What to ask at a nanny interview

Make the interview a two-way conversation

When interviewing a nanny for your London family, look beyond a polished CV. Practical questions help you understand how someone responds to children, makes decisions and works with parents. Share your children’s ages, the proposed hours and the responsibilities before you meet.

Use the questions below as starting points. Ask for examples, explain your own approach and give the nanny time to ask about your family. Interview answers support your decision; they do not replace references, document checks or a carefully agreed trial.

1. “Can you walk me through a typical day with children of a similar age to mine?”

Why ask: Relevant experience is about the work a nanny has actually done, as well as the number of years on their CV.

Listen for: A realistic account of meals, rest, play, outings and transitions, with flexibility for the individual child. Ask which responsibilities the nanny handled independently and what they would want to learn about your routines.

2. “How would you respond if my child refused to nap or became upset when I left?”

Why ask: Everyday challenges reveal how a nanny thinks and responds under pressure. Make the example specific to your child’s age and circumstances.

Listen for: Questions about the child, a calm response and willingness to discuss your approach. A thoughtful nanny may describe several possible responses rather than promise that one technique always works.

3. “Can you tell me about a difficult situation in a previous role and how you handled it?”

Why ask: A real example is more informative than a general statement such as “I am very patient.”

Listen for: What happened, what the nanny did, how they communicated with the parents and what they learnt. Follow up if an answer is vague or leaves you unsure about their judgement.

4. “How do you set boundaries, and how would you respond if our approach differed from yours?”

Why ask: Parents and nannies need a shared understanding of behaviour, discipline and any consequences they use.

Listen for: Specific, respectful examples and openness to discussing your expectations. Ask directly what the nanny means by discipline or punishment, which methods they use and what they would not use. Agree acceptable, non-physical responses before work begins; disagreements should be discussed between adults rather than played out in front of the child.

5. “How would you manage the day if I were working from home?”

Why ask: Having a parent nearby can affect the working day and the child’s expectations.

Listen for: A practical conversation about when you are available, how visits or interruptions will work and who takes the lead during working hours. Explain your own preferences rather than expecting the nanny to guess.

6. “How do you prefer to share updates and discuss concerns with parents?”

Why ask: Good communication matters on ordinary days as well as difficult ones.

Listen for: A manageable pattern of updates, a clear handover and willingness to raise concerns promptly. Discuss which situations require an immediate call and which can wait until the end of the day.

7. “Which duties would you expect to be included in this role?”

Why ask: Phrases such as “helping around the house” can mean very different things.

Listen for: Clear expectations about cooking, children’s laundry, tidying, nursery or school collections and other responsibilities. Describe the actual role and agree the duties together before making an offer.

8. “What would you do if you felt unwell before a working day?”

Why ask: Families need timely information to arrange alternative care, and a nanny needs to be able to work safely.

Listen for: Prompt communication, consideration of infection risk and a plan for what happens if they become unwell during the day. Discuss your sickness reporting arrangements in advance. Reliability should not mean expecting someone to work through every illness.

9. “Are you comfortable caring for a child who is unwell, and what would you want us to agree in advance?”

Why ask: Families and nannies may have different expectations about care during illness.

Listen for: An honest discussion about any limits, the support the child may need and when parents should be contacted. Agree how changes in the child’s condition will be reported and when professional medical advice or urgent help is needed.

10. “How would you approach giving our child medication?”

Why ask: “I usually give something for a temperature” does not explain how the nanny would safely care for your particular child.

Listen for: Agreement with parents in advance, clear written instructions, checking the medicine and its strength, dose and timing, and confirming when the previous dose was given. The nanny should record what they gave and when, and share that record at handover.

Parental agreement does not replace the medicine label or a prescriber’s instructions. If instructions are unclear or conflicting, seek clarification from a pharmacist or doctor rather than guessing. NHS guidance on medicines for babies and children is linked below.

11. “How long would your journey to our home take, and what would you do if your usual route was disrupted?”

Why ask: The commute needs to be sustainable alongside your agreed start and finish times.

Listen for: A realistic journey at the relevant time of day, consideration of a backup route and a clear plan for reporting delays. Focus on whether the journey works in practice rather than assuming that distance alone determines reliability.

12. “What would you do if something unexpected happened and you could not reach us?”

Why ask: A nanny needs to know which decisions they can make independently and when to seek help.

Listen for: Calm judgement, awareness of the limits of their role and a willingness to establish emergency contacts and procedures. In an emergency, seeking urgent help should not be delayed while waiting for a parent to reply.

13. “What would you like to know about us before deciding whether this role is right for you?”

Why ask: A successful placement needs to work for the nanny as well as the family.

Listen for: Interest in your children, routines, expectations and working arrangements. Give honest answers about the role and space for the nanny to consider whether it suits them.

After the interview

Write down specific observations and follow up on anything unclear. Compare the answers with your family’s needs, then use references, relevant checks and a mutually agreed trial to inform your decision.

Nanny Best Match helps London families clarify the role, meet suitable candidates and work through the practical decisions. Book a free family introduction call if you would like support with your search.