Hiring a nanny? Checks every parent should do first

Trusting someone with your child is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. A friendly face and a good reference are a start, but they are not a check. Here is a calm, practical list to follow before a nanny or babysitter begins.

Why this is different from other domestic help

A nanny is alone with the child for long hours, often when parents are at work. She also sees the home's routine, who visits and when the house is empty. That makes identity and honest background more important than for most other roles.

The checks to do before day one

1. Identity: ask for Aadhaar and one more ID. Do not stop at seeing a photocopy. Confirm that the person standing in front of you matches the ID.
2. Home address: where does she live, with whom, and for how long? A person with no reachable address is a red flag.
3. Family contact: one family member's phone number that you verify by calling.
4. Past work: where she worked before, for how long and why she left.
5. References: call at least one earlier employer yourself. Ask specific questions: was she punctual, how did she handle the child, would they hire her again?
6. Health and habits: basic honesty about illness or anything that affects childcare.
7. A recorded statement: her own words about her experience, with the date on record.

How to ask without offending

Say it before you hire: "We check everyone who works with our child. It takes a few minutes and we do it on your phone." Most genuine workers see this as a sign of a careful employer. Ask for consent and explain what you keep.

Watch the first few weeks

Verification is the start, not the end. In the first weeks, notice whether she follows your instructions, whether your child is comfortable, and whether she is honest about small things. Speak to your child in a relaxed way about their day.

How Praman helps

With Praman by SatyaSakshi, you enter her name and WhatsApp number in the SatyaSakshi Praman app. She receives a link and joins a short video call from her own phone. The call captures her consent, ID photos, a face match, live location and answers about past work and address. A reviewer checks the call and the report appears in your app. For placement agencies, the same check can be run for every worker before she is sent to a family.

Frequently asked questions

Related: how Praman handles this for businesses · all instant checks

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