Nanny interview questions to help you get to know the whole person

The best nanny interview questions cover five areas: experience, safety and certifications, childcare philosophy, job logistics and pay, and personality. Leave out personal topics like age, religion, marital status, and health, and ask job-related questions instead.

Hiring a nanny starts with the right questions.

A nanny will help raise your kids and become part of your everyday life. The interview is where you check fit beyond the résumé, so you can picture this person in your home on an ordinary Tuesday.

When you hire directly, you run the interview yourself. No agency screens candidates for you first, so your preparation carries more weight.

Before you write a single question, decide what you need and what you won't bend on. Deal-breakers often include a clean driving record, no smoking, comfort with pets, or a schedule that covers early mornings. Deal-makers count too, like a nanny who speaks a second language or loves being outdoors.

With that list in hand, review each candidate's profile and references before you meet. You'll walk in knowing the basics, so the interview can focus on the person.

The essentials and the deeper qualities.

Every strong candidate has two layers. The essentials tell you whether someone can do the job, and the deeper qualities tell you whether they're right for your family.

Essentials screen candidates in or out. Deeper qualities decide who you hire, because two nannies with the same résumé can feel completely different with your child.

Profiles with personality let you cover many of the essentials before you ever meet. On Gathered Hands, you can browse real nanny profiles that pair prompts and photos with experience, certifications, availability, and rates. Every identity is out in the open, so your interview time can go to the deeper questions.

Nanny interview questions by category.

The nanny interview questions below are grouped by what they help you learn. Pick the ones that fit your family, and let the interview feel like a conversation.

Experience and reference questions.

• What drew you to working with children?
• Which age groups have you cared for, and for how long?
• Why did you leave your last position?
• Walk me through a typical day with your last family.
• Can you share contacts for two or three past families?

Listen for specifics, like a nap schedule they built or how they handled school pickup with two kids. If an answer stays vague, ask a follow-up.

If you use a third-party background check service, federal law sets rules on consent. The Federal Trade Commission says employers need written permission for background reports before getting them from a company that compiles background information.

Safety, training, and certification questions.

• Are you certified in pediatric CPR and first aid, and when did you last renew?
• What would you do if my child had an allergic reaction or a bad fall?
• Who would you call first in an emergency?
• How do you put a baby down to sleep?

For infant care, compare their sleep answer with the American Academy of Pediatrics' AAP safe sleep recommendations. The AAP's guidance is to "place infants on their backs for sleep in their own sleep space with no other people."

Listen for calm, concrete steps. A candidate who answers without hesitating has likely thought it through before.

Childcare philosophy and discipline questions.

• How do you handle discipline when a child breaks a rule?
• Do you prefer a set routine or more flexibility?
• What are your thoughts on screen time?
• How would you handle a tantrum, a sibling fight, a picky eater, or a skipped nap?

Listen for an approach close to your own, then ask for a real example. A story about a meltdown at the park shows you how they handle a hard afternoon.

Job responsibilities and logistics questions.

• How flexible is your schedule, and how do you feel about overtime?
• Are you comfortable with light housework, cooking, driving, or errands?
• Would you consider a live-in arrangement?
• What rate are you looking for, and how would you like to be paid?

Listen for clear expectations on both sides, and talk about paying on the books. The IRS lists nannies as household workers in its IRS household employer guide. If you pay a household employee $3,000 or more in cash wages in 2026, the IRS says you have Social Security and Medicare tax obligations.

On Gathered Hands, nannies set their own rates and keep all of it. You hire directly with no placement fee, so the rate you agree on is what your nanny earns.

Personality and values questions.

• Tell me about a favorite day you spent with a child.
• What would the kids you've cared for say about you?
• Tell me about a time you changed your approach with a child.
• What do you want families to know about you?

Listen for warmth and humor, and notice whether they're honest about what's hard. A nanny who lights up describing a muddy afternoon at the creek is showing you the whole person.

Questions to leave out of the interview.

• How old are you, and where are you from?
• Are you married, or do you plan to have children?
• Do you have any health conditions?
• What religion do you practice?

Skip these, along with questions about race, pregnancy, their own child care arrangements, or a photo. Ask job-related versions instead, like "Can you work these hours?"

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's EEOC guidance on pre-offer inquiries says employers "are explicitly prohibited from making pre-offer inquiries about disability." The EEOC also warns against non-job-related questions about marital status and about a candidate's children.

Treat these as best practice for any household. Check your state and local rules too, since they can apply to household employers.

How to run a nanny interview.

Good nanny interview questions work best inside a simple plan. These four steps get you to an offer you feel sure about.

1. Write down your needs: List your deal-breakers and deal-makers so every candidate is measured against the same things.
2. Start with a short screen: A quick phone or video call confirms availability and rates before anyone travels.
3. Meet in person: Use the question categories above, and leave room for the conversation to wander.
4. Watch them with your child: Notice their body language and whether they kneel to your child's level. See if your child warms up.

Trust your instincts after that meeting. If something felt off, it's fine to move on, even from a strong résumé.

Once you've chosen a finalist, call references and run any background check with written consent. Then plan a paid trial day so you both see how a real day feels.

Find a nanny you'd trust in your home.

The right nanny will help raise your kids, and the right questions help you find them. When you know the whole person, you can hand over the morning routine with confidence.

Gathered Hands is for families who want to hire a nanny directly, with no agency and no middleman. You pay a flat monthly fee, with no placement fee and no commission on your nanny's pay.

Every profile is real and active, so the nannies you message are ready to talk. Get started and find someone you'd trust in your home.