It’s one of the most important decisions in a parent’s life, but there are often important factors overlooked when hiring a nanny to provide care for children. There are several approaches that are better than scouring Craigslist and relying on instinct, and that begins with a nanny background check. Nanny agencies can help ensure that nannies meet certain qualifications and have some training, while reaching out to references can confirm what the candidate has shared about him or herself. Once these steps are complete, the parent should get permission to run a criminal background check and ask to see a driving record using the candidate’s driver license number. Other important qualifications include training in CPR or first aid.