Before you begin to look for a nanny, you should first specify the characteristics of a caregiver that will work for your family. Their experience should be one of these criteria, but how can you determine how much experience is enough? It is best to be well aware of your demands before making the decision to employ a nanny for your child. Make a list of all the characteristics you are looking for in a nanny, such as a nursing degree, certification, first aid knowledge, a pleasant personality, and more. Read on to learn how much work experience should a nanny provide on her resume.
The Longer the Better
Typically, the longer a nanny has been taking care of the children, the better. But it’s important to consider their level of expertise as well as how long they’ve been employed. Every family is unique and has certain requirements.
The key is to pay attention to the specifics of a caregiver’s past work experiences and decide whether they are right for your family. For instance, you might look for nannies with expertise working with large families if you have four or more kids. Perhaps your child has specific requirements, academic challenges, or sleep issues. Instead of a nanny with a lot of broad experience, you might prefer one with specific qualifications.
There are many different types of nannies that you need to consider too. The main distinction between a live-in nanny and other kinds is that the former is a full-time member of the domestic staff who resides in the family’s residence. On the other hand, all duties pertaining to the care of infants fall under the scope of a baby nurse. Baby nurses are very knowledgeable about the stages of a newborn’s development.
Important Questions to Ask a Prospective Nanny About Experience
There is no such thing as asking too many questions when selecting a nanny for your child. Consider asking these questions as a guide, tweaking them to the requirements of your family.
- How long have you been a childcare provider?
- Have you ever taken a course in child development or child care?
- Do you own any unique credentials? (A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education, for instance).
- Which kind of environment have you worked in?
- Do you have any expertise in dealing with young children with medical needs?
- Have you ever worked with children of the same age?
- Have you ever prepared bottles or meals before?
- Have you ever introduced solid food to a baby?
- Have you ever had to deal with unique or challenging family dynamics?
- How many children have you ever dealt with all at once?
- Describe your working style and interactions with previous families or jobs.
- Describe your philosophy on child development in brief.
- What do you think about children’s nutrition?
- What daytime activities would you implement for my child?
- Do you have First Aid and CPR certifications? If not, would you be open to receiving training?
- Do you have experience working with children that have special needs?
- Have you ever taken care of an emergency while looking after a child? How did you act?