a nanny can be daunting. I looked at the NPN forums and on Care.com and researched agencies. Because I grew up in a smaller town where everyone knows everyone, one of my major issues with the process was the desire to find someone connected to someone we knew. A background check is helpful (and a good idea) but a referral gave us peace of mind. Luckily, due to timing, we found a nanny through a referral with a long list of glowing recommendations, which made the transition easier. The additional help at home and schedule flexibility meant we were able to be “present” during our daughter’s wakeful hours. However, this also meant that we could be more “present” at work. The daily photos from our nanny helped me to know our daughter was enjoying her day just as much as they helped me to relax and focus on work. Our decision worked best for our family, but not every family has the same needs. The one important lesson I’ve learned is that your child care needs will change as your child grows or siblings come along. The only constant thing in life is change, and child care is no exception, so don’t beat yourself up if your initial nanny isn’t a good fit or if you decide to go the daycare route after having a nanny for your infant. The only person who knows what works best for your family is you. Trying to find a nanny? Check out NPN's Childcare Classifieds for parent-recommended caregivers.

Of course we all want to have a relationship with our nanny that is both personal and professional. It’s a fine line and it’s in your hands to get the relationship off on the right foot. An ideal nanny will ask us about our weekend but refrain from asking details of our night out. How can we establish this relationship and not get in too deep? When hiring a nanny… Make sure you share the same values about children as your nanny. Talk about expectations, values and education. Communicate what a day would look like when your child is with your nanny. Be clear on your ideas. Be on the same page with discipline. Talk to the nanny about past experiences and how they handled the situation. Ask the nanny about their family. Do they have a close relationship with their brothers and sisters. Are they close to their parents? Get an idea about their social life. Are their weekends packed with going out, or are they more of a homebody? Personality can be just as important as experience. I always tell parents that it’s a gut feeling. Sure, we all feel nervous about going back to work and having a stranger take care of the most important person in our lives. When you meet the right person, you just know. You get a sense of security and those worries slowly melt away. Before jumping the gun and hiring on the spot, make sure you… Call all references. We at Olive.You.Nanny call at least three childcare references. It’s always a good idea to call a potential nanny's friend, too. You’d be surprised what comes out! Have a trial day with the nanny. Have the nanny come back for at least a few hours. Have her change a diaper, give a bottle. It’s important for you to see the interaction. Run a background check. No matter what. Have a nanny/family agreement you go over to make sure you’re all on the same page. Talk about expectations. And lastly, make sure you set aside time every few weeks to catch up with each other. Talk about how things are going and always keep the lines of communication open!

In today's economy, many households have two working parents. That's where a nanny comes in. But hiring a nanny to care for your little one can be an intimidating process. As a former nanny and the founder of nanny agency Olive.You.Nanny, I suggest these tips for finding a nanny. Step 1: Getting Started with Interviewing When you’re armed with a clear understanding of how the interview process works, things can be much easier. Reach out to potential candidates to schedule an initial phone screening. Have some standard interview questions prepared in advance. Check out the member discussion forum and read this article about nanny interviews for tips on key questions to ask. Check in with friends/relatives who have hired nannies to gather questions they found useful. If the nanny seems like a good fit for your family’s needs and is qualified, invite her to a local coffee shop to meet you. (Insider tip: I recommend that the initial screening is conducted in a public place—you never know who you’re meeting! However, if you’re working with an agency, you can skip this step because they will have already met the candidate.) Make sure you have a list of expectations and additional, more in-depth interview questions for the nanny to answer. Ideally, the nanny has some good questions for you, too. If all goes well, the nanny can then be invited to your house for a second interview. This interview is more to see how the candidate interacts with your child/children. Make sure to take note of a few key things: Does she wash her hands before handling your baby? Is she excited to get on the floor and play with your toddler? Is her personality a good match with your family’s style and dynamics? Step 2: The Reference Checks You made it through the interviews! Now what? It's time for reference checks. Get a list of at least three childcare-related references. Make sure you request the last three families the candidate has worked for. Keep an eye out for a gap in employment. This usually means there was another family in there. (Insider tip: Nannies sometimes leave a position because it just wasn’t a good fit for them. This shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but make sure she is honest about the situation.) References have to be stellar. I talk to many references and find that great nannies have families who say nothing but amazing things about them. These nannies are out there; you just need to keep looking until you find them! Conduct a background check. You never know what you might find out. 99% of the time it’s perfect, but your peace of mind makes this more than worth it. Step 3: Extending the Offer How can you be sure this the right person for your family? My advice: It’s a gut feeling. As a mother, I think we all know who’s meant to be with our children. If you’re at all questioning yourself, then the candidate is not the right person. You want to be thinking and feeling, “Oh my goodness, I can’t imagine my life without this person!” (Insider tip: Make sure you talk about important topics like vacation, sick days and salary. It’s best to address these topics at the start of your relationship.) Step 4: Keeping a Strong Relationship Communication is really the key ingredient to making this relationship work. Ask your nanny to make a log of what goes on during each day. That way, when you come home you can spend time with your family and look over the log later. A written recap of the day ensures that nothing will be missed in passing. If you have an issue with your nanny, whether it be big or small, tell her! Something small like not picking up her water glass every day or forgetting to take out the trash can still be bothersome. With open communication, you can both let the other know how things are going. Conduct a scheduled review. It’s a good time to talk about anything that is on either of your minds. Nannies want to do a good job and that can only happen with strong communication. I suggest having a scheduled talk about every 6 months. Have it scheduled in advance so you don’t find yourself only wanting to meet when you have negative feedback. Remember, finding the nanny of your dreams might not happen overnight! Don’t become discouraged—remember to stay positive and you’ll soon find the perfect person to complement your family. Start searching for a nanny now with NPN's member-only Childcare Classifieds! Not an NPN member? Learn more about joining.

As a placement provider for Olive.You.Nanny, I am constantly putting the puzzle pieces together to find compatible matches for families and nannies. I have found there to be some key questions that need to be asked during the interview process to ensure a happy and compatible match is made for both the nanny and family involved. If you can find someone who naturally aligns with your parenting style, family values and worldview while clicking personality wise, then you are on a good path to nanny-family partnership bliss! First and foremost, decide what is most important to your family. In a few words, what is your family focus/motto or what is most important to you as a family unit? Some parents mention education, kindness, openness to new experiences/diversity, or family time as their main focus. Whatever the case may be, it is first important to acknowledge what is most important to you and what you want your children to learn about the world as they are growing up. By asking yourself these questions, you will be able to better clarify what is most important to your family, which will be essential in finding a nanny who naturally aligns with you! Nannies come with their own unique personalities, nanny style, experiences, and values and it is important to better understand their world view. You don’t want them to mold themselves to you when their ideals and nanny style could be in contrast. You, the nanny, and your kids will be happier when you are on the same page. I always ask nannies several key questions: What are some values that are most important to you in your life? What do you think is most important for children to learn as they are growing up? How would you best describe your nanny-style? What do you envision when you think of your ideal position? What makes you feel most appreciated and happiest on the job? What is one of your favorite memories as a nanny and why? After interviewing a series of nannies, I have discovered a few commonalities that seem to make them happy. Most are in search of a family that is open to outings and activities and exploration in the city so they can incorporate play-based learning and get some fresh air with the kiddos. They also want to have open communication and consistency when it comes to nap times, discipline and boundaries. There are simple ways to make a nanny feel appreciated, and chances are you will keep your nanny longer and he or she will go above and beyond in the role if they feel valued. Nannies want to feel like a valued extension of your family as opposed to a “worker.” Employers who show their nannies trust by not micro-managing are better able to establish rapport. Thoughtful gestures go a long way in job satisfaction! Letting your nanny off a bit earlier (while being paid) on an occasional afternoon is very much appreciated, as nannies tend to work long hours. Remembering industry standards like vacation and sick time and maintaining the nanny’s wage if you do not need him or her the days you choose to be away (same applies to letting him or her go home early if they aren’t needed) are key ways to express respect to your nanny’s profession. Cards of appreciation, small thoughtful gifts, remembering their birthday, having an annual review and taking time to get to know them are all ways to show your nanny that you care about them as an individual and value them as an employee. You in turn will have a happy rock star nanny!

With school out for the summer, many families will struggle to manage the summer chaos, especially with kids at home all day. Some opt for summer camps, but for many parents hiring a nanny seems like the best approach. Because it can be time consuming to find the right person, use my 10 tips to make your search for a summer nanny a bit easier. 1. Plan ahead – Try not to wait until the last minute as many summer nannies are looking for jobs that start as soon as possible. 2. Create a job description – Be clear about what you expect from your summer nanny. The more detailed you are the better the nanny will know how to make you happy! 3. Recruit – Finding a summer nanny is not hard. You can use an agency for a prescreened professional nanny, get a referral from a friend or use an online resource, such as NPN's Childcare Classifieds. 4. Screening – Make sure you interview each candidate, call references and run a complete background check. Even if the nanny was a referral from a friend, do your due diligence. 5. Trial – Have a “playdate” with the prospective nanny and your kids to make sure they like each other. You want to make sure the nanny knows how to connect with your kids as well as your kids connect with them. 6. Offer – Make sure your offer is clear and detailed. Just because it is temporary you still want to be clear about hours and pay. Also what happens on the 4th of July as well as if you are planning on taking a vacation and will not need the nanny? 7. Training – Have your new nanny shadow you for a few days so she learns your routine, places your kids like to go and how you handle tantrums. This will help your new nanny be successful vs. just throwing her into the trenches. This also helps your kids understand you trust the nanny and when the nanny is on duty the nanny is in charge. 8. Communication – Make sure to continue to communicate with your nanny about how she is doing, what she can change or how to do things differently to be successful. 9. Binder – Having a binder about your kid’s schedules, favorite foods, approved activities, friends for playdates and local parks is very helpful to ensure your kids have a fun summer. 10. Relationship – Just because your nanny is temporary doesn’t mean the relationship has to end when summer does. Keep the relationship active, as maybe your nanny can babysit on weekends during the school year or come back next summer!