Keeping Yourself Safe as a Nanny

Protecting yourself is just as important as keeping kids safe

If you’re a babysitter or nanny looking for a job, it’s important to keep safety top-of-mind throughout the process of finding that perfect job. When initially connecting with families, keep in mind that background checks are not run on parents.  Never give your last name, personal e-mail address, home address, phone number, place of work or other identifying information unless you have met them in person and feel comfortable doing so. Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you for personal or financial information.  Once you have connected with a family that looks like they could be a good fit, take precautions to protect yourself and help you make safe decisions.

In-person safety: how to stay safe during the interview process and on the job

Prepare for the interview

Every nanny/babysitting job is different because each family has different needs and expectations. Before you interview, think about tasks and duties you’re okay with doing. Establish your limits, identify your boundaries in advance, and don’t compromise on any duties you don’t want to do. If you feel like a family might be asking too much of you, you can always find another job that’s a better match.

Use your intuition during the interview process

Before you meet a family, arrange to speak with them on the phone. Remember, you’re just not being interviewed for a job, the interview process also helps you determine if a particular family is a good fit for you. If after the interview you don’t think you could see yourself working for this family, it’s okay to move on. But if the first conversation goes well, you can arrange for a more in-depth interview at a coffee shop, park, or another public place with other people around. Always provide your own transportation and tell someone in your family or a friend where you are going and when you will return. 

Stay safe on the job

Before you start a new job, tell someone about it. Be sure to share where you’ll be working, what your hours are, and how they can get in touch with you should anything come up. Remember the list of boundaries you made before your interview? Keep them in mind.  If a parent asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, politely remind them of the discussion you had during your interview. 

Report anything that seems unusual.

Put your safety and security first.  Don’t hesitate to report anything seem suspicious. It’s the best way for us to keep our community safe.