How to choose the right nanny

If this is your first time looking to hire a nanny in Dubai, it can be difficult to know where and how to start. 

With many adverts offering childcare, babysitting and nanny services, and individuals sharing their own profiles online, it can be unclear on how to find the best and safest match. 

Choosing who you want to care for your children and help run the household is a big decision, so it's a good idea to be prepared and educated on the process. 

To make things easier, Housekeeping Co has put together a list of some of the steps to take while searching for your new nanny. 

If you're considering whether or not you need full-time help at home, you can read more on all of the benefits of having a nanny here: https://www.housekeepingco.com/articles/7655/the-benefits-of-hiring-a-nanny-in-dubai 

1. Pick a good agency to go through

Using a service to help you find a nanny can be extremely helpful, and make the process considerably safer for you. 

For example, at Housekeeping Co, our Tadbeer center is able to both recruit and deploy a nanny for you on private sponsorship, or offer a full time live-in service. 

Conducting proper and ethical recruitment, and carrying out background checks etc., the center will protect both you and your chosen candidate during the period of employment. 

2. Reputation & Testimonials 

Before committing to any agreements or contracts, you need to make sure the nanny you are employing is a reputable and reliable worker. 

For example, if you were given a recommendation or met her online, it's very important to verify their experience and history. 

3. Lay out your needs 

It is really important to know exactly what you are looking for before you start seeking out potential candidates. 

If you are using an agency, such as Housekeeping Co, you can share a description of what your household is like, so they can suggest candidates that would be the best match. 

For example, think about how many children she would need to care for, if you would like her to do additional domestic duties, or if you have pets she might need to assist with etc. 

READ MORE: The Dubai nannies that became 'part of the family'- https://www.housekeepingco.com/articles/7653/the-dubai-nannies-that-became-part-of-the-family-international-women-s-day-2023 

4. Interview 

Interviews are a vital part of the hiring process when you are looking for a nanny. 

This can be done either in person or via video call, so you can get an idea of what the candidate is really like. 

Think of some questions in advance that you would like to ask them, and things that you would like the answer to. An interview is also a great time to get more of a sense of the candidate's personality and understand how they would fit into your family life. 

5. Set clear rules & responsibilities 

Finally, when hiring a nanny, you need to think about the rules, boundaries and responsibilities you want to enforce in your household. 

It's best to set these out before starting the hiring process, and to discuss these with your partner or others in the house, to ensure you are all on the same page.

If this is your first time hiring a nanny, you should ask yourself questions such as what days and hours you want them to work, and what duties you will need them to take care of.

It is a good idea to have these set out prior to an interview, so you can explain to the candidate what you would need from them. For example, if you require the nanny to care for your newborn baby, you should share that with them, and find out if they have experience with very young children. 

In addition, rules should be considered and explained to a worker before they start their employment or duty, for example 'no mobile phones while caring for the children', or other boundaries.

It's important to remember that every family is different, so the way you want things run may be very different from the nanny's previous family. 

Housekeeping Co is the market leader in the recruitment and placement of full-time maids, nannies and housekeepers in Dubai. 

If you are searching to hire a nanny, you can find a list of all of our services, and profiles of our current candidates here: https://www.housekeepingco.com/ 

Alternatively, you can call or WhatsApp our team on 04 706 0100.

READ NEXT: 

The difference between a maid and a nanny  - https://www.housekeepingco.com/articles/7656/the-difference-between-a-maid-and-a-nanny 

Moving your nanny back to the UK - https://www.housekeepingco.com/articles/7651/moving-your-nanny-back-to-the-uk