Choosing a nanny is a crucial part of your child’s development, and choosing the right nanny is important. You want your child’s nanny to understand the position entirely and be satisfied with the job. At the same time, you want to ensure you understand and uncover everything you can about the person you are hiring to care for your child when you aren’t around.

Here is a list of 85 possible interview questions to ask your potential nanny. Use this nanny interview questions checklist to make your own personal list of the specific questions you want to ask.

Before the Interview: Explaining the position

Before the questions and answers start, it can be extremely beneficial to thoroughly explain the position to the potential nanny. The last thing you want is to ask a list of questions and find the perfect nanny only to find out they can’t accept the position because of something like your pay rate or hours needed.

Use the following list to explain the position in depth, and make sure the nanny you are about to interview is satisfied with the job description before you begin your questioning.

• Tell the nanny about your child or children.
• Describe your family to the nanny.
• Explain the required start date.
• Be specific about the hours of work that are needed each day and week.
• Explain the duties and responsibilities of this position.
• Talk about your typical routines and schedules.
• Be upfront about rules you have about phone use, visitors, and other rules.
• If you are interviewing for a live-in nanny position, show them the accommodations, and ensure that they are satisfied.
• Explain any special dietary requirements and medical issues for your child.
• Describe what you expect from them to ensure they are willing to abide by your rules, requirements, and expectations.

One critical tip: It is against the law to make your hiring decision based on age, race, ethnic background, religious views, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy plans, disability, or arrest record.

We understand that some families have their own personal preferences about who they want taking care of their child. However, it is crucial that you avoid questions that imply a hiring decision is being made based on unlawful preferences. Our recommendation is never to end an interview abruptly or refuse to interview someone based on any of these preferences and have a lawful reason for why you didn’t hire someone if it were to ever come up in the future.

Top 85 Interview Questions to Ask a Nanny

While you certainly won’t ask your potential nanny every single question on this list in order, consider these questions when vetting your candidates. Highlight the most important questions that you are eager to hear their answer about, and make sure you not only listen to what they say but also watch how they say it.

Basic questions:

1. Why did you choose to work as a nanny?

2. What appeals to you about being a nanny in someone else’s home as opposed to working in a daycare center or other childcare facility?

3. What do you believe the difference is between a nanny and a babysitter?

4. Do you plan to work in childcare for the rest of your life?

5. Are you seeking a long-term position with your next nanny job?

6. What qualities do you believe are important to be a great nanny?

7. What are your hobbies?

8. Do you play any sports?

9. Are there any activities you do throughout the week?

10. What do you enjoy most about childcare or being a nanny?

11. What do you enjoy least about childcare or being a nanny?

12. Do you read childcare or child development books? If so, what are your favorite books or authors?

13. What are your favorite activities to do with children?

14. If hired, when would be the earliest you could start?

15. What are your goals or vision for your future?

Education and training:

16. Do you have any certifications for nannying, childcare, or child development?

17. Are you a member of any nanny or childcare clubs or associations?

18. What is your education level?

19. Do you plan to work in childcare as your profession?

20. What childcare education have you received?

21. Are you trained in first aid or have CPR certification?

22. When was the last time you updated your first aid or CPR training?

23. Are you fluent in any other languages?

Previous experience:

24. How long have you been working in child development or nannying?

25. What previous nanny jobs have you held?

26. How much experience do you have caring for children?

27. What age groups of children have you cared for?

28. What are your favorite age groups of children?

29. What was your longest childcare position held, and what was that experience like?

30. What was your most recent childcare job?

31. Why did you leave your previous job?

32. Have you ever had any negative work experiences, and what did you learn from them?

33. Do you have any experience with potty training?

34. Do you have experience with preparing a baby’s bottle and bottle sterilization?

35. Have you ever weaned a baby onto solid food?

36. What children’s age levels do you have the most experience with?

37. For my child’s age, what do you believe your primary responsibilities are?

38. Have you ever dealt with a childcare emergency, and how did you handle it?

39. Do you have any experience with children with special needs?

40. Have you ever administered insulin, Epi-Pens, CPR, generic medications, inhalers, or other healthcare to children?

41. After looking at your resume/CV, could you explain this past position in more detail?

42. Were there significant differences among your past nanny jobs? What were they and, how did you handle the changes in requirements or expectations?

43. If I called your listed references, what do you think they would say about you?

44. If I asked the previous children you cared for to describe you in one word, what would their answers be?

Position requirements, responsibilities, and expectations:

45. How flexible is your daily schedule?

46. Would you occasionally be available if we needed you to arrive earlier or stay later?

47. What is the maximum amount of time you could care for our child before needing a break?

48. What are your expectations with this position?

49. If you were in my shoes, what qualities would you be looking for in a nanny?

50. Are you okay with other housework besides nannying (housework, pet care, cooking, meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, appointment setting, driving, groceries)?

51. Do you have a driver’s license? Do you have a car? What kind of car do you own? How is your driving record? Would you be willing to drive my child to activities?

52. What kind of car insurance do you have?

53. Do you know the laws regarding children as vehicle passengers? Do you know how to use a car seat properly?

54. Are you able to assist my child with their homework?

55. Considering the age of my child, what sorts of outdoor activities would be suitable for them, and what areas of development would you concentrate on?

56. How do you think your roles or responsibilities would change as my child gets older?

57. Do you feel comfortable with the physical demands of this position?

58. Are you willing to care for additional children if we have family or friends over for playdates?

59. When my child is at school or doing an activity, what roles or responsibilities do you believe you have?

60. Are there any responsibilities you can’t handle or any activities you can’t or won’t do?

61. Can you abide by our child’s strict diet?

62. Are you comfortable with working with a child who has special needs or conditions?

63. How would you go about communicating with me about my child’s day?

64. Do you understand my family’s unique situation and circumstances?

Caregiving style, philosophy, and situational questions:

65. What is your childcare philosophy?

66. What do you like most about being a nanny?

67. What do you find challenging about nannying or childcare?

68. How do you go about planning a day or week as a nanny?

69. What are your thoughts on appropriate television for our child’s age?

70. How would you keep track of what our child browses on the internet?

71. What daily childcare activities do you believe are necessary as a nanny?

72. What books do you believe would be appropriate or inappropriate for our child?

73. What has been the most difficult time you’ve had being a nanny, and how did you handle the situation?

74. What would you do if you were faced with a situation you couldn’t handle?

75. What would you do if your caregiving style didn’t match with ours?

76. What do you think is the best way to handle discipline as a nanny?

77. How do you handle behavioral situations with children?

78. How would you handle a child who threw a tantrum in public?

79. What would you do if a child locked themselves in the car, and how would you prevent this from happening?

80. What can you do as a nanny to keep my child safe at home and in public?

81. If you noticed a potential medical, educational, or behavioral issue with my child, how would you address the matter with me?

82. How would you handle the situation of a child who was choking?

83. What do you think about structure in a child’s life, and do you prefer more or less structure as a nanny?

The critical final two questions:

84. Is there anything I didn’t ask you that you think I should have?

85. Do you have any questions for me?

Ending the Nanny Interview Process and Next Steps

Even if you think the nanny you just interviewed is the perfect choice, you should never make your decision on the spot. Let them know that you enjoyed speaking with them and that you value their time. Give them a specific period of time in which you will call them back to let them know about the position.

Both parents should make this decision, and you also want to make the nanny think that other candidates are being considered for the job. The nanny you choose should be honored and thankful for the opportunity you are giving them.

Whatever you have chosen your next steps to be, make sure you are abundantly clear about what they can expect. Make sure you have both their mobile phone number and their email address, depending on how you plan to contact them.

Meeting the children

If you believe you have the right nanny for the job, it can be wise to ask them to come back for a second informal interview. This is when you will let them meet your child or children for the first time.

Supervise the interactions between the nanny and your child to consider whether or not they make a good match. You want your child to be content with the nanny, but you also want to make sure your instincts were correct. If you believed this candidate to be the best choice after the first interview, this interaction will either confirm or deny that initial thought.

If all goes well with the meeting, you can decide as a parental team to hire the nanny on the spot or again tell them you will contact them. If you, as parents, have already decided to hire them contingent on a successful meeting with your child, you can ask them if they want the job after the meeting. If your child is old enough to talk, you can then tell them about their new nanny and allow them to get excited.

You can give the nanny a start date and speak about their first days as a nanny. Congratulations, you have just hired a nanny!

Conclusion

Although this can feel time-consuming and possibly even stressful, interviewing and hiring a nanny is extremely important and can be an exciting time. Consider these nanny interview questions and tips when vetting your candidates, and try to have an enjoyable time as you get to know your potential new nanny.