THE NANNY TRIAL -- TIPS FOR PARENTS

 
 

We are a nanny agency in the New York City (NYC) area but these tips will apply for nanny trials anywhere.

Nanny TRIAL DURATION

Most families decide if they want to hire a nanny candidate after one full trial day, but if you’re not sure how you feel at that point you can request another day or more as needed (usually up to one week).

But keep in mind that many nannies will assume you are not interested if you don’t hire them shortly after that first trial day, so it’s important to keep the lines of communication open and schedule follow-up trial days as early as possible if they look promising.

Nanny Trial Pay

At the end of the trial, please pay the nanny candidate the same hourly rate listed on job description, plus round-trip public transportation to & from your home (or gas money).

CLICK HERE for more information on nanny pay.

BEFORE nanny TRIAL

  • CREATE A SCHEDULE — If you have time before the trial, write & print out a schedule for the nanny that includes meals, playtime, naps, outdoor time, etc. Keep the document as short & simple if possible (i.e., NOT too wordy, NOT too crammed with details)

  • SIT DOWN AND CHAT WITH THE CANDIDATE IF TIME PERMITS. This will help her relax (she’s probably nervous!) and give you a chance to learn more about her personality.

  • GIVE THE NANNY A BRIEF TOUR OF YOUR HOME — Show her the areas of your home she will use the most; give her a copy of the schedule and briefly review it together. Show her where the childcare/household supplies are. Try to avoid information overload. Even an experienced, highly qualified nanny may get overwhelmed by too much information on the first day.

DURING nanny TRIAL

  • OBSERVE NANNY, BUT AS DISCREETLY AS POSSIBLE— After the nanny is settled in with you and the kids, give her apsce so she feels comfortable and can do her best. Try to blend in to the background and leave her alone with the child for brief periods (as long as you feel safe doing so).

  • OFFER BREAKS AND A SNACK — If nanny is staying a full day, offer her some break time and something to eat and drink. She may need it but doesn’t want to make a bad impression.

  • TAKE NOTES — Write down a few observations about the nanny during and after the trial This is especially important if you are having trials with more than one candidate. (write down a few specific details about each nanny so you don’t get them confused with one another later).

AFTER nanny TRIAL

  • ASK THE NANNY CANDIDATE HOW SHE THINKS IT WENT — Ask her for an honest assessment of the day. Ask her if she thinks the position may be a good fit.

  • PAY THE NANNY - As stated above, don’t forget to pay the nanny (usually cash is best after a trial but they may take Venmo or Zelle). Use the job description as your guide for how much to pay for each hour, plus about $6 for public transportation.

  • LET HER KNOW NEXT STEPS - Let the nanny know soon after the trial if you'd like to move forward or not, or if you’d like to schedule more trial time. If you wait too long, she will assume you are not interested and move on.