Guildlines On Hiring Your Nanny Wisely

Not many things are more upsetting than discovering that your child has been abused, in any way, by your babysitter. People think that to be a babysitter means you must be a nice person. WRONG! Some of the nicest people turned out to be Serial Killers, so don't ever give a Babysitter the benefit of the doubt. Unless you have a good friend and neighbor who happens to be an experienced nanny, the best place to go for prospective childcare providers are nanny agencies. These agencies usually perform preliminary background checks - education, experience, personal references, and even psychological testing - copies of which should be forwarded to you.

The person should be responsible, likes kids, be able to have fun, and still know when it is time to be serious Like any other employer, the interview portion of the hiring process is very important. You can gauge the nanny's personality and professionalism with a comprehensive interview, which will play a significant role in your final decision. With a little help from your hidden nanny cam, you can replay the interview to reinforce or reject your initial choice. Usually, a more experienced and educated nanny should be preferred especially when her work experience indicates that she stayed with one family for an extended period.

Check child-care ads and place your own help-wanted ad in your local newspaper, local college career services office, and community bulletin board or newsletter. Specify the hours and days you need child care, your child's age, the general area in which you live (but don't give your address), and whether or not you want the sitter to live in or have a driver's license. If you require a nonsmoker, say so. Your child's caregiver should have training in child development or have experience taking care of children. The caregiver should also appreciate the importance of stimulating your child's intellectual, social, and emotional development.

He or she should be able to communicate well so your child can build his or her language skills. Your caregiver should respect your philosophy of child rearing and understand that you are the ultimate authority for making decisions about the care of your child. He or she also needs to guide your child's behavior with positive reinforcement rather than physical punishment. Even if you work with a child-care agency that prescreens candidates, you should participate in the screening process. First, screen candidates over the phone to eliminate those who don't seem right.

As a matter of fact most people would agree that it is a good idea in the beginning to sit back and observe how this person handles situations and interacts with your child. How is that any different then installing a Nanny Cam for the times you are not at home? In both situations you are observing an employee and how they follow the guidelines that you have set up. Deciding whether or not to install a Nanny Cam is a highly personal choice to be made by you. Likewise, telling the nanny that you have installed one is also up to you. When it comes to your Childs welfare you cannot be too careful.