What to Look For When Hiring a Childcare Provider

You’ve been searching all over, trying to find the best babysitter or nanny for your child, but it seems you just don’t know what to do with all the applications you’ve received. Maybe you have even met with some providers, and while they seem qualified, you just don’t feel “good” about the match. So, what’s a parent to do? Having a strategy helps, and part of that strategy is knowing what to look for in a caregiver. Ahead are the top five things to consider when searching for and hiring your child’s caregiver.

Qualifications

Perhaps the most important to consider- your future nanny’s qualifications are vital. Qualifications include education, trainings, background checks, and references. Nannies who have a great deal of knowledge surrounding normal child development get our thumbs up, because they know what to expect and will be a part of the team in rearing your child. Your babysitter or nanny should value education and be consistently adding to their knowledge base. Other qualifications to look for? They should be CPR/AED/First Aid certified in both adult and pediatric care, they should pass a background check, and they should have at least three stellar references.

Experience

While some nannies are great even with no experience, it might make you feel more secure if your candidate has some meaningful familiarity in caring for infants and children. Credible experience includes working at a daycare or child development center, babysitting for friends and family, working at drop-in care centers such as the YMCA or a gym, or even caring for one’s own children. Sometimes, it may behoove you to consider people who may have not necessarily filled a nanny role, but who have worked closely with children in educational or enrichment settings. Do think outside the box when examining the experience of a potential caregiver!

Personality

Another vastly important factor to evaluate is personality! You should “click” with your child’s caregiver. After all, they are an extension of the family, and your relationship should feel comfortable. If you get any sort of uneasy feelings around them, or otherwise feel like something just isn’t fitting or meshing well when you interview, do not force it. Our intuition is usually pretty good when it comes to how we interact with other people. Your child’s caregiver should be professional, friendly, warm, and enthusiastic about providing the best possible care to your little one. They should have ideas about how to make your kiddo’s life happy while you are away, and have suggestions for engaging them in play and learning.

Location

Something not often thought about, especially when a candidate is amazing, is location. While this particular quality should not be the ultimate deciding component, it makes your life a lot easier if your nanny or babysitter lives close to you. In the event that you need care outside of normal hours, a natural disaster, or car troubles, it is helpful to know that your nanny and your family can find appropriate alternatives. In addition, your caregiver being familiar with the local events, and the neighborhood in general, is a plus for your child! If they frequent the best parks, libraries, and coffee shops, they are already ingrained into the community and that is a valuable characteristic!

Flexibility

Similarly to location, flexibility is another beneficial attribute of a top-notch caregiver. Their ability to keep their schedule open for your family is priceless! With hectic family life being the norm, doctor’s appointments, work commitments, and unexpected inconveniences are bound to happen more than we’d like. Knowing that you can call your child’s caregiver or your nanny’s agency, and have reliable care fairly last-minute and/or at unusual times is irreplaceable. Of course, it is always preferable to give your caregiver advanced notice out of respect, however, life often throws us curveballs and being able to catch them allows us to remain in charge.

When looking for a caregiver, having a defined strategy can streamline your childcare search. If you are overwhelmed on your search for the perfect caregiver, give London Bee a buzz. We are happy to help you find the perfect fit for your family.