75+ Nanny Interview Questions: The Complete Hiring Guide for 2026

Hiring a nanny is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. You're inviting someone into your home to care for your most precious family members—often for more waking hours than you get yourself. The stakes are high, and so is the pressure to get it right.

The key to finding the perfect nanny? Asking the right questions. This comprehensive guide provides 75+ carefully crafted interview questions designed to reveal not just a candidate's experience, but their judgment, values, and approach to childcare.

Whether you're hiring your first nanny or replacing a beloved caregiver, these questions will help you find someone truly exceptional.

Before the Interview: Phone Screening

Don't waste time on full interviews with incompatible candidates. Use these phone screening questions to quickly assess basic fit.

Phone Screening Questions (10-15 minutes)

1. "Can you tell me a bit about your childcare experience?" Listen for: Specific ages, number of years, types of families

2. "What are your current availability and scheduling needs?" Listen for: Alignment with your schedule, flexibility

3. "What are your salary expectations?" Listen for: Range within your budget, understanding of market rates

4. "Are you legally authorized to work in the US? Are you willing to work on the books?" Listen for: Clear yes to both; any hesitation is a red flag

5. "Do you have reliable transportation?" Listen for: Specific transportation method, backup plans

6. "Are you comfortable with our location?" Listen for: Awareness of commute time, commitment to arriving on time

7. "What are your long-term childcare goals? How long do you typically stay with a family?" Listen for: Stability indicators, career commitment

8. "Are you CPR and First Aid certified? If not, are you willing to get certified?" Listen for: Current certification or willingness to obtain

9. "Do you have references from previous families?" Listen for: Enthusiastic yes with recent references available

10. "Is there anything about the position that might not work for you?" Listen for: Honest concerns, deal-breakers

Advancing a candidate: Schedule an in-person interview if basic requirements are met. Skip if there are clear incompatibilities.

In-Person Interview: Background and Experience

The full interview should last 45-90 minutes. Start with background questions to understand the candidate's history and expertise.

Professional Background

11. "Walk me through your childcare career. How did you get started, and how has it evolved?" Look for: Thoughtful progression, genuine interest in childcare

12. "What ages have you worked with, and which age group is your favorite?" Look for: Experience with your child's age, honest preference (dishonest candidates claim to love all ages equally)

13. "Describe a typical day in your current or most recent nanny position." Look for: Engaged caregiving (not just TV and supervision), age-appropriate activities

14. "What did you like most about your previous nanny positions? What did you like least?" Look for: Positive focus, constructive criticism without blame

15. "Why did you leave your last position (or why are you looking to leave)?" Look for: Reasonable explanations (family moved, children aged out, schedule change)

Red flag answers: Blaming families, frequent job changes without explanation, vague responses

Education and Training

16. "What education or training do you have related to childcare?" Look for: Early childhood education, child development courses, specialized training

17. "What certifications do you hold? When do they expire?" Look for: CPR, First Aid, water safety; current certifications

18. "Have you taken any classes or workshops recently related to childcare?" Look for: Ongoing learning, professional development interest

19. "Are you interested in pursuing additional training or education?" Look for: Growth mindset, willingness to improve

Childcare Philosophy and Approach

Understanding a nanny's philosophy helps predict how they'll handle your children's daily care.

General Philosophy

20. "What's your childcare philosophy? What do you believe is most important when caring for young children?" Look for: Articulate beliefs that align with yours

21. "How would you describe your caregiving style—structured, flexible, or somewhere in between?" Look for: Self-awareness, flexibility

22. "What role do you think a nanny plays in a child's development?" Look for: Recognition of developmental impact, not just supervision

23. "How do you handle screen time and technology use?" Look for: Thoughtful approach that aligns with your values

24. "What's your approach to nutrition and mealtimes?" Look for: Healthy eating awareness, experience with family dietary preferences

Discipline and Behavior

25. "How do you handle discipline and setting boundaries?" Look for: Positive discipline techniques, consistency

26. "What would you do if a child hit you? Hit another child?" Look for: Calm response, age-appropriate consequences, no physical punishment

27. "How do you handle tantrums?" Look for: Understanding of child development, patience, specific strategies

28. "Describe a time you had to manage a difficult behavior. What happened?" Look for: Specific example, thoughtful response, positive outcome

29. "How do you respond when a child says 'I don't like you' or 'I want mommy'?" Look for: Emotional security, validation without taking offense

30. "What boundaries are important to you in your role as a nanny?" Look for: Clear professional boundaries, respect for family rules

Child Development

31. "How do you encourage learning and development throughout the day?" Look for: Play-based learning, age-appropriate activities

32. "What activities would you plan for a typical day with [child's age]?" Look for: Variety, age-appropriateness, creativity

33. "How do you encourage language development in young children?" Look for: Reading, conversation, specific techniques

34. "How do you handle a child who is struggling developmentally?" Look for: Patience, communication with parents, awareness of when to raise concerns

Scenario-Based Questions

Scenarios reveal judgment and problem-solving ability better than abstract questions.

Safety Scenarios

35. "You're at the playground and another child's parent starts engaging your charge in conversation and offering candy. What do you do?" Look for: Polite but firm boundaries, protective instincts

36. "My child falls and hits their head. There's no visible injury, but they seem dazed. What's your response?" Look for: Knowledge of concussion symptoms, when to call parents and when to call 911

37. "You smell something burning in the kitchen while giving the baby a bath. What do you do?" Look for: Prioritizing baby safety, quick decision-making

38. "The power goes out during a storm. What steps do you take?" Look for: Calm response, ensuring child safety, communication with parents

39. "My child is choking. Walk me through your response." Look for: Knowledge of age-appropriate choking response, staying calm

Difficult Situations

40. "My 3-year-old refuses to put on their shoes for an hour, and you need to leave for a doctor's appointment. What do you do?" Look for: Creative problem-solving, staying calm under pressure

41. "You've planned an outdoor activity, but the child is having a terrible day emotionally. How do you adjust?" Look for: Flexibility, reading the child's needs

42. "Two children in your care are fighting over a toy. How do you handle it?" Look for: Fairness, teaching conflict resolution

43. "A child you care for shares that they're being bullied at school. What do you do?" Look for: Listen supportively, communicate with parents promptly

44. "My child says something mean to you repeatedly. How do you respond?" Look for: Not taking it personally, consistent boundaries

Judgment Scenarios

45. "A repair person arrives unexpectedly, claiming we scheduled them. I'm not available to confirm. What do you do?" Look for: Not letting strangers in without verification, contacting parents

46. "My mother-in-law shows up unannounced and wants to take the kids somewhere. She's on the approved pickup list, but you weren't expecting her. What do you do?" Look for: Verifying with parents, following protocols even when inconvenient

47. "You accidentally break something valuable in our home. What's your response?" Look for: Immediate honesty, taking responsibility

48. "You disagree with an instruction I've given about my child's care. How do you handle it?" Look for: Respectful communication, ultimate deference to parents

49. "My child tells you something concerning about what happened at a playdate. What do you do?" Look for: Taking it seriously, age-appropriate response, informing parents

Practical and Logistical Questions

Ensure alignment on the practical aspects of the position.

Schedule and Availability

50. "What hours and days are you available to work?" Look for: Clear match with your needs

51. "How do you feel about occasional overtime or schedule flexibility?" Look for: Reasonable flexibility, clear expectations

52. "How much notice do you need for schedule changes?" Look for: Flexibility balanced with reasonable boundaries

53. "What would you do if you were running late or had a personal emergency?" Look for: Communication, backup plans

54. "Are you available for occasional date nights or weekend work?" Look for: Willingness if this is important to you

Household Duties

55. "What child-related household tasks are you comfortable with?" Look for: Willingness to do child laundry, tidying play areas, meal prep

56. "How do you feel about light household tasks beyond childcare?" Look for: Clear expectations (this is negotiable and should be compensated)

57. "Are you comfortable driving my children?" Look for: Clean driving record, car seat knowledge, comfort level

58. "How do you handle meals and snacks? Are you comfortable cooking?" Look for: Nutrition awareness, cooking skills

Communication

59. "How do you prefer to communicate with parents about the day's activities?" Look for: Daily updates, flexibility in communication style

60. "How would you handle it if you felt a parent's expectations were unrealistic?" Look for: Professional communication, willingness to discuss concerns

61. "What information would you want to know about our family before starting?" Look for: Thoroughness, professionalism

Values Alignment

Explore whether the candidate's values align with your family's approach.

Personal Values

62. "What do you think children need most from their caregivers?" Look for: Alignment with your priorities

63. "How do you handle your own stress and frustration?" Look for: Self-awareness, healthy coping strategies

64. "What qualities make a good nanny-family relationship?" Look for: Communication, trust, respect

65. "What would make you leave a position?" Look for: Reasonable deal-breakers, red flags

Lifestyle Questions

66. "Are you comfortable with our pets?" Look for: Genuine comfort (not just tolerance)

67. "What are your expectations regarding privacy and use of phones/devices during work hours?" Look for: Professional approach, reasonable boundaries

68. "Are there any aspects of our household or lifestyle that might be difficult for you?" Look for: Honesty about potential challenges

69. "How do you feel about accompanying us on family vacations?" Look for: Willingness if this is part of the role

Questions Specifically for Your Situation

Customize these based on your family's specific needs.

For Infant Care

70. "What's your experience with infant sleep training? What methods are you familiar with?" Look for: Experience with your preferred approach

71. "How do you approach tummy time, sensory development, and infant milestones?" Look for: Developmental awareness, active engagement

72. "What's your experience with breastfed babies and bottle feeding?" Look for: Comfort with feeding logistics, pace feeding knowledge

73. "How do you soothe a crying baby who won't calm down?" Look for: Multiple techniques, patience

For Toddlers

74. "What's your approach to potty training?" Look for: Patience, positive reinforcement, experience

75. "How do you handle toddler tantrums and the 'terrible twos'?" Look for: Developmental understanding, calm response

76. "What activities do you find most engage toddlers?" Look for: Active play, creativity, developmentally appropriate ideas

For Multiple Children

77. "How do you manage different ages and needs simultaneously?" Look for: Organizational skills, fairness, experience

78. "How do you handle sibling conflicts?" Look for: Conflict resolution skills, patience

79. "How do you ensure each child gets individual attention?" Look for: Thoughtful approach, specific strategies

For Special Needs

80. "What experience do you have with children with [specific condition]?" Look for: Relevant experience, willingness to learn

81. "Are you comfortable administering medications or managing medical equipment?" Look for: Competence, comfort level, training

82. "How would you collaborate with therapists or specialists?" Look for: Team approach, communication

Questions the Nanny Should Ask You

Strong candidates come prepared with thoughtful questions. Be concerned if they don't ask anything.

Good questions from candidates:

• "What are your parenting priorities and values?"
• "What does a typical day look like for your family?"
• "What challenges might I face with your children?"
• "How do you prefer to communicate?"
• "What would success look like in this role after six months?"
• "What happened with your previous caregiver?"
• "What would you never want me to do with your children?"

Red Flags to Watch For

Be alert to these warning signs during interviews:

Communication red flags:

• Vague or evasive answers
• Speaking negatively about previous employers
• Not asking questions about your children
• Poor listening skills
• Checking phone during interview

Experience red flags:

• Significant gaps in employment unexplained
• Unable to provide recent references
• Job-hopping without clear reasons
• Inflated experience claims that don't hold up

Attitude red flags:

• Inflexibility on every issue
• Dismissive of your parenting concerns
• Knows "better" than parents
• Unprofessional behavior or dress

Safety red flags:

• Unclear on basic safety protocols
• Hesitant about background checks
• Minimizes risks or concerns

Reference Check Questions

After choosing your top candidate, thorough reference checks are essential.

Questions for Previous Employers

83. "How long did [candidate] work for you? What ages were your children?" Verify: Employment dates match what candidate reported

84. "What were [candidate]'s main responsibilities?" Verify: Experience matches what candidate claimed

85. "How would you describe their caregiving style?" Look for: Consistency with what candidate described

86. "How did they handle discipline and difficult behaviors?" Look for: Approach alignment with your values

87. "Were they reliable and punctual?" Look for: Any hesitation or qualification

88. "How did they handle emergencies or stressful situations?" Look for: Specific examples, calm demeanor

89. "What were their strengths as a caregiver?" Look for: Genuine enthusiasm

90. "What areas could they improve upon?" Look for: Honest feedback (everyone has growth areas)

91. "Why did they leave your employment?" Verify: Matches candidate's explanation

92. "Would you hire them again?" Look for: Enthusiastic yes (hesitation is telling)

93. "Is there anything else I should know?" Look for: Additional insights, honest disclosures

Post-Interview Evaluation

After each interview, evaluate candidates systematically.

Evaluation Criteria

Rate each candidate (1-5) on:

• Experience with your children's ages
• Childcare philosophy alignment
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving ability
• Professionalism
• Reference quality
• Gut feeling/connection

Making Your Decision

Strong yes indicators:

• References are glowing and specific
• Answers demonstrate experience and judgment
• Philosophy aligns with yours
• Professional but warm demeanor
• Children respond positively during trial

Worth considering:

• Some experience gaps but excellent potential
• Strong references but less experience
• Great connection but needs some training

Pass:

• Concerning references
• Red flags during interview
• Philosophy misalignment
• Poor judgment in scenarios
• Unprofessional behavior

Final Steps

Once you've chosen your nanny, complete these steps:

1. Conduct a background check (criminal, driving record if applicable)
2. Verify certifications (CPR, First Aid)
3. Check social media (professionally, not invasively)
4. Arrange a paid trial (4-8 hours minimum)
5. Create a written work agreement (hours, pay, responsibilities, policies)
6. Set up payroll (legal compliance matters)
7. Plan onboarding (household tour, emergency protocols, routines)

Key Takeaways:

• Phone screen before investing in full interviews
• Use scenario questions to assess judgment
• Verify everything through reference checks
• Trust your gut, but support it with data
• Great candidates ask great questions too
• Red flags rarely improve with time
• Take time to find the right fit—it's worth it

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