Finding the right person to help you care for your baby can be downright stressful. Who do you know who to trust? How do you know who is best qualified?

Many first-time parents feel pressured to find the perfect superyaya. Think of this instead: find someone who is a good fit for your family’s need and matches your values. 

Here are some questions to guide you on how to spot the best yaya for your family: 

1. What will your yaya’s scope of work be? 

Will she be taking charge of your baby’s care or will she also be helping out with housework? Are you planning to be a hands-on mom and need your yaya to support you in this kind of setup? Think about the type of help you’ll be requiring.

2. Can you trust her?

Many moms prefer to hire a yaya referred by someone they know. Referrals increase the chances that the candidate is a good fit for your needs—but they’re not a guarantee. During your interview with her, give her about certain situations and ask her what she’d do to deal with them. Will she be honest and tell you the whole truth if a problem arises or if she makes a mistake?

Choose to hire while still pregnant so you can observe how she works around the house and how you feel about her values and attitude before the baby comes.  

3. Is she teachable?

It’s always good to hire a yaya with experience, but is she open to learning your preferences? Will she be willing to attend seminars and other avenues that will help her become the yaya you need for your baby? 

Some yayas come with valuable skills and practices, but you will want to make sure that you agree and are comfortable with her methods. Think about your house rules and family dynamics. Can she learn to adapt to your household’s ways and follow your lead so that you have a good working relationship?

4. How patient and compassionate is she?

How will she deal with the long days and the demanding needs of a new baby? You will want a yaya who is kind and has “malasakit” because your baby will need a lot of understanding as he goes through his many developmental changes over time. Ask her to share her experience in dealing with challenging days and if she has any tips to share when it comes to handling difficult situations.

5. Can she communicate her thoughts and concerns?

You will want a yaya who you can easily talk to, as well as someone who does not hesitate to tell you about everything that concerns your child. She should also be able to speak to you about her thoughts on her role and her tasks, and giver feedback on how you manage her work and the expectations you set. 

As your helper is bringing up your baby, you will need to have regular talks with your yaya, and she needs to be a productive participant in those discussions. 

6. How does she deal with problems and distractions?

Your baby’s yaya has a personal life, and it’s possible that she has things on her mind that can weigh her down. Find out from the onset about her life situation and if she has certain goals or complications that might affect her work. On the flipside, see how she behaves in everyday situations—does she need constant companionship, is her phone always buzzing, or is she easily sidetracked from what’s happening in front of her? Lay down your ground rules and make sure she understands them. See if there’s anything you can do to help her stay focused and effective.

7. Is she happy, healthy, and hygienic?

Your yaya will be tasked with caring for your baby’s most basic needs. She will be the one to manage baby’s things, environment, food, and safety in your stead. She will be your baby’s constant companion and will be a big influence on how he/she experiences the world. How she takes care of herself is a good indicator of how well she will prioritize these areas of concern. When it comes to your baby’s own health and welfare, the details matter. A yaya who prioritizes her own self-care will be able to give care to her ward better.

SOURCES:

A Preggo's Checklist to Know if Yaya Will Do a Good Job With Baby

https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/home/preggo-checklist-for-yaya-a00041-20161111

7 things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect yaya

https://ph.theasianparent.com/keep-in-mind-looking-perfect-yaya/