How to Interview a Nanny in Singapore: Questions to Ask

An interview can tell you how a caregiver describes their work, asks for information and handles a follow-up question. Keep those answers alongside experience records, relevant training and the provider’s booking terms. A friendly conversation is one part of the decision.

Prepare one care brief before the conversation

Write down your child’s age, proposed hours, location, usual routines and the duties you want to discuss. Include siblings, handovers and any support needs that affect the arrangement. This gives each candidate or provider the same starting point.

Private nanny care arranged in your home is a different service from the ECDA childminding pilot and licensed childcare centres. If you are considering directly employing a migrant domestic worker, check the separate MOM Work Permit and employer guidance. Ask who will provide the care, who you are contracting with and which checks that party undertakes.

Choose the questions most relevant to your brief. Leave time for the caregiver to ask about your child and to explain the information they would need before starting.

Ten questions, with useful follow-ups

1. Which parts of your care experience are closest to our needs?

Ask about the ages, routines and duties involved. A description of a typical day can be more useful than a broad claim about years of experience. Ask for relevant experience without requesting another family’s private photographs or care records.

2. How would you use our child’s care instructions?

Discuss where instructions would be kept, what needs clarifying before the first session and how changes would be communicated. Raise allergies or additional care needs with the provider before relying on an arrangement.

3. How would you support a child who needs time to settle?

Ask the caregiver to explain their approach and how they would communicate with you. Share your child’s familiar routines and preferences. An interview answer cannot promise how quickly a child will settle.

4. How would you plan play and interaction?

Discuss books, conversation, movement and materials that suit your child’s age and interests. Explain your preferences about screens and activities, then ask what the caregiver would need from the household.

5. How would you manage two needs at the same time?

Use a clearly hypothetical situation from your proposed arrangement: a sibling arrives while the younger child needs attention, for example. Ask about supervision, priorities and when another adult’s help would be needed. Confirm the provider can accommodate the actual number of children.

6. What would you do if an instruction or supply was missing?

Ask how the caregiver would pause, seek clarification and contact the agreed person. This helps you identify what belongs in the handover, including supplies and instructions that should be ready before care begins.

7. How would you share updates and raise a concern?

Discuss routine updates, urgent contacts and what happens if a parent cannot be reached. Ask how the provider sets out emergency arrangements. Keep the conversation focused on the agreed plan; an improvised interview answer does not verify first-aid competence.

8. What relevant training and checks can be verified?

Ask about the course provider, date and scope of relevant training, and how the service provider verifies the information. For references, agree an appropriate, consent-based route. Record anything still awaiting confirmation rather than treating a general assurance as documentary evidence.

9. Which duties are included, and where are the boundaries?

Discuss childcare, child-related preparation and any household requests separately. Ask how each task fits around supervision. Our professional nanny duties guide can help you put the scope into words.

10. How are hours, changes and absence handled?

Ask the provider about availability, fees, additional time, cancellation and any cover arrangements. Confirm the terms in writing. The nanny contract checklist offers a separate review of the agreement.

Keep a short follow-up record

After the conversation, separate what was discussed from what has been verified. A simple record can contain three headings:

• Care fit: relevant experience, proposed approach and questions about your child.
• Checks still open: training details, references or provider information awaiting confirmation.
• Terms to confirm: duties, hours, fees, changes and who to contact.

Compare candidates or service options against the same care brief. If an answer is unclear, ask a specific follow-up. Avoid treating someone’s manner, a child’s immediate reaction or the absence of a trial as a substitute for the checks your arrangement needs.

If an introductory session is available, agree it first

Ask whether the provider offers an introductory or trial session and what its terms are. Confirm the charge, length, duties, which adult will be present and who is responsible for supervision. Agree how questions or changes will be handled during the session.

Use the session to discuss routines and communication in the actual setting. It can add to your observations, but it does not replace verified information or a clear agreement. Keep any unresolved care need open until it has been addressed.