Domestic helper interview questions: a printable list for infant care, feeding, discipline and emergencies, with red flags

The most useful domestic helper interview questions ask a candidate to show you what she'd do, not to say she can do it. "How would you put a two-month-old to sleep?" tells you more than "Can you take care of babies?", because a good answer has details: on her back, in her own cot, nothing soft around her. Before the interview, check the helper's employment record with MOM on FDW eService, and at the interview agree her rest day and job scope so nothing surprises either of you later. Below is a printable list of questions on infant care, feeding, discipline and emergencies, what a good answer sounds like, and the red flags to watch for.

Check these before you interview

A few facts are worth confirming before you spend an hour on a video call. MOM sets the basic rules for a helper's Work Permit:

Former employers can also agree to be referees on FDW eService. If one has, MOM shows their contact details during your application, and it's worth a call. Ask your agency for her biodata, then use the interview to test what the biodata claims.

How to run the interview

Most families interview a helper who is still overseas, by video. A few habits make the hour more useful:

• Ask open questions that start with "how", "what would you do" or "tell me about a time". Yes-or-no questions get yeses.
• Ask her to describe a normal day in her last job, from waking up to bedtime. Gaps and vague answers show up quickly.
• Use an interpreter, or a family member who speaks her language, if her English is limited. You're testing her childcare, not her vocabulary.
• Tell her about your home honestly: the size of the flat, who lives there, the ages of the children, any elderly relative who needs care and whether you work from home.
• Give her time to ask you questions. A helper who asks about the baby's routine or her rest day is thinking about the job.

If you can, have both parents on the call, plus the person who'll be at home with her most. Take notes against the list below so you can compare candidates fairly.

Print the list and tick the questions as you go.

What good answers sound like, and the red flags

You're listening for specific, safe habits. These are the answers that matter most with a baby at home:

Other red flags come from the conversation itself: she can't describe what she did in her last job, her story about why she left changes, the employment record doesn't match her biodata, or the agency pushes you to decide on the same day. None of these settles it alone, but each is worth a follow-up question.

Once she starts, write your own plan for emergencies. Put in your numbers, a backup contact, your child's clinic and allergies, and when to call 995. Our guide to baby choking first aid explains the steps if you'd like her to learn them properly, and baby fever: when to worry helps you write the fever part.

Agree the job before she says yes

Use the end of the interview to agree what MOM expects of you as her employer, so there are no surprises:

• Rest day: she's entitled to one rest day a week, chosen together. If she agrees to work on it, you pay at least a day's salary on top, and at least one rest day a month can't be paid off.
• Meals and room: three meals a day, food she can eat, and her own room if possible. She must not share a room with an adult or teenage male.
• Cameras: if you have cameras at home, tell her where they are. MOM says they can't be where she sleeps, changes or bathes.
• Windows: you, she and the agency sign a safety agreement on cleaning the outside of windows before she starts.
• The contract: MOM encourages a written contract covering salary, rest days, notice period and pay in place of notice.

Our maid levy calculator works out the monthly levy, including the $60 concessionary rate for families with a young child, and our helper insurance guide covers the cover you must buy. Still weighing a helper against other childcare? Compare the options in infant care, a helper or grandparents. And if it doesn't work out later, our guide to transferring a domestic helper sets out MOM's steps.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I ask a helper at an interview?

Fifteen to twenty good ones are enough for an hour. Pick the groups that matter most for your family, such as newborn care and emergencies, and ask follow-up questions rather than racing through a long list.

Can I check a helper's past employment in Singapore?

Yes. MOM lets you see a prospective helper's employment record on FDW eService with her name or FIN, nationality and date of birth, or your agency can check for you.

Should I interview a helper by video?

Yes, if she's overseas. Ask her to show you how she'd hold and burp a baby with a doll or a rolled towel, and use an interpreter if her English is limited.

What should I tell a helper about the job?

Everything that affects her day: who lives in the home, the children's ages, any elderly care, your hours, her rest day, her room and whether you have cameras. MOM requires you to tell her where any cameras are.

Do I need to attend a course before hiring my first helper?

Yes. First-time employers must complete MOM's Employers' Orientation Programme at least 2 working days before applying for the Work Permit. It takes 3 hours, online or in class.