MENLO PARK (KRON) — Police said a background check could not have stopped the actions of a nanny in Livermore, who is accused of abusing an infant.
So, what should parents do to make sure they hire the right person for their family?
KRON’s Justine Waldman asked the experts on Thursday.
Finding the right person starts with asking the right questions, according to experts.
“I think a nanny should come in and enrich a family’s life by providing that extra layer of security,” Stanford Park Nannies owner Daryl Camarillo said.
Camarillo has matched nannies with families in the Bay Area for 25 years. Her business in Menlo Park provides vetting and screenings for families looking for child care.
She shared her expert advice on the skills she looks for.
She said to start by asking these key questions to see the nanny’s strengths and skills:
- How was he/she at showing up on time?
- Tell me about the relationship he/she had with the children.
- How did he/she handle discipline?
- Did he/she lose her patience?
Camarillo believes experience counts. She looks for nannies with three-to-five years under their belts
And with references, she said to go deeper than the list the nanny gives you–do some investigating.
“If it takes calling eight references, call eight references,” Camarillo said.
Camarillo worries families take too much at face value.
Some nanny skills cannot be taught. And when you are a new parent, what do you really know?
“When you are a nanny, trust is either 100 percent or it’s out the window,” Camarillo said.
KRON found there are many stores and businesses in the Bay Area that offer training for nannies, beyond just CPR and first aid or how to change a diaper.
And as for cameras, the expert KRON talked with said if you find the right nanny, and trust him or her, you should not need one.
But the family in Livermore would never have known what happened without the nannycam.