Hiring a Nanny... I need some help?

Hello there,

I am interviewing Nannys for my 3 month old daughter. I would like someone to come 2 days a week for 5 hours. I want to choose what is best for my daughter... What are the requirements I should ask from her? I would like a spanish speaking and I know that I want her to be CPR/First Aid certified... What about TB tested? I am having an interview tomorrow. Should I ask her if she is tested for Tuberculosis? If she isn't should I tell her to go to her doctor and get tested? how does it work? I have also seen in some ads "Livescan screened"... what is that? if she is not, what are the steps to get her screened?. Thanks so much in advance for your help!

I ask for a Hep B vaccine as well as the current (within 3 years) TB test,since the chance of body fluid contact is 100%. Also a criminal clearance - you can get the form from your state and it's a 10-20 dollar fee which I generally pay myself. Additionally, the applicant can (and should) obtain a drug test from any laboratory. There are more and more where no rx. is required for it, but depending on where you are located it may involve a visit to her physician- or to yours if you prefer. You'll also want to be sure she gets a flu shot annually and perhaps a whooping cough booster as well. Keep in mind that while it isn't your responibility to pay for the screenings per say, I wouldn't expect the applicant to pay for any tests 'above and beyond' the norm.

I don't know about 'live screening", I've always gotten my own nannies/ domestics without going through an agency whenever possible, as agencies will charge more for less work and also limit the household help (cooking, cleaning etc.) a nanny can provide. I did hire a short term (2 weeks)baby nurse recently just to get through a bit of a busy patch and wasn't too impressed. (That's why I kept it short term!)

Good luck!