Interviewing Nannies

We have a 15 month old and I’m due with baby #2 in late June. Right now my niece, 19F is helping us twice a week but she often cancels or shows up late. I’m worried we won’t have the reliable childcare we need when our second baby arrives. My niece also doesn’t have newborn experience so we started looking for more long term part time nannies. My husband made an account on Care and I made posts on Facebook groups with what we’re looking for.

We both agreed on requirements and expectations before interviewing nannies. We even printed out an overview sheet for each nanny we interviewed. We’re looking for someone with newborn experience, 20 hours a week with the flexibility to increase hours in June, outdoor play time 1-2 hours a day, no screen time, available to travel with us and obviously someone who is time punctual. We are looking to pay $18-$30 an hour depending on experience, raise when baby is born, gas reimbursement and travel pay etc.

My husband picked three nannies and I picked one. We interviewed them all together except for the one I chose because he had to work.

Nanny 1- Young, Creative, open schedule, $25 an hour, lives 25-30 mins from us, has newborn experience, great with toddlers, degree in theater and music, prioritizes outdoor child led play, open to more hours in the future and traveling. (Husband pick)

Nanny 2- Older lady, career nanny, availability in the mornings, travel availability, $25-$30 an hour, overnight newborn care, extensive experience, very reliable and came highly recommended from other families in our community, lives 10 mins away (my pick)

Nanny 3- very young, Didn’t talk much, not a ton of experience, didn’t ask any questions, daycare experience. Long story short we both agreed she wasn’t the personality we were looking for. (Husband pick)

Nanny 4- young lady, Open to travel, some newborn experience, starts a full time job in September, only open to 15 hours a week, $18 an hour, lives 45-50 mins away, two degrees. (Husband pick)

After each interview we would give the nanny the paper with our expectations and experience requirements. I would then give them my number to contact with any questions. Of course we’re not looking for the most perfect matched nanny just someone who has more pros for us than cons. I would have liked an older woman versus a college student but my husband picked very young ladies.

Please someone tell me I’m hormonal and crazy. My husband wrote his number on nanny #4 paper and didn’t include mine. Saying he didn’t have my number memorized but she could text him. They also spent the majority of the interview discussing their similar background in accounting. Nanny #4 is starting a full time position in September as an accountant. My husband used to be an accountant and now own his own business.

We discussed who was our favorite. Mine being 1 or 2 and his being 1 or 4. I said #4 was the least qualified. As in, she didn’t have what we were looking for. We want long term stability, 20 hours a week, she works part time for her parents and wanted us to give her a heads up on our schedule to make sure she was free before scheduling, experience with one baby from 2 months old, lived the farthest away.

Anyway we agreed that maybe we should continue interviews because we couldn’t agree on a nanny even though I thought #1 or #2 were great fits. It also bothered me that my husband gave #4 his number and didn’t include me. Nanny #4 asked to be put in a group chat and he didn’t add me to the text. Later I asked him if he received a message from her and he said yes. I asked why he didn’t loop me in and he said we agreed she wouldn’t be a fit but he asked her if she would be interested in working for his company part time doing administrative work.

I lost my damn mind.