***Red Flag Alert***
If the reference pauses when you ask for them or seems hesitant or nervous to speak with you, take this as a red flag. If they quickly ask if they can call you back another time, this is also a bad sign since they may not know what to say and either need to “think about” whether or not they want to tell you that the nanny did a poor job or they may be a fake reference that isn’t sure what they are supposed to say. They may then call the nanny/babysitter and find out what they are required to say and then call you back at a later time with the fake facts. When they call back, listen to your gut. It could also just be a coincidence. If the reference seemed caught off guard and unwilling to speak with you, then it’s best to move on to another nanny. If you feel they may have just been really busy then you may want to give the nanny another chance and move onto the next reference. Unfortunately, nothing is 100% and a small percentage of nannies will use their best friend as a reference. Trust your instincts and have peace of mind knowing that you are one step closer to finding a great nanny. Click Here for NannyCare.com’s sample reference checking questions.