A 10-minute reference-check script for a Shanghai nanny — the exact questions to ask the prior expat family, what the silences mean, and which answers are real.
In plain English:10 minutes, 10 specific questions, always 2 references minimum. The most important question: 'What was something she struggled with?' Push past 'she was perfect.' Listen for the silences.
Plain-English breakdown of ayi vs nanny vs housekeeper vs yuesao vs governess in Shanghai. Who does what, who costs what, and which role fits which family.
learn2026 Shanghai nanny salary bands by role, experience, neighborhood and language ability. Live-in vs live-out delta, hourly rates, and what the all-in cost actually is.
learnWhat's legal and what's not in Shanghai nanny employment — Z-visa rules, working spouse permissions, household-worker grey area, and how families typically structure it.