Hiring a daycare teacher as nanny

[Anonymous]

We are hiring a nanny, and are getting a bunch of applicants who are currently day are teachers with no nanny experience. However, their daycare experience is directly relevant to 2 of our 3 kids (oldest is in kindergarten). Are there certain things I should be sussing out in particular to this background? Seems like a pretty straight forward progression, but I don't want to miss something.

[Anonymous]

The level of work is very different. So get babysitting references at least.

[Anonymous]

Think about any work in the scope of the position that might not typically be part of a daycare structure: laundry, cooking, cleaning, juggling different age kids, etc...

Also daycare teachers do have other adults around, so are your candidates prepared to make that switch to a position w/ significantly less adult interaction?

Will they be driving your child(ren) and if so, in whose car?

What ages have they worked with (specifically - there are big differences developmentally between 18 month olds and 4 year olds).

Etc...

Think hard about the differences and structure some of the interview around that.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny was a preschool teacher and she is amazing! Of course she doesn't do household tasks but that is not why I hired her. She is fantastic with DC, always has something interesting and fun planned for every morning or afternoon and is on top of all DC's developmental milestones.

I think teachers make terrific nannies if you want an educational nanny and not a housekeeper/maid.