Youngest age of nanny you would hire

[Anonymous]

For an infant. I feel uneasy with anyone Under 26 or so since I don’t know if they are mature or responsible. Is this a valid concern?

[Anonymous]

Do I haven’t hired a Nanny only a sitter BUT I used to think I would never hire a teen to watch my then 4yo. But we have a neighbor who was 13, almost 14 and the 2nd in a line of 4 girls, the youngest having SN. She was so good with the siblings and very mature. She ended babysitting us for 4 summers. So I would look at experience, lifestyle and maturity over physical age.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors hired me as a date night baby sitter for a 4 year old, 2 year old, and newborn when I was 15.

There are plenty of excellent mothers under the age of 26.

[Anonymous]

I had a 19yo au pair who was great and extremely competent and had worked in a crèche.

[Anonymous]

Infant? Probably 19-20.

[Anonymous]

22

[Anonymous]

There’s no magic number. I had my first baby at age 30 and I had never held a newborn before. I figured it out.

[Anonymous]

agree that there's no magic number. I became a nanny for a family with a 6 week old when I was 20 and we had such a great relationship that I stayed with them for 10 years (they had 3 other kids after that). I had babysat before but had little experience outside of that and I think I did a great job.

my sister on the other hand, who is 28, is somebody I'd never hire for my own infant as she is chronically late and definitely shows up to work super hungover after partying with her friends.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there is a magic number and that age is 25. Until then the brain isn’t fully formed including the fear-center (which is why so many under 25 take stupid risks).

The youngest age I would hire for a full time nanny for an infant is definitely late 20’s. I’d want a lot of infant classes and experience under her belt if not college and infant daycare experience.

[Anonymous]

56. I’m not kidding. I don’t want the drama and self-centeredness of a young nanny ever again. It was exhausting and so much stress for me and my first child.

We have a brilliant, smart, energetic and athletic nanny now who is in her 60s (started with us at 56). Calm, easy going and 100% drama free. Her own child is grown and out of the house (she’s an oral surgeon!) and nanny’s husband is just one of those all time great guys. Nanny is amazing. She was a teacher for years and has been such a great influence on my kids. And they adore her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s no magic number. I had my first baby at age 30 and I had never held a newborn before. I figured it out.

+1 I would say that the younger the nanny, the more likely they are to leave you to do something else, so also depends on what your horizon is. Do you want someone for less than a year to fill a gap pre daycare or do you want someone who has the potential to stay with you for years.

[Anonymous]

I had three kids by the time I was twenty-three so close to that age.