Questions to Ask a Reference for a Nanny
Essential questions to ask when checking references for a potential nanny, helping you make an informed decision about who will care for your children.
1How long did the nanny work for your family?
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How long did the nanny work for your family?
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Why this works
Establishes the duration of their employment and helps you understand the length of their experience with the reference family.
2What were the ages of your children when the nanny worked for you?
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What were the ages of your children when the nanny worked for you?
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Why this works
Reveals their experience with specific age groups and helps you assess if they're a good fit for your children's ages.
3What were the nanny's main responsibilities in your home?
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What were the nanny's main responsibilities in your home?
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Why this works
Clarifies the scope of their duties and helps you understand what tasks they're comfortable handling.
4How did the nanny handle discipline and behavior management?
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How did the nanny handle discipline and behavior management?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to child discipline and helps you assess if their methods align with your parenting philosophy.
5What was the nanny's relationship like with your children?
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What was the nanny's relationship like with your children?
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Why this works
Shows how well they connected with the children and whether they were able to build positive, trusting relationships.
6How did the nanny communicate with you about your children?
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How did the nanny communicate with you about your children?
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Why this works
Reveals their communication style and whether they kept you informed about your children's activities, concerns, and development.
7What were the nanny's strengths in caring for your children?
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What were the nanny's strengths in caring for your children?
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Why this works
Identifies their positive qualities and helps you understand what they excel at in childcare.
8Were there any areas where the nanny could have improved?
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Were there any areas where the nanny could have improved?
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Why this works
Provides honest feedback about areas for growth and helps you understand any limitations or challenges they faced.
9How did the nanny handle emergencies or unexpected situations?
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How did the nanny handle emergencies or unexpected situations?
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Why this works
Reveals their ability to stay calm and make good decisions under pressure, which is crucial for childcare safety.
10What was the nanny's approach to meal preparation and feeding?
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What was the nanny's approach to meal preparation and feeding?
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Why this works
Shows their comfort level with food-related tasks and helps you understand their approach to nutrition and meal times.
11How did the nanny handle your children's schedules and routines?
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How did the nanny handle your children's schedules and routines?
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Why this works
Reveals their organizational skills and ability to maintain consistency, which is important for children's well-being.
12What was the nanny's approach to play and learning activities?
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What was the nanny's approach to play and learning activities?
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Why this works
Shows their creativity and engagement with children while revealing their philosophy on play and development.
13How did the nanny handle conflicts between siblings or children?
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How did the nanny handle conflicts between siblings or children?
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Why this works
Reveals their conflict resolution skills and ability to manage multiple children effectively.
14What was the nanny's reliability and punctuality like?
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What was the nanny's reliability and punctuality like?
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Why this works
Shows their dependability and commitment to their job, which is crucial for your family's schedule and peace of mind.
15How did the nanny handle your children's emotional needs?
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How did the nanny handle your children's emotional needs?
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Why this works
Reveals their emotional intelligence and ability to provide comfort and support during difficult moments.
16What was the nanny's approach to screen time and technology?
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What was the nanny's approach to screen time and technology?
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Why this works
Shows their philosophy on technology use and helps you assess if it aligns with your family's values and rules.
17How did the nanny handle your children's homework and school-related tasks?
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How did the nanny handle your children's homework and school-related tasks?
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Why this works
Reveals their ability to support academic activities and helps you understand their approach to educational support.
18What was the nanny's relationship like with other family members?
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What was the nanny's relationship like with other family members?
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Why this works
Shows their ability to work well with extended family and helps you understand their interpersonal skills.
19Would you hire this nanny again if you needed childcare?
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Would you hire this nanny again if you needed childcare?
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Why this works
Provides a direct assessment of their overall performance and helps you understand the reference's level of satisfaction.
20What advice would you give to a family considering hiring this nanny?
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What advice would you give to a family considering hiring this nanny?
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Why this works
Provides valuable insights and recommendations while helping you understand what to expect and how to work effectively with them.
Best Practices for Checking Nanny References
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Use questions that encourage detailed responses rather than yes/no answers. This provides more valuable information about the nanny's performance.
Listen for Red Flags
Pay attention to hesitation, vague responses, or reluctance to provide specific examples. These can indicate potential problems.
Verify Information
Cross-reference information from multiple references and ask for specific examples to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Question Sequences
The Experience Assessment
The Performance Evaluation
Common Pitfalls
Don't Skip Reference Checks
Always check references thoroughly. Skipping this step can lead to hiring someone who isn't a good fit for your family.
Avoid Leading Questions
Don't ask questions that suggest the answer you want to hear. Let the reference provide honest, unbiased feedback.
Don't Ignore Red Flags
If a reference seems hesitant or provides vague answers, dig deeper or consider it a warning sign about the nanny's performance.