Hiring 7-min read · Updated 1 Nov 2026

10 questions to ask before hiring a yaya

Most yaya interviews stop at "What's your experience?", and that's why most yaya hires don't last. Here are the 10 questions that actually reveal whether a yaya, nanny, or babysitter is right for your family.

A card of interview questions, some ticked off and some still open, with a pen

Hiring a yaya is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a Filipino parent. The person you bring into your home will spend more waking hours with your child than you will. The agency contract, the salary, the certifications. They all matter less than this:

Can you trust this person? And will your child be safe and happy with them?

That's what the interview is for. But the typical 15-minute "Where are you from? What's your experience?" conversation almost never gets there. Here are the 10 questions that do.

Before you even start: verify that the yaya's ID matches the person in front of you. On Pinoyaya, yayas who complete identity verification carry the ID-Verified badge, so you can confirm the person you are interviewing is who they say they are.

"Tell me about the family you worked for the longest. What did a typical day look like?"

This is open-ended on purpose. Listen for: detail, warmth, specific names of children, daily rituals. A yaya who genuinely cared will give you concrete stories. A yaya who's just been collecting paychecks will give vague generalisations.

What you're really learning: emotional investment, attention to detail, memory for specifics.

"Why did that arrangement end?"

Watch the reaction more than the answer. "The family moved abroad," "the kids got older," and "I needed to be closer to my own family" are normal. Vague answers, blame-shifting, or speaking ill of previous employers are red flags.

What you're really learning: integrity, professionalism, how they'll talk about your family someday.

"What ages are you most comfortable with? Why?"

An infant yaya is fundamentally different from a toddler yaya is fundamentally different from a school-age yaya. Each requires different patience, energy, and skills. A yaya who tries to claim they're "good with all ages" is either not honest with themselves, or you.

What you're really learning: self-awareness, specialisation, whether their experience matches your child's age.

"Walk me through what you'd do if [child's name] had a fever of 39°C at 2pm."

Specific. Realistic. Tests judgment. Listen for: do they check first, or call you immediately? Do they know basic medication for fever? Do they know when to escalate to the ER? You're not testing medical degrees: you're testing common sense and calmness under pressure.

What you're really learning: crisis response, judgment, real-world experience with sick kids.

"What's the hardest thing about being a yaya?"

This question gives them permission to be honest. Listen for: missing their own family, loneliness, dealing with a child's tantrums, balancing tasks. Anyone who says "Nothing is hard, I love everything" is performing for you.

What you're really learning: honesty, self-reflection, what they'll find difficult in your home.

"Tell me about a time a child you cared for did something you weren't expecting. How did you handle it?"

Real care work is improvisation under stress. Hearing how they navigate a real incident reveals their style: gentle, firm, panicked, distracted, creative. There's no right answer, but there is a style that will or won't fit your family.

What you're really learning: discipline style, creativity, fit with your parenting approach.

"What are your own routines on your day off?"

A yaya is a whole human, not just a job description. Asking about their life outside work signals respect AND reveals balance. Do they have hobbies? Family they see? Church? Whatsapp groups? Or do they sound lost when not working?

What you're really learning: their support system, mental health, whether they have a life outside your house.

"What would your last employer say is the one thing you could improve?"

This is the classic "weakness" question reframed. The trick: a yaya who answers with a real, mundane growth area ("I'm not a great cook," "Spanish lullabies, I'm still learning") is being honest. One who answers with a humble-brag ("I work too hard") isn't.

What you're really learning: humility, self-awareness, capacity to be coached.

"How do you feel about [our specific situation]?"

Be specific. Live-in arrangement? Two kids close in age? Working parents who travel? Vegan household? Pets? Your specific quirks are not bonus content: they're the actual job. Ask directly and watch their face, not just their words.

What you're really learning: cultural fit, real willingness, not just verbal agreement.

"What questions do you have for me?"

The single most diagnostic question. A yaya who has thoughtful questions about your child, your home, your expectations: they're interviewing you back, which means they're selective. That's a good thing. A yaya who has no questions is either too nervous or doesn't care enough.

What you're really learning: engagement, professionalism, the standard they hold for the families they work with.

Red flags to listen for

Even with great questions, sometimes the answers don't add up. Watch for these:

🚩 They speak badly about every previous family.

If everyone they ever worked for was "bad," the common factor is them.

🚩 Refuses to consent to background check.

A clean record is easy to provide. Resistance suggests something to hide.

🚩 Pressures you to skip a contract or "trial only."

Batas Kasambahay requires a written contract. A yaya who wants to skip this is either uninformed or planning to dispute later.

🚩 Vague about their current arrangement.

If they can't clearly explain their current employer's family setup, they're hiding something.

🚩 Salary expectations far below market.

Why would a great yaya undercut themselves? Usually it's inexperience or undocumented status. See our 2026 yaya salary guide.

One last thing: trust your gut

After the interview, sleep on it. Not "Are they qualified?", but "Would I be glad to come home to them tomorrow?" Filipino families that retain great yayas for 5+ years describe the same moment: a quiet sense, after the first interview, that this was going to work. Don't talk yourself out of that feeling. And don't talk yourself into one when it isn't there.

Your child knows the difference. Trust them, too.

Find yayas you can actually interview

On Pinoyaya, yayas, nannies and babysitters can complete identity verification and carry the ID-Verified badge. Browse profiles by city, experience, and rate, then start a secure chat to set up your interview. Browsing is free; one-time passes from ₱399 (7 days) or ₱699 (30 days) let you message and send offers.

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