Choosing a nanny for your children is a critical decision that requires a lot of careful consideration. After all, this is someone who will be spending time and caring for the most important people in your life while you are away. In general, you want a reliable and caring person, who can effectively handle emergencies.

However, to ensure that you actually get someone who is a good fit for your family, you need a clearly established plan for what you want in a nanny. Using a payroll service to manage PAYE for nannies makes the hiring process easier.

Here are some of the key qualities to look out for when hiring a nanny:

1. Trustworthy

Considering that your nanny will be spending endless hours alone with your kids in your home, you need to ensure that you get someone you can trust. You need to be sure that they will always put the needs of your kids first, make decisions based on the best interests of your children, and dutifully follow your instructions. You also consider the fact that in their position as your nanny, they are highly likely to come across sensitive information about your family. Ensure that you trust your nanny to respect your privacy.

2. Enjoys Children

While this might seem obvious, you need to ensure that the person you hire actually loves being around children. Keep in mind that some people take nannying jobs as a stopgap until they find the jobs they are actually looking for. Such people don’t have any real interest in this profession. Don’t forget that nannying does have some stressful and overwhelming days, which means that if you don’t enjoy being around children, things can get tough and even out of control for you.

Some fundamental aspects of enjoying children are playing with them, exploring their interests, and nurturing their growth. Enjoying children is also about discipline and following rules. The right nanny will be able to establish a balance between the two and bring enthusiasm to their job each and every day.

When looking for the perfect nanny, set aside time to have a suitable candidate meet and spend time with your kids. Give them some space and try and observe them from afar. Alternatively, you can have the person shadow you for a day and assess how they handle the ups and downs of caring for children.

3. Patience

As noted, nannying is not easy and comes with its fair share of challenges. Whether it is the number of hours worked or the children becoming erratic, irrational, and emotional, you need a nanny who has the patience to withstand all the downsides of nannying jobs without losing their tempers.

4. Reliability

With your busy schedule, and as your sole childcare provider, you expect your chosen nanny to be at your home on or before the set arrival time ready to work. Unlike dropping your child at a daycare center, where there will always be someone to receive your child when your nanny fails to show up on time or fails to show up at all, you will have to readjust your schedule which can come at a heavy cost.

If your nanny has to pick up your children from school or take them to a music lesson during the day, will your nanny ensure that this is done on time?

One of the best ways to determine whether your potential hire is reliable, see whether they show up on time when you schedule an interview.

5. Organization and Time Management

Nannying jobs come with a lot of responsibilities. From preparing meals and changing diapers to organizing nap and play times and handling any trips outside the house to school, sports practices, and music lessons. A good nanny should be good with time management. Are they able to prioritize events and be organized enough to get it all done? A good nanny will be able to manage their day well with children and be properly prepared for all responsibilities ahead.

When it comes to hiring a nanny you need one who has a vested interest in your children’s development and who is keen on seeing them grow into well-adjusted kids. These are some of the key areas you should focus on when interviewing potential candidates.

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