How to Interview a Nanny: What Matters Most

We’ve written before about Nanny job duties and responsibilities. In this article, we’ll cover what actually matters in a Kensington Nanny interview, the topics families should focus on, and sample questions that help you make a confident choice.

Trust the Process: You’re Paying for Expertise, Not Just Vetted Resumes

Before we get into the interview itself, there’s something important to understand about working with a quality agency like Kensington Nanny. When you engaged the agency, you had a detailed consultation. They asked about your family’s schedule, your parenting style, your children’s personalities and stages, your household dynamics, and the kind of caregiver energy that would genuinely fit your home. That conversation wasn’t a formality. It was the most valuable part of the process.

Kensington Nanny uses that intake to do something a job board or a resume pile simply cannot: we read the details you shared and match it against the Nannies we know. We’re not just sending you the most experienced candidates or the ones with the most impressive credentials. We’re sending you the candidates who are most likely to click with your particular family, your particular children, and your particular home.

That is what you are paying for. Not a stack of vetted resumes, but the professional judgment that turns a hiring decision into a long-term fit.

So here is the single most important piece of advice for families working with Kensington: meet everyone on the shortlist. Do not pre-screen based on the résumé alone. Do not rule someone out because her last role looks different from what you pictured, or because another candidate looks better on paper. The agency has already done that filtering for you, with more context than a résumé can convey. The candidates on your shortlist are there for a reason, and some of the best long-term placements come from the Nanny families least expected to love.

If you trust the agency enough to hire us, trust us enough to meet the curated shortlist.

The Basics Are Already Handled

One of the biggest differences between hiring through a Kensington Nanny and hiring on your own is what happens before a candidate ever reaches your interview. Families sometimes expect to spend the interview verifying credentials, checking driving records, and asking whether a candidate can legally work in the U.S. That’s the wrong use of your time.

By the time a Nanny sits down with your family, a Kensington has already confirmed that she:

• Is authorized to work in the United States
• Speaks, reads, and writes fluent English
• Has passed a comprehensive background check
• Has no criminal record
• Has an excellent driving record and a reliable vehicle
• Can swim (an essential standard in childcare)
• Is CPR and Pediatric First Aid certified (or will be prior to her first day)
• Has a stable, verifiable work history
• Has a minimum of three years of private-duty childcare experience
• Demonstrates age-appropriate knowledge of child development

When the basics are taken care of, the interview becomes what it should be: a conversation about fit, not a background check.

What the Interview Is Really For

The Nanny interview is where you assess whether a qualified, well-matched candidate is the right qualified candidate for your family. A well-run agency like Kensington prepares every candidate with a clear understanding of your household, your children, and your priorities before she walks through the door, which means you can spend your time where it counts.

Here are the areas that matter most.

Communication Style

Look for a Nanny who communicates clearly, listens actively, and responds thoughtfully. Pay attention to how she asks questions about your children. Curiosity is a strong indicator of engagement, and communication is the foundation of every successful long-term placement.

Alignment With Your Family’s Values

Every family has a parenting philosophy, even if it’s never been written down. Use the interview to discuss how you approach discipline, screen time, nutrition, routines, independence, and emotional development. A great Nanny doesn’t need to share every preference you have, but she does need to respect and support your approach consistently.

Flexibility and Composure

Childcare rarely goes exactly to plan. Ask how she handles unexpected moments: a sick child, a schedule change, a long travel day. You’re listening for composure and problem-solving, not a scripted answer.

Initiative and Creativity

The best Nannies don’t wait to be told what to do. Ask how she plans activities, what a great rainy day looks like in her care, and how she incorporates learning into everyday moments.

Safety Awareness

Safety is non-negotiable. Even though a Kensington Nanny will already be CPR and First Aid certified, you still want to hear how she thinks about safety. Ask about pool and water safety, car seat use, kitchen supervision, and emergency procedures. You’re looking for habits, not just certifications.

Sample Nanny Interview Questions

The goal of these questions is to understand how a candidate thinks, not to quiz her. Feel free to adapt them to your family’s priorities.

• Walk me through a typical day in your last role.
• What would you do if a toddler refused to nap and kept getting out of bed?
• Tell me about a time you handled a difficult moment, such as a baby who wouldn’t stop crying or a child having a tantrum.
• How do you keep parents informed about the day’s activities, milestones, and any concerns?
• What kinds of activities do you plan for children? What would you do on a rainy day?
• How do you incorporate learning into daily routines? Do you have experience helping with homework?
• Tell me about a time you helped a child develop a new skill or behavior.
• Who is the most memorable child you’ve cared for, and why?

A Note on What Not to Ask

When you employ a Nanny, your home becomes a workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prohibits discrimination in hiring based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex, including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation. A good agency like Kensington can guide you on appropriate interview conduct and help you frame questions that get you the information you need without crossing into protected territory.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right Nanny goes beyond checking qualifications. When the screening, vetting, and the careful work of matching happen before the interview, your time together can focus on what really matters: communication, values, flexibility, initiative, and safety awareness. Trust the agency’s process, meet every candidate on your shortlist, and let the right fit reveal itself.