TL;DR: Ask every nanny candidate about experience, safety and CPR, discipline and routines, schedule and duties, and pay, then check references. At Southwest Domestics you interview four or five pre-screened candidates in person at our Stafford office, so screening is done before you ask your first question.
Before the interview
Write down the deal-breakers before anyone sits down. Houston families often need to decide:
- Schedule: working days and hours, including after-school pickups and evenings
- Driving: whether driving is required and whether you provide a car (our intake asks this so we can match candidates)
- Pets: whether animals are in the home and how the nanny should handle them
- Pool: if your home has a pool, whether the nanny must be able to swim (part of our intake)
- Languages: any language you need the nanny to speak with your children or household
- Live-in vs live-out: live-out hours over 40 per week are billed at overtime under Texas law; live-in pricing is set at consultation
Also note children’s ages, cooking, light housekeeping, errands, and travel. Our how to hire a nanny in Houston guide walks through the full role write-up.
Questions by category
Use these sample questions as a starting list. Adjust them to your children’s ages and your household.
Experience
- What ages have you cared for, and for how long in each role?
- Walk me through a typical day with children like mine.
- Have you handled homework, after-school activities, or infants before?
Safety and CPR
- What safety steps do you take around the home, car seats, and strangers at the door?
- Are you trained in CPR or First Aid, and when was your last course?
- Tell me about a time something unexpected happened and how you handled it.
Discipline and routines
- How do you set limits and handle tantrums or sibling conflicts?
- How do you support nap, meal, homework, and bedtime routines?
Logistics, driving, and pool
- Are you comfortable driving children to school and activities, and do you have a clean driving record?
- If we have a pool, are you a confident swimmer and willing to supervise water play?
Pay and schedule
- What schedule works for you, and how do you handle occasional overtime or schedule changes?
- What hourly rate are you looking for for this role?
After the interview, call references yourself and ask about reliability, communication, and how the nanny handled hard days. See how we screen nannies for what Southwest Domestics already checks before you meet anyone.
Questions to avoid
Federal equal employment rules generally restrict interview questions about race, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, and national origin. Stick to the job: experience, skills, schedule, and how the candidate would handle the work. This is general hiring hygiene, not legal advice. If you need guidance for your situation, ask an employment attorney.
Red flags
- Vague answers about past jobs, or references that will not confirm dates and duties
- Unwillingness to discuss driving record, schedule limits, or how they handle discipline
- Pressure to skip a background check or to start in your home before you have met in person
- Inconsistent stories between the interview and what references say
What to expect at Southwest Domestics interviews
- Where: 13847 Stafford Rd, Stafford, TX 77477 (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- How many: four or five pre-screened candidates in one visit
- How long: about 10 to 20 minutes per candidate; the whole visit usually takes an hour to an hour and a half
- Cost to interview: free; one-time $175 registration fee, no finder’s fee
- Screening first: every placement includes a criminal background check, sex offender registry search, driving record check, reference checks, and Social Security number and identity verification, rerun for every placement; providers are bonded and insured W-2 employees of Southwest Domestics
- Timing: placement typically under one week
- If it is not the right fit: unlimited free replacements until your family is happy
Full-time Class A rates are $25 to $30 an hour, Class B $23+ an hour, and Class C $20+ an hour. Part-time rates are higher per hour (Class A $30 to $35, Class B $25 to $30, Class C $20 to $25), with a 4-hour minimum per visit. See our rates page and Houston nanny cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I interview nanny candidates?
In person at our Stafford office, 13847 Stafford Rd, Stafford, TX 77477. Interviews are free.
How many nanny candidates will I meet?
We typically present four or five pre-screened candidates in one visit. Each interview usually lasts 10 to 20 minutes, and the whole visit usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
Are nanny interviews free at Southwest Domestics?
Yes. Interviews are free. The only one-time fee on our rates page is the $175 registration fee, and there is no finder’s fee.
What should I ask in a nanny interview?
Ask about experience with children of similar ages, safety and CPR training, discipline and routines, driving and schedule, and pay. Then check references. The sample questions on this page cover each category.
Are candidates background-checked before I meet them?
Yes. Every placement includes a criminal background check, sex offender registry search, driving record check, reference checks, and Social Security number and identity verification. We rerun these checks for every placement, and all of our providers are bonded and insured.
How long does it take to place a nanny?
Placement typically takes under one week after your consultation, depending on your schedule and requirements.
How do I get started?
Call (713) 789-5437 or start a new client request on our website. We will set up a free consultation and interviews at our Stafford office, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact Southwest Domestics
Southwest Domestics
13847 Stafford Rd, Stafford, TX 77477
(713) 789-5437
Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
southwestdomestics@gmail.com
Ready to interview? Call (713) 789-5437 or start a new client request, and we will set up a free consultation and interviews at our Stafford office.