Toddlers have real preferences. I would go w #2.

Nanny here. Always go with the person that can connect to the child better. Anyone can pick up a book or check pinterest to find activities. And any nanny who talks to other nannies will have a idea of what the majority of parents want to hear during interviews, unless you throw out oddball questions.

Anonymous wrote:Go with your gut!
We were once in the same situation as you and hired ms perfect who turned out to not be a good fit with our toddler. We waited a few months to see if they would finally click and then fired her when we realized They would simply never click. I wish I either listened to my gut or let her go sooner. We later found someone who is not as perfect on paper and interview but who clicks and emphatizes with our child in the way we always wanted. She has her weaknesses too but she is perfect for our child. Previous nanny was more perfect for us (schedule, helping around the house etc.) but not our child.

This is why you hire nanny and housekeeper separately, not the same person to do both jobs in one time frame.

Go with your gut!
We were once in the same situation as you and hired ms perfect who turned out to not be a good fit with our toddler. We waited a few months to see if they would finally click and then fired her when we realized They would simply never click. I wish I either listened to my gut or let her go sooner. We later found someone who is not as perfect on paper and interview but who clicks and emphatizes with our child in the way we always wanted. She has her weaknesses too but she is perfect for our child. Previous nanny was more perfect for us (schedule, helping around the house etc.) but not our child.

Yes, I have some solid advice for you OP.

Keep looking.

Why should you compromise on what you want in someone who watches your children?

There are many great nannies out there seeking work. Continue your search + you will be sure to find her out there soon.

How much time do you have before you have to leave the kids with the nanny full time? As I've added kids (we have 4), competent and professional has inched its way above personable. My "gut" has been off too many times; the women I liked were not all that reliable, and needed more help than I could give them.

In your case, I'd talk in detail to the references, but probably pick #1.

Anonymous wrote:How trainable do you think #2 is? If you think you can train her and get her to be as good as #1, go for #2.

Trainable? Is she a monkey?

Anonymous wrote:How trainable do you think #2 is? If you think you can train her and get her to be as good as #1, go for #2.

Trainanle? Is she a monkey?

How trainable do you think #2 is? If you think you can train her and get her to be as good as #1, go for #2.

Have you talked to references already? If they did not help break the tie, i'd go w/ the one that seemed to click better with your kids. That chemistry can be hard to get and is so so critical.

No everyone interviews well. Go with your gut. (And either provide her w/ some books for activities or ask her to research some specific things to do when cooped up indoors due to the weather [hot or cold] and provide you with a list of supplies you need so you can get a box or drawer of supplies to have on hand.

MB here. Nice problem to have! Here's my two cents:

- always trust your gut. (Is this your first nanny? If not, then all the more reason to trust your gut instinct as you've done this before.)
- hire for the toddler. Babies, frankly, are relatively easy and they all turn into toddlers - who can be much more challenging.
- do a trial day or two to see how things go.
- have another conversation w/ the nanny you like, and also handle the reference calls really pointedly w/ an eye toward your specific questions.
- try to figure out what is driving your instinctive preference. You might trust it more if you can put your finger on a couple of things (more direct connection w/ the kids being no small thing, hunch that her answers - while vaguer- were perhaps less "canned"/more genuine than the other, etc...)

Really the reference checks ought to be of help with this I think, and her work history will hopefully give you a couple of clues also.

Good luck!

This is a good problem to have, I guess, but I am really torn. We have two finalist nanny candidates, both of whom really do seem lovely, so hopefully this will work out no matter what. However, one is perfect on paper and gave ALL the right answers in the interview -- but my kids did not seem to click with her as much as the other candidate. The other candidate I also have more of an instinctive gut preference for, but her answers were not as good on some key responses (like, what would you do on a rainy day - answers were vague) and she does not have any formal experience in one key area. Basically, if I were hiring a nanny just for my infant I would pick #1 and if just for my toddler, #2. As I am not made of money, however, I have to pick just one. Thoughts and advice?