Hiring a nanny is one of the most important decisions a family can make. A nanny not only cares for a family’s children, but becomes a part of the family’s life. The nanny search can be stressful, but families will not be disappointed if they are sure to look for 10 crucial criteria:

1. A nanny must be nurturing. This may seem obvious, but a good nanny should love children, not just tolerate them. Let nanny applicants spend time with children, observing how they interact.
2. A nanny must be organized. Caring for children and a home is a huge task. A good nanny should know how to balance housework with play, how to organize a meal calendar, and how to make sure each child gets to each lesson and practice on time.
3. A nanny must care about education. While it is easy to be nurturing, a nanny should care about making sure children of every age are learning every day. A nanny should be willing to help children with homework or teach small children how to say their ABCs.
4. A nanny must share the family’s values. Every family has a different value system. Does the family focus on bringing up athletic children, well-educated children, or just happy children? A nanny’s view on these critical issues should align closely with the family’s.
5. A nanny must align with parents’ discipline procedures. Parents typically have strict ideas about what constitutes misbehavior and what punishments should result. A nanny must be willing to align with discipline procedures parents already have in place.
6. A nanny must be reliable. This may also seem obvious, but checking a candidates reliability is a step that is often overlooked. Parents should check a nanny’s references prior to hire to ensure that this person is a reliable worker.
7. A nanny must be open. Communication between a nanny and parents is essential to establishing a good working relationship. A nanny should be willing to share what is going on in the lives of the children, and should be willing to ask about any “grey areas” that may arise.
8. A nanny must be creative. While children need routines, a good nanny knows that coming up with a new game or a fun craft makes life more enjoyable for everyone.
9. A nanny must be calm. Children will assuredly throw tantrums, fight with siblings, and remind the nanny that they are “not mom.” A good nanny can stay calm through a child’s bad days and effectively communicate issues with parents.
10. A nanny must be a “fit.” Sometimes a nanny may look good on paper, but may not “mesh” with the family. A truly good nanny will fit in with every person in the family.

Finding a good nanny can certainly be a difficult process. With careful consideration of these 10 factors and a commitment to treat a nanny with respect and compensate them well, any family can surely find the nanny of their dreams.