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5 qualities of a great nanny

Just like any parent, you probably have certain qualities that you want in a prospective nanny for your children. They can be anything from living in the same community or being thoroughly clean around the house. You might even want somebody who is older and more experienced, just like the books say. But then again, an older nanny may not be able to keep up with an overactive child. So you probably want someone who is younger; but then there is the problem of ability and experience. At the end of the day, you want to go with what your instincts tell you and base your decision on your opinion of the candidate.

Here are the top 5 qualities of a great nanny that you should look for:

1. A good nanny respects your parenting philosophies
   Different parents will have different styles of rearing their children. A good nanny will want to find out what your parenting philosophies are and make sure that she understands and respects them. Ideally, you want a nanny who shares your beliefs. At the very least, she should not do anything that will go against the set of values or the house rules that you have already instilled upon your children.
   
   
2. She shows genuine interest in childcare
   A good nanny will express interest in getting to know her potential ward. She will be concerned with making sure that your child or children will be comfortable with her and around her.
   
   
3. She is comfortable around children
   You want to make sure that your potential candidate is at ease around children.
   
   
4. A great nanny is trustworthy
   Trust is usually established once the nanny is hired but there are many signs that can tell you whether or not a candidate is worthy of it. For instance, you want to be on the lookout for signs of concern or discomfort when you tell the candidate that you will be dropping in to check on your children regularly. If she sounds upset by the idea, then she may have something to hide and you might want to move on to the next candidate.
   
   
5. A great nanny is flexible about work hours
   There will be situations that will come up and force you to leave your children at the shortest notice. Your nanny should be able to handle such unexpected cases appropriately.

by Doreen Lee

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