As a mother, we need all the help we can get in taking care of our babies and the most alternative we opt for in this part of the world is a nanny or a maid. Hiring someone to look after your child either in your absence or presence is a not something that should be done with a wave of hand, it requires a very serious approach because you will be entrusting the safety and life of your child into the hands of someone. You just don’t want anyone to take care of your kids, you want someone responsible, trustworthy and child-friendly.
A great way to get a sense of whether a nanny or a maid is a good fit for your family is to have a face-to-face interview with them and ask the following basic (important) questions. The questions are as follows-
Important Questions
Name, Phone, Address, and Age-
It against the law in Nigeria to hire someone below 18 for labor, it is child abuse according to the law, so the age question is more important if you are hiring. And also you don’t want to leave a baby with a “baby”
Charges-
Talk about their charges head on so you know if they are affordable to your or not so it’s clear to you if you can afford them and it’s clear to them what they would get paid.
References-
You have to get references from them either physically or their contacts, so in a situation whereby there is a need for it. They need to have a guarantor that will stand in for them in any situation.
First aid and CPR Training-
A caregiver needs to know what to do to a child when they need first aid, If they do not have first aid and CPR training for infants and children, then the safety of your child is not guaranteed.
Background check-
You should run a background check on them if you are satisfied with the information they provided so as to know if what you’ve been told corresponds to what you’ve been told. If a prospectus nanny is against you running a background check on them,that a raise of a red flag.
Experience-
What is their experience with providing childcare? How many child have they handle in the past and how well do they relate with children.
Health Issue-
Know about their health history, if they have any health issues that might affect the way they care for your child. I once know of a nanny that infected their employer’s kids with HIV. So even after you are satisfied with the interview, you should still carry out a medical examination on them.
Method Of Discipline-
You need to know if the way they plan on disciplining your child match with you and if it doesn’t, now is the time to ask if they are willing to discipline the way you would like them to. It would be confusing for a child if the moms say it’s this way and the nanny says otherwise.
Can they make meals?-
If you supply the ingredients, can they make the meals or will you have to leave meals set up in advance? Don’t assume everyone knows how to cook or even use a microwave.
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