MBs:What was it about your nanny that made you choose her?

[Anonymous]

MB here - I appreciate the sensitivity re holding babies. I think you have to read the parents a bit as we all have different levels of comfort w/ strangers, germs, etc...

In my case the nanny we chose is the one I felt almost instantly comfortable with so I was happy to hand her a baby (w/ others I didn't have that comfort, or hadn't even invited them to my house - interviewed them at a coffee shop). The nanny we chose was clearly so drawn to our babies that I could see she was itching to hold them. And when she did her face just lit up. It was a genuine, authentic response and exactly the kind of loving care I hoped to find. Watching her handle the babies was actually really important to me and definitely sealed the deal. We also took the twins on a walk together which was a time for more relaxed interaction but also let me see that she (the nanny) automatically grabbed burp cloths, extra pacifiers, etc... Her experience showed in her natural instincts, without her even realizing what she was doing. But as a new mother I was very aware that was I was still reminding myself to do was automatic to her.

You sound very thoughtful and sensitive to the impression you're giving and concerns the parents might have.

Good luck - I hope you get the job and it turns out to be a great fit for all of you!

[Anonymous]

My kids picked her. After weeks of my challenging child outright rejecting highly qualified nanny candidates, all of my kids flocked to this one candidate. We had to pry them away from her. We have never regretted following the children's instincts, and have talked to other families who had a similar experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids picked her. After weeks of my challenging child outright rejecting highly qualified nanny candidates, all of my kids flocked to this one candidate. We had to pry them away from her. We have never regretted following the children's instincts, and have talked to other families who had a similar experience.

That is so sweet!

[Anonymous]

I have to echo the other Mbs. We were drawn to our current nanny first because during the interview she seemed interested in the children (it was a share) even before she interacted with them. Her eyes followed the boys as they tumbled around the room, and when one finally got the courage to show her a toy, she immediately aknowledged him, then asked for a place to wash her hands and got right down on the floor with him to ask about it and play. She was natural and aware of them, even before they were ready to engage, and while she smiled and spoke to them before one ventured over, she gave them space.

We also loved that she spoke very good English, as we were FTMs who didn't want to lose anything in translation. She also came across to us as competent and experienced, but not overbearing. She didn't respond with an over-confident (to us) "that's easy" anytime we posed a question about handling both boys, even if our questions were simplistic. And she came across as willing to entertain our FTM worries and concerns rather than seeming dismissive of them.

She also came with questions about our families and parenting philosopies that made us believe she was also interested in a good fit between the families. She wanted to know what the best way to get in touch with all of us was, how best to communicate problems/issues/needs, what our approach to discipline was, what the children's current schedules were, whether we'd like her to speak to the boys in Spanish, how they were doing developmentally, what things we'd like them to be working on, etc.

When we hired our first nanny for the boys as infants, she used the PP's suggested method - after we spoke for a bit, she asked where she could wash her hands to hold the baby, and we were happy to let her because we wanted to see if it was natural to her, and she clearly was itching to hold the babes (which we loved). And even though my son wailed the entire time she held him, I hired her because her response to that was even natural - she didn't get upset, she took it in stride, adjusted him, spoke softly, got up to move around, and did all the things you'd hope a caregiver would do to calm a baby without a thought. It was comforting to watch.

[Anonymous]

I agree that how the nanny interacts with the kids even babies is very important - how they respond to her but also if she seems just at ease with them.

[Anonymous]

This is such an uplifting thread. Thank you all the MBs who responded so graciously. We need to honor their genuine kindness. Mutual respect and appreciation go such a long way. Thank you again.