Reference calls are where most families get the least useful information. “She was great” is what nearly every reference says — unless someone knows how to ask.
Nanny Reference Check Questions: Why Closed Questions Get You Nothing
WATCH & READ THE FULL BREAKDOWN →
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Families ask general questions and get general praise. Former employers are polite, reluctant to criticize, and often want to help someone they liked. The concerning details come out only when questions are specific enough to make vagueness obvious.
Tammy uses the Gold Targeted Reference Check™ — questions built over twenty years to get past the polite answer.
The most important information in a nanny search is usually in the reference calls — if the right questions get asked.
$189
A full hour with Tammy: interviews, reference review, trial-day planning, onboarding, or whatever step you’re on — with a debrief and clear next steps.
Book an hour with Tammy →Questions first? or text (818) 308-1358 · info@caremapmethod.com
Tammy provides expert guidance and evaluation to help your family decide. She is not a placement agency, does not employ or place caregivers, and does not run background checks — those should go through a licensed screening provider. All hiring decisions remain your family’s.