“Perfect” is shorthand for sustainable: someone who can hold your values, your logistics, and your child's temperament without daily friction.
Stack-rank three non-negotiables
If everything is equally important, nothing is. Choose drivers—education philosophy, travel flexibility, language, special needs experience—and use them to filter early.
Pair intuition with verification
Warmth matters; so do references, continuity of employment, and judgment under stress. Build a process that honors both.
Plan a purposeful trial
Whether paid or structured shadowing, define success metrics ahead of time so everyone knows how feedback will sound.