Finding a nanny for your child is a burdensome but necessary task if you need outside help to look after your little one. If you’ve decided that finding a nanny is the way to go, here are some words of advice to make the process go more smoothly:

Resign yourself to the idea of a nanny. Finding a nanny doesn’t just take effort on your part to conduct the search. It also involves being mentally prepared to accept someone into your home as a caregiver for your child.

Outline your expectations and the role of the job clearly. In order to avoid misunderstandings and confusion down the line, it’s essential you are upfront with an applicant from the start about what her role as a nanny will entail.

Ask specific questions during the interview. In order to find the best possible caregiver for your child, be prepared to ask questions about how a potential nanny might handle specific situations – this includes addressing how she would handle things like crying spells, emergencies, and tantrums.

Check references. When you’re finding a nanny, checking references is an all-important task. Having a good gut feeling about a potential hire is good. Seeing good chemistry between the nanny and your child is good.

However, investigating a nanny’s previous relationship with her employers, why she is leaving the job is essential to getting the full picture.