Finding a Seattle Nanny: Which Questions to Ask

photo by Cory Doctorow

 

Looking for a Seattle nanny doesn’t have to be tough. After you’ve lined up a few potential candidates, it’s time to figure out which one is the perfect match for your little ones.

 

Ask about experience

Just like with any job interview that you’ve ever had, discussing experience is key. Not only do you want to know if she’s had experience babysitting or nannying, but you want to know the amount of children and their ages. Remember, watching a five-year-old is very different from babysitting an infant.

 

Ask situational questions

Asking situational questions gives you a clear idea about exactly how familiar the candidate is with various situations. Your Seattle nanny should be able to talk freely and confidently about what they would do with timeouts, consequences, injuries and mealtimes.

 

Ask about nutritional knowledge

If the nanny will need to be in charge of snacks or meals, you may want to see exactly how comfortable she is with food. Can she cook? Does she believe in providing balanced meals? Cooking and cleanup are likely important, as you don’t want to have to prepare multiple meals before you leave for work each day.

 

Ask for references

The best way to verify that your Seattle nanny is to make sure she’s the real deal. Remember, however, that if she’s young, she may not have a long list of former employers. If that’s the case, is their an adult you trust that you’d like to talk to? Maybe a teacher she’s particularly close to or even her soccer coach. Remember that, while it would be great to hear about previous experience, if her experience is limited, references are also meant to discuss overall character.

 

The Search

There’s several ways to find a nanny.  If you want to see which of your friends, family, or Facebook acquaintances have nanny recommendations click here.

 

Sources:

-“Hiring a nanny: the questions you need to ask” Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-moon/nanny_b_2147549.html

-“Nanny Interview Sheet” Baby Center: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nanny-interview-sheet_1450905.bc

-“Questions to ask when interviewing nannies” Babble: http://www.babble.com/summer-guide-2011/daycare-babysitters-nannies-childcare-guide/check-nanny-interview-questions-childcare-guide/