5 Characteristics of an Ideal Nanny

Looking for a nanny can be a daunting task. Deb Crisford, founder and director of a nanny placement service in NYC, shares five things to look for when searching for a child care provider that’s a good fit for your family.

Hunting for the perfect nanny to fit your family can be a tireless journey. The first questions parents ask me when starting their search for a nanny is, “What am I even looking for?!” My answer: Go back to the basics!

Here are the top characteristics when searching for a new nanny to invite into your home:

Morals and Ethics Align: Your nanny must hold your same basic values because they are acting as the through-line of communication from you to your children.

The 3 Rs: Respectful, Reliable, Responsible: Your nanny must respect you, your boundaries, and your rules. She must be on time and act responsibly. When you’re not home, you should be able to feel at ease that your children are safe in her hands.

Healthy, Happy, and Whole: To be able to be present and give his all on the job, he needs to be grounded in his daily life. As nanny’s job is always “on,” you don’t want someone sleep walking through the job.

Genuine Care for Children: Your nanny should love children and value the whole experience. If your nanny sees her responsibility simple as biding time until the parents get home, she’s not the nanny for you.

Experience: Let’s be sensible, nothing can trump experience. Like I said, “go back to the basics.”

The ideal nanny with these qualities is out there; it’s just about finding him!  Once you do, your nanny will continue to enrich the life of you and your children.

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