Added by member Candinanny in commenting on the article:

Although it can be tempting to immediately hire the first nanny you come across who meets all the qualifications you’re looking for, it is definitely a smart decision to do a background check. Though in many cases, you won’t find anything that should deter you from hiring a nanny candidate, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Below is a list of the background checks that you may do and what information you can find from these checks. Character and Professional References: Reference check your top candidates by contacting people who know your top candidates’ character and people who have employed your candidates in their prior positions. You can learn if your candidates are responsible, ethical, nurturing, how the candidates handled themselves in their prior jobs, and so much more information about how these candidates would likely conduct themselves in your employ. Education and Licensure Verification: If your top candidates claim to have higher education or licensure, it is wise to verify that those claims are accurate. For example, if a candidate claims to have obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from XYZ University, you can ... http://blog.nannies4hire.com/screeningyournanny/454