Being Able To Spot A Bad Nanny

How to Spot a Bad Nanny

By reading our easy guide to what to ask, what to do and what to look out for when you are looking for a new nanny you’ll increase your chances of finding the perfect nanny and learn how to spot an unsuitable one.

Always chase up references when first hiring your Nanny and make sure that you feel at ease with her. Ask her back for a second and even third interview and trust your instincts. And no doubt then if you treat the one you pick well you will encounter no problems. 99.9% of Nannies are great! However there have been bad Nannies and there will be again and this is the very small chance that you take when deciding on Nanny care. Most are lovely and all but a few I have come across in my 10 years as a professional trained nanny were loving and caring and genuinely committed to children.

You may doubt your Nanny because your child is unhappy in her care and cries when left with her, and this may be a sign, but may also just be a child who finds separation from you hard. Nanny will probably tell you that your child settles as soon as you leave but if you can return home unexpectedly and quietly on a few occasions and find that your child is happy and settled then that will put your mind at rest and show you that you shouldn't have anything to worry about. However if she is still upset and unresponsive to nanny then discuss this with her and trust your instincts. If your child never wants to go to Nanny and seems to truly dislike her then there may be a problem. Although some children are just clingy to their parents and don't really want anyone else looking after them. This together with your distrust in Nanny will cause your child not to bond with her. So take care and ask other's opinions too, such as other mums who visit toddler groups where Nanny visits or your cleaning lady.

It isn't advisable to ask your child about Nanny as this may prompt her to invent something or exaggerate because of the attention she is getting from the situation. Also, she may sense your anxiety, causing a breakdown in her relationship with her Nanny. Instead just tell her that generally if anything horrible happened to her or if anyone was horrid to her then she must tell you straight away and you would help, and not judge her. Also listen to how she talks about Nanny and talk about what she has done with her that day etc. I cannot endorse or advise against the use of cameras or recording equipment as I do feel that there are privacy issues and I feel that there would have to be severe doubts in the parents minds to warrant this type of measure. However it is an absolute foolproof way of finding out whether a nanny is a good one or not.

On the other hand it may cause you to sack a Nanny for a simple discipline issue where you're methods almost certainly will differ from that of your Nanny's, and where she would be getting very good results from her methods but you may feel that she is too strict as you will almost certainly be softer in your approach. Whenever you see someone disciplining a child (let alone your own child and on tape) it does make you feel agitated and upset. The discipline will probably be the best solution to the misbehaviour and will work, but you may see it as too much if it is someone else doing it. It is hard I know but be reasonable as nannies are great at getting children to behave beautifully. Yes they may be strict, but they should also be kind and fun when your child is behaving.