Please Stop Using AI to Write References (We’ll Know — Promise)
We get it.
Life is busy. You’re trying to help a former nanny, sitter, or employee move forward, and using AI to “clean up” a reference can feel harmless — even helpful.
But when it comes to childcare references, AI-written responses actually do more harm than good. And yes… we will catch it.
Why AI References Are a Problem (Even When Intentions Are Good)
Childcare references aren’t just a formality — they’re a safety tool. Families are trusting us with the most important people in their lives, and references help us verify real-world experience, judgment, and consistency.
AI-generated references often:
Sound overly polished, vague, or generic
Use identical phrasing across multiple submissions
Avoid specifics (because AI doesn’t know the child, the family, or the situation)
Are submitted from the same device, IP address, or pattern
When that happens, we can’t confidently verify the information — and that puts a candidate’s application at risk, even if they are truly wonderful.
We’re Not Guessing — We Have a System
At Sandhills Nanny Co., references are reviewed by our Scout Reference Team, a dedicated part of our vetting process trained to spot inconsistencies, automation patterns, and red flags.
Scout doesn’t just skim for checkmarks. They look for:
Authentic voice and tone
Specific examples of care and responsibility
Timeline alignment with employment history
Behavioral details that only a real human reference would know
AI-generated references stand out immediately — and once flagged, we’re required to request additional references or pause the application altogether.
This Hurts the Candidate Most
Here’s the hard truth:
Using AI to complete a reference often delays or disqualifies an otherwise great nanny.
Families rely on us to be thorough. When references don’t feel authentic, we can’t move forward — even if the candidate did nothing wrong themselves.
If you’re a reference:
Write like you talk
Keep it honest, even if it’s not perfect
Short and real > long and polished
A few genuine sentences beat a flawless AI paragraph every single time.
If You’re a Nanny: Please Tell Your References This
We strongly encourage candidates to let their references know:
AI-written responses are not allowed
Authenticity matters more than “sounding professional”
We welcome honesty and real feedback
You don’t need a glowing novel — you need truth.
Our Promise to Families
Families choose our agency because we take safety, trust, and integrity seriously. The Scout Reference Team exists to protect:
Children
Families
And the nannies who truly show up with experience and heart
We will always choose real over perfect.
So please — for the sake of everyone involved — leave the AI out of references. We promise: your real words matter more than you think.
