If you've recently moved to Barcelona with young children, you're probably staring down one of the harder decisions of the year: who watches them when you can't.
We do nanny matching every week, and the same questions keep coming up. Here are the ones that matter most.
Language is a real tradeoff
Most international parents want a bilingual or trilingual carer. That's reasonable, but it's a tradeoff worth understanding:
- English-first: easier for you to communicate routines, harder for your child to pick up Spanish or Catalan.
- Spanish-first: child immerses in the local language quickly, but your daily handovers (and texts mid-day) take longer.
- Filipino caregivers who speak both: very common in our team. The kids end up trilingual, and the parents get clear English communication. The downside is fewer candidates.
There's no objectively right answer. There is a right answer for your family, and it usually changes as the children get older.
The questions that actually matter
Most parents we work with come prepared with a checklist of credentials. Credentials matter, but the answers we listen to hardest are about how the candidate handles small disasters.
- "Tell me about a time a child got hurt under your care. What did you do?"
- "What's your routine if a toddler refuses to nap?"
- "How do you handle a parent calling to extend the day with two hours' notice?"
- "What do you do when you disagree with a parenting decision?"
Long, specific answers tell you you're talking to someone with real experience.
The trial week is non-negotiable
We never skip the trial. A week of normal life (drop-offs, mealtimes, the witching hour at 6pm) tells you in three days what a paper interview can't tell you in three months. Both sides should be allowed to walk away after the trial, gracefully.
What we wish more parents asked
The single most under-asked question is what does this person do when she's bored? A nanny who pulls out craft supplies during downtime is profoundly different from one who reaches for her phone. Neither is wrong, but they shape your child's afternoons completely differently.
We run a structured matching process for nannies and carers, including the trial week, contracts, and ongoing support. Talk to us if you want help.
