When I just started nanny search many years ago, I asked a person who ran nanny agency how he made sure references were not fake. Here are a few tips I liked: make sure you ask both nanny and employer independently for details (when nanny started, how many kids, all responsibilities, trips to zoos/schools, etc.) -- those need to match. Also ask the nanny and the reference for examples of X (e.g., give me a story when a child misbehaved and what you did). If 3-5 examples are exactly the same from nanny and reference --red flag . If reference having trouble coming up with stories you consider normal or all the stories sound unbelievable like person making it up as she/he goes -- again red flag.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

Stop trying to start an argument. I'm an MB and a nanny has just as much a right to verify her employers. She's going to be working in their house and she has a right to check that they are who they say they are.

Exactly. No nanny wants to worry about an abuser.
Or worse.

I have a linked in account and all my employers are connections. I provide my link along with my references. You can contact my employers and view their linked in accounts.

I always require a complete chronological work history for 5-10 years, depending on the number of jobs held in that time, plus contact information for each of those employers. I generally call at least three of these people for each candidate I am considering. I also Google the reference to help establish his or her credibility.