Need to find a nanny? Start here!

I know that you're probably up to your ears in work that needs to be done. I've worked in fully staffed households myself, so I understand the fast paced environment?you work in. Give us a call or message us, wherever you are in the world and we'll take this one off your to-do list!

At Peaceful Learning, we have screened 1000’s of potential nannies, many of which have been working for high-profile, HNW and UHNW families. This has given us huge insight into what to look out for when finding someone amazing for your family.

Here are 7 things to consider when hiring a nanny:

1. Meet with the nanny first without the child/ren and ask all the questions you want. If, after chatting with them, you don’t feel at ease, ask yourself why? Are you feeling stressed at the moment? Are you feeling anxious as you’re not sure what you should be looking for? Or is there something about them that just doesn’t sit right? Meet them again if you feel this way and delve deeper, and always trust your gut!

2. When the prospective nanny comes to the house to meet the family and children, observe their body language and interactions with them. Are they getting down to the child’s level or are they more interested in the house? Are their clothes appropriate to be working with children? How are they interacting with them, the parents and other household staff? Do they seem authentically present and happy to be with children or is this just a job for them? It’s great if you click with them well, that’s awesome! No harm in being friends. But remember that doesn’t necessarily mean they are good with children.

3. Ask what their approach is in childcare. Does it align with the family's? If not, they could be butting heads with the parents for years to come! Do they acknowledge that when a child acts out its because they need more attention and love? Do they use positive guidance? Do they focus on child-led learning? Or do they use a more authoritative approach?

4. Even when their childcare approach appears to be aligned, interpretations can vary wildly. That’s why we recommend doing a trial first before committing to anything concrete. Anywhere between three consecutive days to two weeks, you could be saving yourself a LOT of hassle in the future.

5. Did you know that in the UK, USA and other countries, it is NOT a legal requirement for nannies to have a background/police check? We suggest you ask for one anyway!

6. Make sure they have at least two good references, preferably childcare related. If this is their first childcare job then ask for references from other jobs or friends. These are also important to have because even if they have a clean police check, they may be very difficult to work with. Not sure what to ask? Think about who the family's ideal nanny would be and then ask if they have those qualities; e.g. trustworthiness, honesty, professionalism, punctuality…

7. Always ask why they left their previous role and then check with their previous employer to see if their story matches. If it doesn’t, then you should definitely follow up.

Above all, FOLLOW YOUR GUT! Your gut can tell you so much, it’s much more powerful than you think. If you feel that something is not quite right, keep looking.

I hope this helps in your search, feel free to give me a call directly on +61432093599 or message me on LinkedIn if you have any more questions.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/lararitson/

For more tips and tricks around caring for children, click here.

To find your ideal nanny, click here.