Having a nanny here in the UAE is very common; even essential to some families; particularly those with parents working full-time, larger families and generally being away from a family support network you might have back home in the UK.  Having additional support can be a huge help to juggle the many busy tasks of family life, including school runs, after-school clubs, cooking, cleaning and just generally having an extra pair of hands there to make life a little easier when your toddler or teenager is having a tantrum!

Finding the perfect nanny for your family is not always the easiest of tasks, so its important that you make the right choice for your family in finding a ‘Mary Poppins’ that you trust in your home and this starts when you first meet your potential new nanny.

We asked Angelica Robinson, Owner & CEO of CloudNine Kids (www.cloudninekids.ae | @cloudninekidsuae) for some tips and expert advice to share with our mums about hiring a new nanny. 

If you are looking for a new nanny in the foreseeable future, you’ll likely come across some gems with glowing references in search of their next employer. As many families are unfortunately parting ways with their fantastic home help due to relocation or no longer needing their services during such uncertain times, there is an ever increasing pool of available nannies eagerly looking to find a kind and supportive family to join. 

Here are 7 important questions to ask in a nanny interview, that will help in your journey to find the right fit for your family: 

1). Tell me about your experience working with children in the UAE 

An open ended question that is a great way to start the conversation. It will give you an early insight into the nanny’s confidence, knowledge and understanding of what working with children means to her. 

2). Which ages of children do you like working with the most? 

This question can help you understand if a nanny has a preference or comfort level. Some nannies will prefer to work with babies because they find it “easier” if the baby grows up with them or some prefer older children because they don’t feel confident with babies for being too fragile. There are nannies that are better suited to work with newborns and struggle when the child grows up because they don’t know how to engage with the child or handle difficult behavior. 

3). What’s the reason for leaving your current/previous employer? 

How a nanny responds to this question is important and you should always cross check this with their reference. If a nanny is professional, she will not say bad things about her sponsor, she may explain what happened and of course, there are many different reasons that may not necessarily be the fault of the nanny. Be open-minded, understanding and observe the reaction towards this question. 

4). What do you do in your spare time? 

A great way to learn about your potential new nanny’s personal interests. If she has family here, a partner, goes to church, socialises etc. Common hobbies and interests can also help identify if their personality is a good fit for yours. 

5). What are your salary expectations? 

A big factor in the decision making of any job seeker is salary. Get on the same page early on. If the nanny is looking for a higher salary than what you can offer, she may accept your offer temporarily and if she finds something better, she might take it instead. You can always discuss a salary increase based on job performance with review after 6 months – 1 year. 

6). What plans do you have for your future? 

You might learn that your potential new nanny will be looking to go home in the near future, start a family of her own or has plans to bring her children/partner over to Dubai. It doesn’t mean you can’t help her achieve these goals but at least you are aware of what she wants before making a long-term commitment. 

7). What would you do if _____________ ? 

Give the nanny potential scenarios of incidents that could occur in your home to see how she would respond. You’ll find out here what type of training she will be needing to ensure she has the up-to-date skills and readiness to protect and support your family. 

About CloudNine Kids

CloudNine Kids is a British-led childcare company based in Dubai who are committed to ethically sourcing and training qualified childcare professionals for families. They provide on-call and part-time Childcare & Babysitting Home Services, Full-Time Placements, Professional Nanny & Childcare Training and a drop-off play area facility for babies and young children, conveniently located in the JLT area.

Special Offer for British Mums Members on Childcare

CloudNine Kids are currently offering 10% off their monthly Childcare packages for 6 days per week (10 or 12 hours per day)* terms and conditions apply.  Get in touch with the team to find out more by calling 055 321 5437 or emailing info@cloudninekids.ae

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