Which Nanny would you choose?

[Anonymous]

DS will be 6 months in June and we plan to have a nanny start then . Our plan is to have a nanny at least until he starts preschool/kindergarten.

DH and I have narrowed it down to 2 candidates. But disagree on who to offer the job .

Candidate 1: is a 40 years old a former nanny preschool teacher and nurse. As a nurse she worked in pediatrics and NICU/ special care nursery.


Candidate 2: is mid 50s and a mom of 3 children her youngest is 17. She's primarily been a SAHM but did do an at home daycare and nanny periodically


Both women are warm and kind, have great references our personalities align well.

DH thinks we should go with the mom., because she's been there done that.
And I'd prefer the nurse because I'd think I'd be more comfortable stating my preferences. Not that I think the mom would argue with me I just feel like I'd second guess myself more with her.

So which woman would you pick and why?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think being a nurse is a real factor for a nanny job.

Maybe you can explain why you think you’d feel more comfortable stating your preferences with a nurse versus the “mom”?

[Anonymous]

Both sound good. Since you’re more comfortable with the nurse, pick her.

[Anonymous]

I think the nurse would be a lot less likely to stay your nanny through kindergarten. Go with the experienced mom.

[Anonymous]

Also the salary fioritures between ICU nurse and nanny is so great it would make me wonder why she’s stepping down from earnings like that at only 40 years old.

[Anonymous]

salary disparity *

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine why a nurse would be a nanny for very long. Seems odd.

The nanny is your employee, she will do as you ask. If you want her opinions, I'm sure she'll give them to you. But she's not going to argue with you like your mom might, if that's what you're worried about. Keep the boundaries professional.

[Anonymous]

candidate 1 will probaly end up quitting in a year or less when she finds a job more suitable to her credentials

[Anonymous]

First one. Gut instinct.

[Anonymous]

I would pick whichever one seems more active/outgoing and will take your son out and make nanny friends with kids his age to have an informal playgroup with.

Other than that, whichever one would be less tied to their phone.

[Anonymous]

I’d pick the first one, not because she was a nurse but because she was a preschool teacher.

[Anonymous]

How is this a question? Of course the former preschool teacher

[Anonymous]

I also think it’s very odd that 1 is going from nurse to nanny. Even if she wants to lower stress, she could make so many other switches that would be more lucrative.

A great test for 2 would be communicating your concern to her. Ask her how she will handle things when what you want conflicts with how she did things in the past. If she responds non-defensively that’s a good sign. Respect and good communication are essential for this relationship to work.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 13:40 and 13:45. I never had a nanny but am a SAHM so see and interact with lots of nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both sound good. Since you’re more comfortable with the nurse, pick her.

But OP's DH is more comfortable with the mom. Why does OP's "comfort" matter more than her husband's?