Nanny hiring guide

By Barbara Correa on November 17, 2007 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Need nanny help? This was compiled from a Mom on Jen Levinson's e-mail list. It has a great ten-item checklist for screening a nanny candidate and web sites where you can download applications.

PLEASE email MELISOPP@yahoo.com your tips and your stories to add to the tip sheet Here are downloadable application forms for those who don't have a prepared resume:
http://acaringnanny.com/NannyApplication/index.shtml
http://www.nanniesplus.com/apps/EasyNannyApp.shtml
http://familyextensions.com/application/submit.asp

Signs of a bad nanny: late for work, makes excuses for many things, does not get on your childs level i.e. sits on the couch while your child plays, often seems to be working in the area near where you walk into the house (because she was resting all day then jumps up when she hears you come home), never surprises you by doing anything extra, has poor judgement (gives your baby keys to play with, puts baby up high on counter to change them or feed them, leaves child alone in room where she cant see them, has them in swing all day, plops them in front of TV, is messy, keeps baby in diaper after nap, does not wipe babys face well after eating, swings kids by arm, says bad words in front of kids "crap" "shit", goes shopping when you think they are at the park, meets friends for lunch instead of working and neglects kid, laughs when your child is hurt, pinches your child, you ask her to clean and it still seems dirty, forgetful about many things, etc.)

CHECKLIST:
1. if they do not have current references DO NOT hire. excuses; "I was going to school" ASK to see their school records
"I was injured..." ask for hospital records or therapy records.
"My last employer was not nice to me and they wont give me a reference" do not hire!
"they moved and I dont have their new number" lie!
"they got divorced and I dont have their new number"
2. if the email reference you found in the internet comes from a relative or friend and makes them look like a great nanny, beware...the email should come from an employer to have even some validity
3. VERIFY their references. MEET with the reference even if you have to do some driving the reference can be a friend or relative who is lying to you EVEN agencies do that, they have references and are just paying them to lie to you SOME questions you can ask them over the phone; How old are your kids? At the end of the coversation ask WHAT are the birthdates of their kids and see if they match up with what they first told you. A liar likely cannot come up with the proper year of birth to match how old they told you their kids are.
4. Two parents said they leave their videocameras and cameras charging at home in the same spot and turn it on when they leave the house. One said he found a tape at FRYS that is 80 minutes long - they leave their house only for 80 minutes and review later to see if their kids are being neglected or treated properly.
5. ask for a RESUME
NOTICE if they keep changing jobs often
AND of course ALWAYS meet the last 2 job references to be SURE they are real if they are out of state ask the same question different ways and find inconsistencies to be sure you are not talking to a friend or relative
ASK "What are the worst things you can tell me about her?...What should I be aware of?"
WHen they only have GOOD things to say BEWARE, we all have flaws, how can anyone be perfect? You just may be talking to their friend, not a past employer.
6. Nannys at the park
send a friend or relative to watch nanny - if your kids are older and will recognize the friend or relative. send a new friend to the park to watch your kids and the nanny, is she on the phone the whole time? does she speak harshly? does she hit? does she make them sit in the stroller long periods? Does she feed them her junk food? etc.
7. Did anyone read this book? https://www.gavindebecker.com/books-ptg.cfm
PROTECTING THE GIFT, i.e. How do I know if my babysitter or nanny will turn out to be someone who will harm my child?
8. GET a copy of TWO forms of ID once you hire anyone
9.Nannies under watchful eyes of strangers
www.LAnannywatch.blogspot.com,
www.ISawYourNanny.blogspot.com
10. A business owner gave me this site that she uses to watch employees
http://www.imintouch.net/