The selection process for Zubin’s new care-giver was quite an experience.  The most interesting aspect of which was the broad array of candidates that we came across:

• The No-Job: Self explanatory really.  Needs a job for money. Not qualified in any organized way (”I took care of my sister’s children while she…bathed”).  Usually presents at an extremely competitive (read: cheap) price point.  Maybe appropriate for care when a trusted supervising party is available.
• The Super-Nanny: We actually got quite a few of these.  Last job with an upper-middle class family (usually UES or sub-96th UWS) with multiple children.  Extremely experienced with children and will ask probing questions about the prospective care target and the child’s current care.  One of them referred to Zubin’s 12 month “curriculum”.  Extremely high income due to raises from old employer per added child and tenure increases.  One woman I interviewed was making in excess of $800 per week.  If you can pay, this is the Rolls-Royce of care-giving.  For that much money though, get a bigger home and a live-in.
• The Career Changer: This category is variable and difficult to evaluate.  One candidate came in who used to work as a maid.  Her love for children has led her to try and land a job in care-giving.  We nixed her immediately.  Another was a nurse (registered) who did not want to be around a hospital and disease anymore.  This was a tougher choice as the RN gives you a nice safe feeling.  I think these candidates are better suited to jobs in day-care centers where hiring criteria is broader and there is a learning environment.
• The Day-Care Expatriate: We jumped on this one.  Our previous nanny got the boot because we saw video of her keeping the Z-unit in his bouncer too much and rocking him to sleep at set-times, even though we asked her to let him roam around as freely as possible and dictate his own sleeping schedule.  She was trying to make things easier by immobilizing Zubin at every opportunity.  When home-girl and I saw the level of activity at some day-care centers for 1 year-olds, we wanted that for Z at home.  When we found a candidate with day-care experience we moved her to the top of the list.

The decision was made even easier because the candidate with day-care experience (our nanny now) was recommended by a good friend from work that has known both of us for more than 5 years.  Before working at the daycare, Rosanna, Zubin’s nanny, worked with our friend’s children.  A slam dunk, but we often wonder how we could have made the decision if the friend’s vouching had not come into play.  A subject for a separate post.