Nanny Background Check – Saving Our Children, One by One

C'mon…do I really need a nanny background check?

I've heard that question a thousand times.  The answer never changes…"Yes!"

If you're reading this, I'm sure you've seen on Dateline NBC and other news shows, some of the horrors that children of all walks of life have experiences at the hands of nannies and babysitters.  And you still might feel that doing a nanny background check is not as important as many might believe it is. 

So, why even bother with a nanny background check?

The question still remains; should you do a nanny background check?  I mean, those things that you see on TV and read in the papers never really happen to normal, everyday people like you, right?

Many people, everyday normal people like you, have actually caught their nannies and babysitters hitting and abusing their children.  Many of them have walked in on the caregiver, their kids have told them or they caught them on tape and they viewed it with their own eyes! 

But I'm a good judge of character – I know by instinct who is good and who is not.

And those are the famous last words of many people.  If you're convinced by their demeanor, resume and appearance that they are the perfect one for you, then you will overlook this vital step and you won't get a nanny background check done.  Many criminals know how to dress and are well spoken.  Do not be deceived by anything other than facts.

 What do I need to get in order to do a nanny background check?

You must get the person's legal name in order to run a background check.  And of course, you will ask them and they will tell you.  But that is not good enough.

Ask them for a current, legal I.D. such as a driver's license from the state you live in and/or a passport.  If they don't have or won't give you either one of these, nicely ask them to leave.

Of course, the best thing to do is to have your prospective employee sign a release form to do a nanny background check.  Sometimes that's all it takes.  They will make an excuse to allow them to leave and you will never hear from them again.  Sometimes, they refuse to sign it. Obviously, if that happens, you will already have an answer regarding that person's background.

What information will a nanny background check give me?

A nanny background check will reveal the complete character of the person which is exactly what you want.  It will show you a complete criminal background, civil court lawsuits, education and medical records and anything else that would be important to you will be covered in a nanny background check.

Also, when you run a nanny background check you will discover if they are telling the truth about past nanny employment and personal references.