A newborn needs someone who has actually cared for one, not a general helper who is willing to try. The gap shows up fast: in how they hold a days-old baby, how they respond to a feed at 3am, and how carefully they sterilise. Before you interview anyone, get clear on what real newborn experience looks like and what you are testing for.
Newborn experience is the first filter
Ask directly how many newborns the candidate has cared for, at what ages, and for how long. Caring for a two-year-old is a different job from caring for a two-week-old. You want someone who has handled the fragile early weeks: the neck support, the feeding cues, the broken sleep, the constant watching for anything that seems off.
Experience with your specific situation matters too. Twins, a premature baby, or a baby with feeding difficulties each call for someone who has done exactly that before.
The practical skills to check
Walk through the daily reality rather than asking general questions.
Feeding. Can they prepare and pace a bottle correctly, support you with breastfeeding routines, wind the baby, and recognise when a feed is not going well? If you are formula feeding, they should know safe preparation without prompting.
Sleep. Do they follow safe sleep practices, settle a baby calmly, and work with the sleep pattern you want rather than imposing their own? Ask what they do when a newborn will not settle.
Sterilising. This is where corners get cut and where you cannot afford it. They should sterilise bottles and equipment properly every time and keep the baby's things scrupulously clean.
Reading the baby. An experienced nanny notices small changes: feeding less, unusual crying, a temperature that seems wrong. They should tell you promptly and know that a newborn's health is a parent's and a doctor's call, not theirs to diagnose.
References and a trial are not optional
Speak to at least one family the candidate has worked for with a newborn. Ask what the nanny was like at 3am, how she handled illness, and whether they would hire her again. We run reference checks with previous employers as part of vetting, along with identity and Aadhaar verification and an in-person interview, but your own conversation with a past family is worth having too.
Then use a trial period. A few days in your home tells you more than any interview: how the baby responds, how the nanny fits your routine, and whether you feel comfortable leaving them together. Our nanny placements include a trial so you can confirm the fit before committing.
Day nanny or 24-hour help: know the difference
A day nanny covers set hours, usually while you work or rest, and goes home. This suits parents who are managing the nights themselves and want reliable daytime support.
Round-the-clock newborn care is a different arrangement. If you want someone through the night for feeds and settling, especially in the first weeks, that is closer to postnatal live-in help than a standard day nanny.
When a Japa nanny suits better
For the first weeks after birth, a Japa nanny is often the better fit than a general nanny. A Japa maid is trained specifically for the postnatal period: newborn care, support for the mother's recovery, traditional massage for both, and help through the day and night when sleep is broken and the mother is still healing.
If your main need is newborn care beyond those early weeks, or ongoing daytime childcare as the baby grows, a nanny is the right choice. If you are in the first month or two and want someone experienced in both newborn care and the mother's recovery, start with a Japa nanny and move to a regular nanny later.
What the arrangement costs
A nanny's cost has two parts. You pay EzyHelpers a one-time placement fee for sourcing and vetting. You pay the nanny a monthly salary, directly to her. We do not publish nanny salary figures, because they move with experience, whether the role is live-in, the hours, and the city. The exact salary is agreed with the nanny and confirmed on a consultation call. For live-in placements, the one-time fee is ₹25,000 + 18% GST, with a 7-day cooling-off period and free replacements on the 3-month and 11-month plans.
Before you start interviewing, write down your three non-negotiables: the experience level, the hours, and whether you need nights covered. That short list will save you from settling for a general helper when a newborn needs someone who has done this before.