After nine months of speculation, the rumors have finally ended. As is so common with the truth, the facts are a little anticlimactic. It turns out that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had a gorgeous little girl. She weighed 4 pounds and 5 ounces, and her name isn’t anything exotic. It doesn’t even start with a K—so much for Kimye. It is simply North. North West.
While the world struggles to come to terms with the couple’s odd naming choice, Kim is focusing on things that are more important. As any mother will readily agree, raising a baby is a full-time job, one that requires as much assistance as you can get. Even with the support of her family, Kim is going to need the help of a nanny to get through the days ahead. This also means that she will need a nanny check.
Why Nanny Checks are Important
Hiring a nanny isn’t the same as hiring an office employee. For one thing, you will be letting a complete stranger into your home, giving them access to your personal possessions, and entrusting them with the care of your loved ones.
Conducting a nanny check is one of the few ways that you can reduce the risk to your child, home, and family. A 2011 survey revealed that one out of every ten employers conducts a nanny background check. That percentage is likely to be even higher now.
Background checks are invaluable. Simply telling a potential nanny that you intend on conducting a check can be revealing in its results. If the nanny becomes apprehensive or worried, then it is likely a red flag indicating something wrong. The following are some of the reasons why it is smart to perform a background check.
You Will Sleep Better
There are many reasons why you should consider a nanny check. One of the more obvious benefits is that it will help you sleep better. A nanny check does not guarantee that you will never have problems with your nanny. However, it will go a long way towards relieving any discomfort or worries that you might have. You will sleep better at night knowing that your nanny does not have a criminal history and is exactly who he or she claims to be.
Verify a Nanny’s Abilities
It is common for nannies to inflate their résumés with abilities and skills that they do not really have. A nanny check can help confirm this. For instance, if a nanny claims to have completed CPR training at a seminar, you can check to see if this is true.
It also works both ways: a background check may reveal unique skills about the nanny that are not included in the offered résumé. The nanny may have taken defense classes or be multilingual, which would increase his or her value.
Discover a Criminal Background
If your nanny has been arrested for a crime, you want to know. If a nanny has a criminal past, it does not necessarily make him or her a poor choice—people make mistakes all the time. However, you should at least be familiar with the details of the case so you are not flatfooted. Knowing a nanny’s criminal history will also affect the way you work with him or her.
Locate Unlisted References
For obvious reasons, your nanny is not going to volunteer the contact information of an employer who might have negative things to say about the experience. Running a nanny check allows you to find and contact other employers beyond those provided by the nanny. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about the person you are about to employ.
Evaluate Honesty
Running a nanny check gives you a good way to evaluate the potential nanny’s honesty. If the results of your check match the answers that your nanny gave you, it suggests that the nanny is honest and has nothing to hide about his or her past, which is a good thing. Since you won’t always be there, you need someone you can trust to take care of your kid.
Working with a Detective
If you are going to run a nanny check, be sure to do it right: work with a detective or private investigator. The problem with using services offered online is that they only conduct perfunctory searches. An experienced investigator has the skills and assets to conduct a proper investigation.
A detective can also offer advice on the best way to protect your family, such as using a nanny cam. Society has many views about the use of nanny cams. Some consider it a waste of time. It isn’t.
Nanny cams are legal as long as they are used the right way. For instance, it is okay for you to set up nanny cams in common areas of the home, such as the bedroom or living room. However, they should not be used in areas that may intrude on the nanny’s privacy, such as the bathroom.
Some states also forbid the use of nanny cams to capture audio recordings. An experienced investigator will ensure that you don’t break these laws.
Protect Your Family
Nannies provide an invaluable service to homes across the country. Nevertheless, it is important that you watch the people that you let into your home so you can make sure your family is safe.
A nanny check gives you a better picture of each of your applicants. You will get to confirm the information on their résumés, where they live, with whom they have worked, and what abilities they have. It also gives you the opportunity to find out if they have anything sinister in their past.
When all is said and done, you can put a price on some things. Safety is not one of them.
