Things To Keep In Mind While Choosing A Nanny

Don’t you ever wish you had a nanny just like Mary Poppins?

Having a baby entails many responsibilities. As a parent, we want the best for our child and we would do anything to ensure his/her safety. In today’s world, as many women have full-time jobs, it becomes very difficult for her to leave her child and resume work. If you are in the government sectors, you are able to look after your child for the first six months due to maternity leave. However, in private sectors, the maternity leave is for 12 weeks and because of this leaving your newborn baby becomes very difficult. It is during this time of crisis that many working moms make the decision of leaving her job. Well, this does not need to happen anymore. Today, many parents are finding help by hiring a nanny or a babysitter in the first 6 months or beyond. But how to choose a nanny?

A nanny is one who is fully entrusted to care for the baby while you can continue with your work. On the other hand, a babysitter usually supervises your children for a short period of time.  No matter whatever name you choose, a caregiver has a great responsibility in keeping your child safe and well.  Therefore, in the rest of the article, I have used the term nanny and babysitter interchangeably. 

How to choose your nanny?

If you need to resume your work or you are finding it difficult to cope, you need a nanny. But, how should you look for a good babysitter? How do you choose a good nanny? Finding the perfect nanny or babysitter is like finding a needle in a haystack. Getting a person who is caring, trustworthy and loyal is very difficult in India. Below are some of the things to keep in mind while choosing a good nanny or a babysitter.  

You may also want to read our articles:

• Parenting essentials for your baby
• 11 newborn babies concerns in parents 
• Why preventing injury in your child is important and how to keep your child safe

Consider finding a nanny through proper channels

So, How do you find a babysitter near you?

When choosing a nanny, it is best not to give advertisements in newspapers or classifieds. We all have friends, family, neighbors, relatives or acquaintances. Consider asking them if they know someone who can provide you with details or information about a nanny to take care of your child. In some places, there are even agencies which help recruit nannies for people. Find out if there are any such agencies in your city. Make sure to check if these agencies are reliable, and then post your details.

Understanding your own needs

It is best if you have a good idea as to what you are looking for in a nanny. Apart from taking care of the child, a detailed description of other job duties, what experiences and qualities you are looking for, her educational qualification, types of skills she possesses and how much you can afford to pay are necessary before searching for a nanny.

Interview the nanny thoroughly

Remember you don’t want any tom dick and harry to look after your baby.

What are the qualities of a good nanny you are looking for?

When selecting a nanny, a proper interview should be done to ascertain that you do not make the mistake of choosing the wrong person to take care of your baby.

How can you find out if the nanny is good or not? What are the qualities of a good nanny?

As you start with the interview, ask questions related to child care, experience with handling children before, high regard to safety, loving disposition, administering medicines or first aid, or any other particulars that concern you.

Trust your instincts.

Your few minutes of interaction will tell you a lot about the person based on your gut reaction alone.

Do a background check

After the interview session, if you feel that a particular nanny was well suited for the job, don’t hesitate to do a background check before hiring her. Ask for people she has worked with before regarding her work. If you have found your nanny through some agencies, make sure to tell them to double-check the credentials before sending any person for perusal.

Good interaction with your baby or child

It is better if you keep your baby or kid in the same room while the interview takes place. This will help you check how she talks, interacts, and responds with the baby. Check if the applicant seems caring, attentive, and patient with your baby. You can also test how she handles your little one when he/she starts crying. You can try making her play with the baby for some time. If she gets tired quickly then you will know that she does not have the stamina to run around for hours with the little one.

She should have the basic education

In India, the concept of a nanny is still relatively new and people have ayahs to look after their babies. Ayah’s generally come from the lower strata of society. Because of this, they are generally not educated and it is also seen that their culture, personal habits, and personal hygiene also differ.

Unlike western countries, where nannies are usually professional people trained to look after the child, in India the trend is still yet to catch up. However, if you have agencies that hire nannies, then they should mention their basic educational requirements. She should at least be able to read prescriptions of medicines, or read books to your baby and engage her in stimulating ways. You may also want her to be able to interact properly with you, follow instructions, and possess the ability to think on her feet.

Try for a month to see if it works out

Another thing that you can try out is to invest in a trial run.

Before giving her a permanent position make the nanny work for you for a month to see how things pan out.  In doing so, you will be able to observe her personality, her child care methods, and how she can fit in your family dynamics. You may have a certain reservation towards your nanny in the beginning, yet you should remember to give her some time. Just as you need time to know her it is also important for your nanny to know you. Avoid being too strict with her. It is her first day and you cannot expect perfection on day one. Everybody needs time to hone their skills and your nanny too is no exception.

Listen to your gut feeling no matter what

Sometimes, even after doing all the necessary things, you may still be unsure about hiring a prospective nanny. You may be thinking if it is the right call. At times like this, it is best to listen to your instincts or your gut. If your intuition tells you to hire the nanny then go for it. If however, you have a bad feeling about it, then it’s totally a good idea not to second guess yourself.

Spend some time with the nanny before you join work

It is really a daunting job to leave your little one in the care of a complete stranger. Once you start going to the office, there will be no one to supervise the nanny at home. This may at times lead to potential exploitation which is a common thing. There are a lot of nanny/babysitter horror stories on the net.  It is a good idea to spend some time preferably a few months or weeks with the nanny and your child. This will allow you to monitor the nanny’s behavior towards the baby and will also make your child accept the stranger as a caregiver.

Always keep a tab on your nanny at all times

Once the nanny starts taking care of your baby and things seem to go on fine, it is still necessary to keep a tab on her. Observe your baby’s body language when he/she is around the nanny. If you see any signs of uneasiness, it is better to follow up on them. It is also important to convey what you as parents expect from her. Household rules and routines and disciplinary actions should be presented to her for review. Also, it is better for you to not nag her a lot. Learn to trust her and keep the communication going. If you are still unsure about her, drop in unexpectedly from the office or ask your friends or neighbors to keep an eye on her. Also, ask your nanny not to be over the phone while spending time with the baby. It is important to impart to her the message that your child’s care and safety are of utmost importance and as such, any negligence on the part of the nanny will be dealt with severely.

Once you find the ideal nanny, ayah, or babysitter, life will become so much better for you and your work. Juggling between work life and your child takes away a lot of energy. Your productivity decreases and as such you are unable to give proper time to your child as well as give your 100 percent to your work. But if you have a good nanny who can take care of the child then you can devote quality time to your work. It is true that no nanny can replace a mother’s love and care, but it can surely make a mother’s life a lot easier.

If you have any stories relating to finding a nanny please comment below. Share this article if you have found it useful.