Hiring a nanny requires a lot of trust which is why most families will perform a series of background checks on whomever they’ve selected as their most likely candidate. As any employer will tell you, however, even the most intensive background screening process will not root out all of a potential employee’s flaws and personal quirks. What follows is a list of 99 different items and necessary traits that a background check will not necessarily reveal about your family’s new nanny.
Personal Habits
- Hobbies – Most people who work as a nanny spend the majority of their day working with children and their hobbies and other interests will get brought up from time to time. If they have a hobby that you disagree with, such as a love of tarot cards, it may be an issue for you if they introduce your children to it.
- Dangerous Activities – If a nanny spends their off time pursuing dangerous activities, such as shark diving, they are more likely to not be around for an extended period of time.
- Bathroom Breaks – Although everyone has the necessity for bathroom breaks, some people require them with more frequency. This can become an issue if your child is very young or very needy but it’s a sensitive topic that you’re unlikely to learn about in advance.
- Cell Phone Usage – If you’re hiring a nanny because you’re unable to be at home most of the time then you’re going to need a nanny who doesn’t text all day long.
- Curse Words – While it’s pretty much a given that a good nanny won’t curse on a regular basis around your children, you’ll be unable to determine in advance how they’ll respond to extremely stressful situations.
- Patience – It is easy to display patience in short bursts but the day to day grind of being a nanny is when someone’s true level of patience will be put on display.
- Cleanliness – Some people provide a truly spotless cleaning job while others hide the crumbs and dust underneath a rug. Where your nanny falls will be difficult to determine in advance.
- Alcohol and Drug Consumption – A serious issue would likely have already come to the surface, but minor usage may not be noticed until it’s too late.
- Gossiping – Whether it’s about yourself or your neighbor, gossiping is an unsavory habit.
- Grooming – Everyone skips a shower every so often, but your nanny needs to get ready each day as if they were leaving the house to go to work.
Personal Beliefs
- Religion – A background check won’t tell you the nanny’s religion, but you should definitely feel free to be open about yours after you’ve hired them so that there’s a clear understanding of how you’re raising your children.
- Discipline – There are countless different schools of thought regarding discipline and a background search will not reveal the truth about what your new nanny believes. Be up front with the nanny and ask them if they’re comfortable administering only the type of discipline that you adhere to.
- Social Beliefs – Neither the resume or the background check will tell you if the nanny shares your family’s social views.
- Adherence to the Family’s Lifestyle – If your family follows a specific diet, such as vegetarianism, you’ll be entrusting the nanny with adhering to this guideline while you’re out of the house.
- Medical Beliefs – The only way to find out what is treated with a band-aid and what results in a trip to the ER is for a medical emergency to actually happen. Remember that not everyone looks at injuries in the same way.
Criminal Background
- Full Criminal Records Search – Doing a full criminal records search is a difficult and time consuming process. Many databases purge misdemeanor information after seven years and some other areas do not list their information in readily accessible databases.
- Arrested Without a Conviction? – Arrest records that don’t result in a conviction can be difficult to find and also to decipher.
- The Truth behind a Conviction – The sad fact is that some people are charged with a crime that they haven’t committed. Errors of this type can cause the perfect nanny to slip through your fingers.
Morality
- Theft – Theft can mean very different things to different people; if you define theft as eating a handful of chips without permission then a background check will not provide you with all of the answers that you seek.
- Entertainment – The question of whether or not your nanny will allow your children to watch Barney instead of putting on their favorite soap opera will not be answered via a background check.
- Compassion – It is impossible to predict with 100 percent certainty if the nanny will respond to a minor injury with a kiss to make it feel better or with a statement about shaking it off.
- Discretion – No one wants to admit that they’ve had the necessity for a discreet nanny so their level of discretion will not come out until the moment that it becomes necessary.
- Affairs – Most former employers will be too embarrassed to admit if their former nanny had an affair with one of them and therefore it is difficult to determine if the nanny is looking for more than just financial compensation.
- Resume Accuracy – Although you can call every employer and reference listed there is no way to know for certain that all of the information you’ve received is correct.
- Snooping – Some people are naturally nosy and others are not. You’ll only find out which camp your nanny belongs to through real life events.
- Gender Bias – If you have both a boy and a girl, you’ll want a nanny who doesn’t exhibit a specific gender bias and this may not be verifiable via a background check.
Talent
- Lullabies – Singing a lullaby is a common nanny trait but unless you ask them to sing to you during the interview you won’t know in advance if they have a soothing singing voice.
- Arts and Crafts – Being artistic is a huge plus for a nanny but the level of their skill with arts and crafts will only be determined once they start the job.
- Coaching – For older children activities such as impromptu backyard sports clinics are a nice touch. Even if your nanny can play sports, however, their coaching ability must be seen to be truly verifiable.
- Driving Skills – A clean driving record does not necessarily equal a good driver.
- Culinary Arts – The nanny will likely be cooking for the family but due to the subjective nature of food the only way to determine if the nanny is a good cook is to experience their cooking for yourself.
- Reading Ability – This doesn’t just refer to a nanny’s ability to read, it also refers to the style and tone that they employee while reading to your child.
- Sense of Humor – Having a person in your home on a full time basis who does not appreciate the family’s sense of humor will not be fun for anyone involved.
- Child Friendly Facts – A college degree doesn’t impress children but a working knowledge of dinosaurs does.
- Knowledge of Children’s Characters – Your child will expect the nanny to know the names of their favorite TV characters.
- Deciphering Ability – How well the nanny can decipher infant speak is very important and can only be tested in a real life situation.
- Animal Care – If you have pets, you need a nanny who will get along with them and know at least the basics of pet care.
- Appropriate Storytelling – The ability to make up stories is a huge plus, but being cautious about storytelling choices is very important.
- Unusual Skills – The ability to make balloon animals or to turn into a clown isn’t likely to be on a resume but will have a big impact on your child’s happiness.
Childcare
- Diaper Changes – As a nanny performs most, if not all, of the diaper changes it will be difficult to find out in advance if your new nanny always changes diapers quickly enough to avoid rashes.
- Child Safety – A lack of attention to child safety will only show itself when an unfortunate situation arises because of it.
- Appropriate Play Time – Children develop mentally and physically at different times and so it’s important that the nanny utilize appropriate play time activities for your child’s specific needs.
- Balances Snack Time – Kids tend to gravitate towards junk food; an occasional snack comprised of chips is okay but fruit and vegetables also need to be incorporated on a regular basis.
- Emotional Responses – If your child is high spirited it is imperative that your nanny has the ability to respond in the proper way.
- Pleasant Environment – The nanny sets the tone for the entire household; previous employers’ experiences can’t definitively predict future behavior.
- Chickenpox – How your nanny responds to communicable diseases is a vital component of the overall care that they give to your children.
- Truthfulness – A good nanny knows how to remain truthful while also sparing the children from hearing about things that are outside of their emotional capacity to handle.
- Keeping Myths Alive – If the children believe in Santa Claus, the nanny must support them in this belief.
Work Habits
- Punctuality – Previous employers can give input on this but the fact is that everyone looks at punctuality differently and you may not agree with someone else’s standards.
- Reliability – Although previous employers can give you a good measure of this important quality, life changes can impact the nanny’s reliability at any time.
- Initiative – Some employers are happy with the bare minimum; if you’re looking for initiative and outside the box thinking you’ll need to experience it first hand to ensure the nanny fits your needs.
- Effective Communication –This is perhaps the most subjective of all categories because every employer requires a different level of communication.
- Good Judgment – Previous examples of good judgment are important but every day you’ll learn more about the nanny’s actual ability to make judgment calls.
- Personality Fit – Having someone in your home requires a good personality fit and no amount of background checking can provide you with the necessary information to determine if the nanny’s personality will mesh well with your family’s.
- Stress Check – Your household contains its own unique levels of stress; how the nanny responds to them is imperative to a good working relationship.
- Follows Guidelines – The ability to follow unusual requests, such as never opening a specific drawer, is a must.
- Flexibility – Your nanny will need to be able to quickly shift gears as the family’s needs and priorities change.
- Detail Oriented – Taking care of a child, and possibly a household, requires a lot of attention to detail.
- Time Management – Your nanny must be able to juggle all of their daily responsibilities.
- Interest – A good nanny will continue to show a high level of interest in your child at all times.
- Changeability – A good nanny will change her routines as necessary.
- Security – All of the family’s rules about security must be adhered to without fail.
Housekeeping, if Applicable
- Laundry – Paying attention to proper sorting and folding is crucial and there’s no pre-test to help you determine your nanny’s laundry skills.
- Maintenance – Basic maintenance skills are a must in a busy household.
- Meal Preparation – In addition to tasty meals, well rounded meals are also a necessity.
- Basic Housekeeping – A nanny definitely knows how to use a broom, mop and a vacuum but the important thing is whether or not they use them in a way that’s consistent with your standards.
- Personal Space – It is important that a live in nanny’s personal space be kept as cleanly as the rest of the house.
Time Off and Other Requests
- Vacation Time – Vacation and personal days need to follow a schedule that suits the needs of the family.
- Sick Time – The level of commitment that is expected while a nanny is sick must be pre-discussed. Keep the health and safety of your children in mind before demanding that the nanny work at all times.
- Extended Absences – Although some things in life are unavoidable, it is important to have a nanny who will return to work quickly regardless of the circumstances.
- Visitors – You should set guidelines for whether or not the nanny can have visitors, especially of the overnight variety.
- Realistic Expectations – It is vital that both the nanny and the family have realistic expectations about what will happen around the house.
Maturity and Intelligence
- Emotional Maturity – As important as this quality is, it can’t be verified until a rough situation presents itself.
- Overall Intelligence – A college education may not be one of your requirements but keep in mind that your child will ask the nanny a lot of questions.
- Playfulness – A playful nature is a must and does not imply immaturity.
- Imagination – Your child is likely to have a vivid imagination and their nanny must be able to keep up.
- Child Development – A working knowledge of child development is essential but your nanny must be able to apply this knowledge in practical ways.
- Computer Skills – Most children are highly adept at using a computer and they’ll expect the nanny to be, too.
- Video Games – A basic knowledge of video games will help the nanny earn the respect of your children.
- Keeping Anger in Check – If the nanny gets into an argument with one of the parents this anger must not be transferred to the children.
- Appropriate Communication – The nanny should not initiate conversations about sensitive family topics.
- Knowing When to Step Aside – A nanny naturally develops a strong relationship with the children they work with but they must know when to step aside and let the parents do the parenting.
- Commitment to the Child’s Development – The nanny must place the child’s development above their own personal daily desires.
Planning
- Developing a Game Plan – Mentally stimulating your children requires pre-thought and daily follow through.
- Seasonal Activities – Incorporating holidays and seasonally specific activities will help your children both learn and stay interested in spending time with the nanny.
- Backup Plans – A good nanny will always have a backup plan in mind in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Other Potential Chores
- Shopping – You’ll discover hands on if your nanny purchases all of the requested items and sticks to the budget.
- Errands – Getting them all done quickly and accurately is a vital component of the nanny’s non-child care related responsibilities.
- Unexpected Issues – If the toilet overflows it is important for the nanny to take the initiative to fix the problem.
Important Events
- Birthday Parties – A nanny becomes very important in a child’s life so they must be open to the idea of attending birthday parties.
- Holidays – If a nanny doesn’t have a holiday scheduled off they should consent to working them if needed.
Life Moments
- Sex Education – Your nanny must respect all of your wishes regarding answering questions of a sexual nature.
- First Day of School – Your nanny should participate as necessary, including taking pictures.
Miscellaneous
- Bilingual – If your child is learning a new language it will be helpful if your nanny agrees to learn a few words.
- Financial Stability – Although a nanny will be working for money, they must be able to place the needs of your child above their own financial needs.
- Ease with Children – Nervousness around certain types of children should never be exhibited.
- Future Goals – If your nanny plans to move out of state while your children are still young they may not be the right choice.
- Health – A pre-existing health condition may cause serious issues down the line.
- Personal Comfort – If the nanny doesn’t become comfortable in her new surroundings then things won’t work out for anyone.
