10 Ways to Tell if a Full-Time Nanny is Responsible

When it comes to finding the right nanny, the answer is not always clear cut. Most people are looking for a responsible person who they can trust. Here are ten ways to tell if a potential full-time nanny is responsible.

1. Preparedness during an interview - The nanny should come prepared and ready for your interview. If the nanny is on time, has answers prepared, and genuinely seems responsible, then there is a good chance that she’ll act that way on the job.
2. Assessing previous positions - What sort of positions of responsibility has the nanny been in during her work history? A responsible nanny will usually have had some experience managing people or handling multiple duties in the past.
3. Listen to your kids - Though there are times when kids aren’t the best resource for evaluating a nanny, it pays to listen to what they have to say. Your kids can be excellent evaluators of talent when they get familiar with the nanny.
4. How does the house look? - The proof is generally in the pudding, so take note of how your home looks when you return. A responsible nanny will usually keep control over things to the point where your home won’t be a complete disaster at the end of every day.
5. Quick response time - One of the marks of a responsible nanny or a responsible person in general is being able to respond quickly to requests. Does the nanny answer the phone immediately and promptly return your phone calls?
6. Ask for personal references - Before hiring a nanny, it is smart to find out some information from references. Know, however, that your nanny is going to only give references of people who have a favorable view of her. This means that you need to do some reading between the lines to truly get a picture of what a nanny is all about.
7. Going the extra mile - A good nanny is will go the extra mile to make sure that your kids are happy and to make sure that you are happy with the job she is doing. Take notice of whether she just does the bare minimum or if there is more going on.
8. Does the nanny report problems? - This is an area where many nannies struggle. They want you to think that everything is fine, so they neglect to tell you things. A responsible nanny recognizes that there are inherent problems to raising a child, so she is willing to discuss these things with you.
9. Safety first - There are a lot of things that you can learn about a nanny just by watching. Does she wear her seatbelt and does she take precautions?
10. Asking questions that get to the heart of responsibility - When you are looking for a nanny, you need to ask questions that will give you a picture of the nanny’s responsibility level. Come up with hypothetical situations and gauge the nanny’s answers.

Ultimately finding the right nanny is a process that will be challenging for many. If a responsible nanny is what you are after, then following these tips will undoubtedly help.