May 2014 Moms

Nanny interviews and questions

So I have three interviews set up for potential nannies tomorrow.  I am not enthusiastic at all.  Below are some questions I came up with. Let me know if you can think of any others.

Why did you leave your last nanny job?

What is your experience with working with children of the ages of mine?

How old are the other children you have cared for?

Do you have any training or early child care courses, cpr, etc?

Why do you want this job? 

What do you love most about caring for children? Least?

Do you feel like you can appropriately supervise both an infant and a toddler and attend to both of their needs?  If, for example, both are crying, how do you deal?

Do you smoke?

What is a difficult situation you have encountered in a previous job and how did you handle it?

What is your philosophy on discipline of a young child – i.e. like my son’s age (18 months)? Give me an example of a prior discipline problem and how you handled it.

What are your favorite activities to do with children who are the ages of my children?

What are some of the rules you have followed in other houses that you think worked well? And didn’t?

Do you have any child/pet/work pet peeves?

Are you ok following my rules on child rearing and discipline even if is inconsistent with your own philosophy or how you did things with your own kids?

In other words, if I ask you to do something like not feed him something or, for the baby, no unobserved tummy time, are you okay with that? 

How many hours a week do you need?  In other words, do you need a certain number of hours to be guaranteed?

Do you have some flexibility with regard to the hours or days that you work?

On days I am home either on maternity leave or for some other reason, are you comfortable doing chores around the house to help out?  What about when the children are napping?

Is there a certain time you need to start by?

What are your feelings on taxes being withheld and being paid above board? [A lot of people in the area expect cash and expect to be paid under the table because it saves them money.]

Do you expect to get paid time off? Paid Holidays? Paid vacation days?  How many or what holidays, etc.? [I am hesitant to do anything right off the bat because I previously had a nanny work for us only about 3 months, take a bunch of paid vacation and then quit the next week with no notice …anything we do will have to be on an accrual basis.]

If I hire you, are you willing to commit to giving me a minimum of two weeks notice should you decide to leave the position?

Are you willing to commit to giving me at least 2 weeks notice if you need time off (with the exception of if you get sick?

Can you work ocassional nights or weekends? 

Is there any time that you cannot work?

Do you have future plans (school, job, marriage, etc.) that would put a limit on how long you expect to be a nanny?

Do you have a well-functioning car, with appropriate safety belts and room for car seats?

IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
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Re: Nanny interviews and questions

  • Those all sound like great, albeit routine, questions to me :)
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  • Wow this is much better than the nanny interview questions DH and I had come up with. I think you covered everything.

    I nannied throughout college for a family and was paid cash so we plan on paying cash for ours.

    Also, DH is adamant that if we end up hiring someone we don't already know then we will have nanny cams installed throughout the house (creepy). I feel like I'd want to ask the nanny if she's comfortable with that even though DH says they're not supposed to know about them. Do you plan on doing something like that? If so, would you tell them ahead of time? 

    How did you go about finding a nanny? We tried care.com and I just can't. I found myself thinking, "you can't write a complete sentence and you think I'm going to leave you with my kid?" so that's out the window and DH vetoed daycare. 

    So far we have two people lined up that we know, but I'd like to have a backup plan. 
  • Wow, this is seriously a great list. I honestly can't think of anything I'd ask that you haven't covered. You thought of much more than I would've come up with.

    Like Mimaloo asked, how are you searching for candidates? My parents will help out part-time with the kids while we're living with them until our house is built. But I will have to find a nanny later this year. I was planning to see if I could find anyone through church or get referrals from the preschool where DD will start in September. Care.com is the only other option I can think of. 
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  • I would ask the nanny cam question even if you arent planning on having them installed. I'd rather the person be aware that I'm able to peak in on them occasionally.

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    Nora - 10.26.12

    Henry - 5.9.14

  • @Mimaloo - Yes, I have found that some of the people on care.com are not to the level I would like them to be. Basically, out of probably 40-50 applicants, I am interviewing 3. So we shall see. If I don't love one of them, I will keep looking. I have thought about an agency and have not ruled it out, but the fees are really pricey. I would rather that 3 to 5 go straight to the nanny.

    We have a video security system in our home so I don't feel the need to discuss this. The cameras are not hidden.
    IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
    2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
    BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
    Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
    BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

    May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
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  • IBackBevo said:
    @Mimaloo - Yes, I have found that some of the people on care.com are not to the level I would like them to be. Basically, out of probably 40-50 applicants, I am interviewing 3. So we shall see. If I don't love one of them, I will keep looking. I have thought about an agency and have not ruled it out, but the fees are really pricey. I would rather that 3 to 5 go straight to the nanny. We have a video security system in our home so I don't feel the need to discuss this. The cameras are not hidden.
    I'd prefer this. 

    Yeah agencies are insanely expensive and au pairs are even worse. Good luck with your interviews!
  • Maybe give a few scenarios and ask how she would handle discipline. For instance, how would you respond if my child told a lie? Or what do you think is the best response if one child hits the other? IMO those are two things that could/should be handled differently, and a person's response might give you some real insight that would be less "rehearsed" than asking about their philosophy of discipline, but would probably lead into that. 

    Or other scenarios, like what would you do if my MIL showed up acting crazy and demanded to take the child away on a golf cart? ;)
    BabyFruit Ticker 

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    Married since June 2012
    EDD May 2014
  • Or other scenarios, like what would you do if my MIL showed up acting crazy and demanded to take the child away on a golf cart? ;)

    Omg. I can't conduct the interviews because I just died from laughing.

    IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
    2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
    BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
    Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
    BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

    May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
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  • To above posters, I also have thought about a small, in-home daycare if they only kept a couple of kids. I don't really know how to find that, though.
    IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
    2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
    BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
    Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
    BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

    May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
    image
    image
  • IBackBevo said:
    To above posters, I also have thought about a small, in-home daycare if they only kept a couple of kids. I don't really know how to find that, though.
    Word of mouth is your best bet for that. Does your town/city have a facebook community page? Mine has one and people post about them, or you could ask for recommendations in that type of a forum. I've found the one in my town is super helpful.
    BabyFruit Ticker





  • edited February 2014
    Those are great questions. Like PP mentioned I would ask some specific scenarios. It's nap time but DS is crying and won't sleep, what do you do? DS won't eat his lunch, what do you do?
    Also are they willing to cook and prepare meals for the kids, do the kids' dishes & laundry. Maybe do some grocery shopping or prepare dinner for you and DH once a week.
    GBCB!!! Regs, lurkers and newbies we are leaving TheBump. Come join us at the new place ****/board/50/14 image
  • I would also ask about how willing the nanny is to taking the kids to the park/zoo/events. Walking distance or driving in the car.
    When I worked as a nanny I would take the kids lots of places parents would pay for my ticket as well as provide something for gas. I loved zoo days or going to museums and community events. But I know other nannies who would not drive other people's children and I understand it can be a bit scary.

    I would also ask if they have first aid and infant/child CPR. If not will they please take the class.

    Can't think of anything else.(damn preggo brain makes me feel like brain is sludge) Good list and lots of good from pp.
  • I have never hired a nanny so I am not sure if I my questions would be of any help or appropriate. 

    On the discipline question, can you ask him or her their views on spanking?
    Also can you ask them if you can run a CORI? (Criminal Offender Record Information). In Massachusetts you need that person's approval before you run a background check on them.


    Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. 
    It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone
  • IBackBevoIBackBevo member
    edited February 2014


    IBackBevo said:

    To above posters, I also have thought about a small, in-home daycare if they only kept a couple of kids. I don't really know how to find that, though.

    Word of mouth is your best bet for that. Does your town/city have a facebook community page? Mine has one and people post about them, or you could ask for recommendations in that type of a forum. I've found the one in my town is super helpful.


    Unfortunately, I live in Houston so that wouldn't really work. Someone else could live in Houston and be 2 hours away.
    IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
    2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
    BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
    Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
    BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

    May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
    image
    image
  • The last question about a well functioning vehicle made me wonder if you're allowed to ask about driving records like speeding tickets or accidents? I've never interviewed anyone and am not sure if that's "too personal" or anything, but I think I would like to know.


  • Just thought of this: ask for references and call them. Min of three (IMHO)

    If you have pets make sure the nanny is ok with them. She may say she likes dogs but is terrified of your large dog when he barks.
  • IBackBevo said:


    IBackBevo said:

    To above posters, I also have thought about a small, in-home daycare if they only kept a couple of kids. I don't really know how to find that, though.

    Word of mouth is your best bet for that. Does your town/city have a facebook community page? Mine has one and people post about them, or you could ask for recommendations in that type of a forum. I've found the one in my town is super helpful.
    Unfortunately, I live in Houston so that wouldn't really work. Someone else could live in Houston and be 2 hours away.

    Oh you southern people and their giant cities.
    BabyFruit Ticker





  • QOTRQOTR member
    edited March 2014
    @Ibackbevo, I was curious how your nanny interviewing experience went?  Did you find someone you're happy with?   We're interviewing our first candidate tomorrow so I tracked down this post to see if there were any questions I hadn't thought of.

    Edited because I posted too soon.
    Me-41, Hubby-40.
    1st BFP-8/17/12!  Missed Miscarriage discovered @ 8 week US.  D&C.
    2nd BFP-2/13/13!  Blighted Ovum discovered @ 8 week US. Natural miscarriage.
    3rd BFP-5/22/13!  By early June, progesterone plummeting.  Another loss.
    August 2013 - started Donor Egg process, but surprise BFP with my own eggs.
    Dear Son born 5/28/14
  • These sound like great questions.  I would also ask about how they feel about signing an employment contract (where you could lay everything like vacation, 2 weeks notice, etc. out).  Also, a word of warning on nanny cams... I learned that the laws vary by state but in some states, like MD, you have to tell your employee prior to that they may be video-taped in order for anything on that video tape to be actionable.  When we hired our nanny we asked her if she was ok with it and we also put a clause in our employment contract stating that we could install cameras (hidden or visible) at any time with or without her consent.  We haven't done that but it was nice to have the option if we felt something was off.  The lawyer that reviewed our contract told me about a previous client that taped her nanny without prior notification.  She didn't tell me what the nanny did (so as not to scare me I think) but said that it was criminal and that because of the lack of prior notification it wasn't actionable.  I find that hard to believe but better to cover all the bases.  Just a thought since you said you already have a system in place.

    BabyFruit Ticker

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  • QOTR said:
    @Ibackbevo, I was curious how your nanny interviewing experience went?  Did you find someone you're happy with?   We're interviewing our first candidate tomorrow so I tracked down this post to see if there were any questions I hadn't thought of.

    Edited because I posted too soon.
    It went well. I have one lady I like. I am really torn on whether to pull him out of daycare now (in order to be sure and get the lady) or whether to wait until baby comes.  There are so many factors that play into it, but I won't bore you with the details...
    IF DX: DOR & Fragile X pre-mutation carrier
    2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
    BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
    Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
    BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014

    May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
    image
    image
  • Great questions and glad the interviews went well.  Is there a way that the nanny can start right when you have the baby?  So you are in the house observing?

    I found my daycare through my state's website that listed all the daycares along with ANY violation that it may have had in the last 18 months.  And those violations could be as minor as the garbage can being to close to the door.  In-home and Facilities all register there.
  • If she doesn't have it already, and you feel strongly about it, she should have her Tdap at least one month prior to being around baby.
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