What Questions Should You Ask When Interviewing a Nanny?

The interview is the decisive step in any nanny recruitment process. It is the moment when you will assess not only the candidate's skills, but also her personality, her educational values and her ability to fit into your family. Yet many parents approach this exercise unprepared and miss essential information. Here is the complete guide to the questions to ask when interviewing a nanny, organised by theme.

Before the Interview: Lay the Groundwork

A good interview begins before the meeting itself. Take the time to define your needs precisely: schedule, responsibilities, educational values, the language spoken with the children, and the flexibility expected. The clearer your needs, the more relevant your questions will be.

Also review the candidate's CV and references beforehand. At Magic Nannies, every profile presented to families has already been through our recruitment process: in-depth interview, verified references (a minimum of 3, all personally contacted), and a criminal record check. The family-candidate interview then serves to confirm the human connection not to redo the vetting work.

Questions About Professional Experience

Start with her background. The goal: to understand the reality of her experience, beyond what is written on the CV.

• "Tell me about your previous families: the children's ages, your responsibilities, and how long each position lasted." — The stability of previous positions is an excellent indicator of reliability.

• "Why did you leave your last position?" — A clear, composed answer is a good sign. Bitter criticism of former families should raise a red flag.

• "Which age group do you prefer, and why?" — A nanny experienced with infants does not have the same profile as a specialist in school-age children.

• "Have you ever cared for several children at the same time?" — Essential for siblings.

• "Tell me about a difficult situation with a child and how you handled it." — The answer reveals her real educational approach, not a theoretical one.

Questions About Educational Approach

This is the heart of the interview. You are looking for a professional whose values align with your own.

• "How do you handle a tantrum or a meltdown?" — Her answer should be concrete and consistent with your parenting approach.

• "What is your position on screen time?" — A frequent point of friction between families and nannies: clarify it from the interview stage.

• "How would you organise a typical day with a child aged [your child's age]?" — A good nanny will spontaneously go into detail: activities, meals, nap time, free play, outings.

• "How do you encourage language learning on a daily basis?" — A key question for a bilingual nanny: the answer should go beyond a simple "I speak English with them". Reading, games, songs, natural immersion — to understand what true immersion brings, read our article on the benefits of an English-speaking nanny.

• "How do you handle educational disagreements with the parents?" — You are looking for a professional who expresses her point of view respectfully, then applies your choices.

Questions About Safety

Non-negotiable. These questions must receive precise and reassuring answers.

• "Are you trained in paediatric first aid?" — Ideally with an up-to-date certification (PSC1 or equivalent).

• "What would you do if my child got injured while in your care?" — The answer should include: assessment, appropriate first-aid response, calling emergency services if necessary, and informing the parents immediately.

• "Do you have a driving licence? Are you comfortable driving with children?" — Essential if the position involves journeys.

• "How do you keep outdoor activities safe?" — Park, swimming pool, outings: vigilance should be second nature to her.

Practical and Logistical Questions

• "What is your exact availability? Are you flexible in case of unforeseen circumstances?"

• "Are you available to travel with us?" — An essential question if you are considering accompanied holidays or an international lifestyle. For these needs, discover our travel nanny service.

• "Do you see this position as a long-term commitment?" — Stability is precious for the children's wellbeing.

• "Would you be comfortable with a live-in arrangement?" — If your home allows for it. To understand everything about this arrangement, read our guide Live-in nanny.

• "Are there any tasks you would prefer not to take on?" — Better to clarify now than after hiring.

Putting the Candidate in a Real Situation: The Most Revealing Test

Beyond questions, nothing replaces observation. If possible, arrange a meeting between the candidate and your children, 30 minutes of play is often enough to reveal what matters most:

• Does she get down to the child's level, both physically and verbally?

• Does she capture their attention naturally?

• Does your child seem at ease, curious and confident?

• Does she take initiative, or does she wait for your instructions?

This real-life assessment is systematically recommended in our placement process before any final decision.

Red Flags You Should Not Ignore

Certain signs should prompt caution, even if the CV is excellent:

• Vague or evasive answers about past experiences

• Repeated, bitter criticism of former families

• An inability to give concrete examples of real-life situations

• References that are impossible to reach or reluctant to talk

• A fundamental disagreement with your educational principles, downplayed during the interview

• Premature negotiation focused solely on conditions, before even talking about the children

Why Going Through an Agency Changes Everything

Conducting a good interview is a profession in itself. Assessing the truthfulness of a career path, contacting references, detecting inconsistencies, asking the right situational questions, this is precisely what a specialist agency does upstream, so that your interview can focus on what matters most: the connection with your family.

At Magic Nannies, only 5% of applications make it through our selection process. Every profile you meet has already been rigorously assessed in-depth interview, verified references, complete administrative file. To discover all our profiles, visit our Our Services page.

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