Nannies are one of the top choices of childcare in the United States. Choosing a nanny to care for you child is one of the most important choices a family can make. The person you choose to help in caring for your child, will ultimately spend a great deal of time, watching, caring for and ultimately teaching your child, when you as a parent can not because of the need to work outside of the home. You do not want to make a hasty choice. In this article, we will discuss tips on choosing the best nanny. Define you needs. Before you decide on the best nanny for your childcare, you should have an idea of what exactly you are looking for. Write down your scheduling needs, for example, full-time or part-time, live-in or commute. Determine how much you are willing to pay, hourly or salaried, paid vacation or non-paid vacation. What are the duties you wish the nanny to partake in? Choose your recruiting method. There are numerous ways to obtain a nanny. There are agencies who specializing in placing nannies into homes. These will often cost money to employ, but can cut the time of searching for a nanny by a tremendous amount. These agencies pre-screen nannies, offering a peace of mind for the families who are in need of childcare. There are newspaper advertisements, or you can get recommendations from friends and family who may know of someone who can care for your child. Interview process. Determine which process you wish to interview your nanny candidates. Many people choose to do phone interviews first. Phone interviews are informal ways you can communicate your needs and find out if this nanny is right for your family. For example can explain the start date you need them for, the hours, how many children they will care for, whether they drive or not. Suitable candidates should be scheduled for an in-person interview. Some people choose to do in-person interviews in their home while others opt to do it at a more casual neutral location, for example a local mall or restaurant. Many experts advise that you do not bring a stranger into your home. During this interview process you can assess the candidate. Were they punctual, did they follow instructions, did they bring a resume or recommendation letters, or did they present themselves in a suitable manner? Some experts say that most candidates who leave a poor first impression do not improve over time. Check References. Many candidates include references with their resumes, while some opt to supply names and phone numbers of past employers or friends who can accurately surmise their work attitude and capabilities. You should consider hiring someone who has experience and someone who shows they can care for you child as you would. You should never accept family members as the candidate's references and never hire a nanny with no references. Take the necessary time to careful select the best nanny for your family. Thoroughly screen the candidates and resist the urge to settle on the less than ideal candidate. Ultimately, a family will spend less time on staffing when they staff right the first time. Choosing a nanny to care for you child is one of the most important choices a family can make. Use these tools to select the right person for all your childcare needs.