Find A Nanny | Nanny Interview Question

and after you feel that the child is okay – you should excuse yourself for “a sec” to make a quick phone call. Ideally, the child will stay with the nanny and you can spy on them, or leave them be and come back and get an idea of how they got on together. If your child senses abandonment, and runs after you, not wanting to be alone with the nanny, don’t worry – and don’t necessarily take it as a thumbs-down.

Some children have separation anxiety regardless of the other person that they are left with is – whether it’s a trusted aunt, a neighbor or a new person like a nanny candidate. On the other, hand, other children do not have any separation anxiety, but with this new nanny candidate, will suddenly cling to mom.

What does this mean? It could mean that your child doesn’t like this person. But it could also mean that this child knows, whether you’ve discussed the new nanny coming to be a caretaker for your child, or not, that this nanny is going to be a bit of a replacement for mom, as far as the child is concerned.

The child may have anxiety about the impending separation from mom, and that’s all this clinging may be about.

How can you be sure what the clinginess is about?

Many employers like to do a “trial” employment period. This is something that lots of employers in many industries outside the domestic help industry do. The proper way to do it is to contract and pay the nanny for a day’s or a week’s work, with the understanding that you are not hiring this person, but merely trying her out, and in return, letting her try out the job as well to see if you all think that this is a good fit.

This is not so much a problem with independently employable nannies, but when you are dealing with a nanny agency, it is very important to put this trial period down in writing, so that the agent does not assume – or take advantage of you and impute you with hiring the nanny because you are paying her for the week. If you want to really cover all your bases, get written confirmation back from the nanny agency that they are fine with her working for the week, and understand that you are not employing her full time, and you are still interviewing other candidates, and do not owe them a 15% of the year’s salary fee – or any fee for that matter – until you make a decision to employ her after the five day (or however many days) trial period.

If you do decide to have a week long trial be prepared for the first day or two to be about separation, and the third, fourth and fifth day of the work week to be more representative of dynamic to come.

Saying Goodbye

The “play” period with the child should only last about 15 minutes. After that amount of time, you should tell the child that Eleanor is going to go home now. Don’t give the child any false hope that the nanny will be back. You will be much more honest with everyone if you just say that it’s time to say goodbye. Whether or not the nanny chooses to say, “I hope I see you again!” to the child, or, “Maybe I’ll come back again – would you like that?” what is most important is your reaction and your actions. In fact, a good nanny will learn to take her cues from you when it comes to interacting with your child.

Ask the nanny if there’s anything else she’d like to know or ask you before you say goodbye.

Shake hands and show her to the door. Do not hug. Do not kiss on the cheek. Do not give the nanny a false sense of family. She has not been hired yet. She needs to see you as an employer who is honest and up front.