44 Interview Questions to Ask When Hiring a Nanny

Published: March 31, 2025

Alicia Garibaldi

When it comes to welcoming a nanny into your family, it’s not just about finding someone who cares for your kids. You want a nanny who “gets” your child, who makes their eyes light up, and their smiles wider. Often, your intuition will guide you, but asking the right interview questions ensures you're also making a well-informed decision.

Here are the essential questions to ask to ensure you are on the right path in building a magical connection with your nanny.

 

[TOC]Why Asking the Right Questions Matters

A good interview process allows you to get insight into how your nanny will think in various scenarios. It also looks at past relationships to see what worked and what didn’t. Lastly, it helps you identify red flags so you mitigate any risk when hiring the best possible fit for your family.

 

[TOC]45 Interview Questions to Ask During a Nanny Interview

A solid nanny interview isn’t just about resumes—it’s about seeing how your potential caregiver thinks on their feet, even in tough situations. What would they do if a child ran off? How would they reinforce healthy eating and screen habits that match your family’s values? Role-playing real-life scenarios helps gauge their problem-solving skills before they’re in the thick of it.

That said, interviews shouldn’t feel like an interrogation. Striking a light, conversational tone keeps things comfortable while still getting the insights you need. We’ve rounded up our top 10 interview questions to help you find the right fit, plus extra questions across nine key childcare categories for a deeper dive.

Check out the infographic below for our top 10 must-ask questions to uncover your perfect nanny match.

Pro Tip: These questions reveal character, competence, AND chemistry! Be sure to print or save these for your nanny interview! 

Below are 9 other categories of questions you might want to pull from to dive deeper into certain areas depending on how the first screening goes.

1.  Experience and Expertise

2.  Childcare Approach and Philosophy

3.  Communication and Interpersonal Skills

4.  Schedule and Flexibility

5.  Safety and Emergency Preparedness

6.  Real-world and Behavioral Scenarios

7.  Specialized Care Experience

8.  Compensation and Expectations

9.  Reputation and Reference Checks

 

[TOC]Experience and Expertise

A great starting point is to go through your nanny’s background and experience level. Here is a good list of questions to ask about their background and experience:

1. What made you want to become a nanny?

2. How long have you been a nanny for?

3. What training did you get to become a nanny?

4. What education areas are you passionate about?

5. Are there any additional certifications or training you’d like to pursue to enhance your role as a nanny?

6. What specific ages of children have you cared for (e.g., infants, toddlers, school-aged)?

[TOC]Childcare Approach and Philosophy 

Questions around their approach to childcare and philosophy help ensure that you are aligned as a cohesive unit. Here are some good questions to ask:

7. What approach do you use when a child doesn’t want to do what they are told?

8. What values are important to you, and how did you learn about values while growing up?

9. What activities or routines do you prioritize for children of different ages (e.g., educational, physical, creative)?

10.How do you approach screen time for children?

[TOC]Approach to Discipline and Repair

Discipline isn’t just about correcting behavior—it’s about guiding children toward emotional regulation and healthy decision-making. A strong caregiver understands how to set boundaries while also fostering trust and growth. Consider asking:

11. What is your approach to discipline? 

12. Tell me about a time you worked with a child who struggled to behave. 

13. How do you approach sibling disagreements?

[TOC]Communication and Interpersonal Skills 

Understanding how your nanny communicates lays the groundwork for your kids’ social success.

14. What methods do you use to keep parents updated throughout the day (e.g., daily logs, photos)?

15. Do you prefer to communicate on logistics over the phone, by text, or in person?

16. In previous jobs, if you disagreed with a family’s method—how did you bring it up?

17. How do you handle giving and receiving constructive feedback?

18. How do you communicate with children when you disagree or they're misbehaving? 

19. How do you encourage kids to make good choices?

20. How will you step in during child conflicts?

[TOC]Schedule and Flexibility

Your nanny will be your kids’ go-to, so it’s important to ensure their schedule aligns even when things change.

21. Are you available for occasional overnights or extended hours (e.g., work trips or emergencies)?

22. How much notice do you need for schedule changes?

23. How do you want us to handle sick days if you or the kid(s) get sick?

24. How do you prefer to track the schedule each week?

25. Will you be planning playdates, or do you want us to research those for you?

[TOC]Safety and Emergency Preparedness

This is a good place to dive into certifications and training. We’ve included a list of certifications to look for in this article.

26. Are you trained in First Aid for infants and children?

27. Do you have a valid driver’s license, and are you comfortable transporting children?

28. What’s your process for managing illness in children (e.g., fevers, stomach bugs)?

29. Do you feel prepared for an emergency plan if there is an evacuation or sudden event?

30. Have you ever experienced an emergency while watching children? How did you respond?

[TOC]Real-World and Behavioral Scenarios

This is a great way to understand the behaviors your nanny will be modeling for your child.

31. What would you do if you noticed a child showing signs of bullying or being bullied?

32. How would you react if a child broke a house rule under your care?

33. Are there specific family values or routines that work best with your style?

34. What do you like to do in your free time?

[TOC]Specialized Care, Infant & Newborn Expertise 

Infants and newborns require an entirely different list of criteria as do children with special needs. Here are the essential questions to ask to ensure your nanny is ready to handle that responsibility.

35. Are you experienced in sleep training methods, and if so, which ones?

36. How do you approach soothing a colicky baby or managing cluster feedings?

37. Have you worked with children with special needs or specific behavioral challenges?

38. Do you have experience with therapies or tools for children with special needs (e.g., sensory toys, communication devices)?

[TOC]Compensation Expectations

This is a good time to get everyone on the same page regarding immediate compensation, future incentives, benefits, and expenses. We also recommend drawing out the details in a contract. Poppins’ Nanny Contract template can help guide your way, so you include all the basics.

39. Do you feel the compensation we’ve outlined is fair?

40. What are your expectations around compensation going forward?

41. How do you like to handle reimbursements for expenses that happen while caring for our kids? 

[TOC]Reputation and Reference Checks

As you near the end of your interview process, you should start surfacing reference checks with previous families. Reference checks with a few previous families help give you additional peace of mind. 

42. Would you be open to sharing any feedback you’ve received from previous families or employers?

43. What did you like about your previous work opportunity, and what didn’t you like?

44. Are you comfortable with us reaching out to your previous families?

In addition to reference checks, background checks should be an essential part of your nanny closing process. Check out this article for specific background checks to run and how to bring this topic up with your nanny candidates. 

 

[TOC]Questions That Should Not be Asked in a Nanny Interview

While conducting a thorough interview is important, it’s also crucial to make sure the process is comfortable and fair for your nanny.

Things to avoid asking include: 

• Questions around their personal or family life (i.e., marital status, children, or future family plans).

• Religious and political beliefs or practices

• Health-related questions 

• Age or citizenship

You can ask your nanny if they are legally eligible to work in the U.S., but you must avoid asking about their age and/or birthplace to ensure a professional and compliant interview process. 

 

[TOC]Red Flags to Watch Out for During the Interview

You’ll want to look out for these flags in your interview process.

• The Vague Responder—They share vague or evasive answers. If they’re struggling to answer each question with specific examples, this could be a sign of a lack of experience or honesty.

• The Negative Navigator—A good rule of thumb is that if they are talking about other employers negatively, they could also speak of you this way. Look for constructive and collaborative answers when discussing other people in their examples.

• The Rigid Ruler—Childcare is a team sport, and if they are unwilling to articulate their approach or if there is a misalignment in values, it’s a good thing to flesh out now.

• The Passion Puzzle—You’re a parent, so you know the role is demanding. Ensure it’s their passion to provide the best possible care for your children, and don’t settle if the connection just isn’t there.

 

[TOC]Evaluating Nanny Candidates After the Interview

After the interview, you are on your way to making an informed decision. Reflect on all their responses, attitude, and alignment with your family. Don’t forget to speak with other families and proceed with a trial period to see how they interact with your children and adapt to your household. Side-by-side interviews with other nannies can also help to compare for the best possible fit. 

The next step is to ensure you are all set up to compensate and pay your nanny fairly! Download our step-by-step Nanny Contract template to ensure you don’t skip any steps and are set up for a magical and long-lasting relationship on day one.

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The content of this article is general and informational in nature and may not be appropriate for your specific circumstances. The information is not intended to provide legal or tax advice, and should not be relied upon without consulting with an attorney and/or tax professional.

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