A parent returning to work after maternity or paternity leave often finds themselves facing a wall: the daycare is fully booked, the local nanny has no openings, and word of mouth yields nothing. The search for a trustworthy nanny for their children rarely begins calmly. It starts under pressure, with schedules to coordinate and a deadline approaching.
Check insurance coverage even before the interview
Home multi-risk insurance does not always cover activities conducted at home in a professional capacity. Since 2023, some multi-risk policies exclude damages related to a professional child care activity conducted at the parents’ home.
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If the nanny spills boiling water while preparing a bottle, the insurer may refuse to compensate on the grounds that the incident falls under an unprotected professional context. The workaround: ask the candidate for a clear professional liability insurance certificate for child care, and check with your own insurer that your policy does not include this exclusion.
This often-overlooked administrative point should be addressed before discussing pedagogy or activities. One can find a top nanny on Maman du Net and then discover at the time of an incident that no one is covered. It’s better to ask the question during the first phone contact.
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Paid trial half-day: what it really reveals about a nanny
In recent years, paid trial half-days or full days have become widespread. The UNAF noted a significant increase in the use of this type of test before signing the contract in 2024. The principle: you stay at home while the nanny manages the routine, and you observe.
What to watch for during the trial
- The reaction to crying: does she put down what she is doing to attend to the child, or does she wait for it to pass while finishing her task?
- Meal preparation: does she follow the dietary instructions given that morning (allergies, textures, quantities) without needing reminders?
- Handling an unexpected situation: a broken toy, a spilled drink, a child refusing to get dressed. Her way of reacting says more than an hour of formal interview.
- The language used with the child: tone of voice, vocabulary, patience in the face of repeated refusals.
Paying for this half-day at the agreed hourly rate is a legal obligation, not a gesture of goodwill. If the candidate refuses a paid trial, it’s a red flag. If she agrees but seems to be playing a role, feedback varies on this point, but a second half-day trial a few days later often helps to clarify.
Criminal record check and concrete verifications for children’s safety
The Ministry of Justice strengthened criminal record checks for professions in contact with minors in 2024. For a licensed nanny, this check is carried out by the PMI when the license is issued. For a home nanny in direct employment, the situation differs.
As a private employer, you cannot directly request a candidate’s criminal record extract (bulletin n°3). However, you can ask her to provide it herself. A candidate who refuses to present her bulletin n°3 should raise concerns.
Verifications you can conduct yourself
Calling previous employing families remains the most reliable way to obtain concrete information. Not a courtesy call, but specific questions: how long did she care for your children, why did the collaboration end, was there any incident?
Checking the diploma or certification (CAP AEPE, valid license) takes a few minutes. For a nanny, the license is issued by the departmental council, and its validity can be confirmed with the local early childhood relay.
Atypical hours and shared care: adapting the search to your real situation
Classic guides assume parents work Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The reality is often different: staggered hours, weekend care, occasional business trips. A nanny available during standard hours will not suit a night nurse.
Asking about hours during the first contact avoids wasting time. Also specify the frequency: regular care, occasional care, need for flexibility during school holidays. Some nannies accept atypical hours as long as the schedule is planned a month in advance.
Shared care as a backup solution
When the budget is tight or when living in an area where nannies are scarce, shared care between two families allows for splitting the cost while providing the child with a social environment. The contract is then signed by each family separately, and the nanny alternates between the two homes or cares for all the children at one of the families’ houses.
This arrangement requires a solid agreement between the two families on educational rules, meals, and schedules. A disagreement between families always falls back on the nanny, which undermines the care arrangement. It’s better to draft a common charter before starting.
Finding the right person to care for your children is not just about browsing ads. Insurance, real-condition trials, administrative checks, and adapting to scheduling constraints form a solid foundation. A parent who ticks these boxes before signing a contract limits unpleasant surprises and lays the groundwork for a lasting trust-based relationship with their nanny.