Are parents prejudiced in hiring older nannies?

[Anonymous]

This is discrimination.
I am 65 I stil have more energy them this stupid younger girls that stay on the phone all the time,nannies like me (older like you say) is more attentive ,play more ,more responsible with the kids.I hate when I see this kind of answer in here . This for me is DISCRIMINATION.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised by this discussion! Maybe because I passed on interviewing a few young nannies fearing they would be 1) texting all the time, 2) looking for another job or 3) simply trying to multitask with their own interests while my kid has wet diapers, or is hungry or crying. On top of it I prefer mature nannies for their experience, and for the fact that they can play roles families used to play in the past: ant, grandma, etc. I can see the issue of energy etc, but I think there are plenty of parents out there who in fact "discriminate" younger nannies so I do not see a problem, if the qualifications and personality are right. Keep on interviewing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may be fear of more experience = higher rates

or

it could be fear that with all your experience, you'll be set in your ways and be like many of the condescending nannies on here who think their bosses are idiots and don't know what's best for their children - that experience trumps evidence or personal preference etc.

It's not fair that people assume that, but knowing that might be some of the areas of concern, you can put people at ease letting them know that you really respect parental wishes and that you're upfront about your expectations.

These were some of my concerns about older nannies. My other concern was that she wouldn't have the stamina or the interest to really run around with toddlers and preschoolers.

I have now had two nannies in their 50s. One was the worst nanny I've had; she was clearly exhausted all the time, and wanted to do laundry rather than play with the kids, and she really, really resented any instruction whatsoever.

The other is fine. She's not our "main" nanny, so the fact that she's not going to play soccer with the older ones is fine, and her experience makes her pretty much unflappable.

[Anonymous]

Our first nanny (for our newborn twins) was 58 when we hired her and she was with us for three years.

She was fantastic and her experience and maturity made her invaluable in all kinds of ways.

Then, as our kids became preschoolers, they became much more difficult for her - they were too heavy for her to lift easily, she has growing arthritis challenges, they were too fast for her to keep up with which made her nervous about taking them out, etc...

So we switched nannies. We now have a very young nanny. Her energy and enthusiasm is fantastic (and exceeds ours!), but I also miss the maturity and experience of our first nanny. Our current nanny would be overwhelmed by the demands of twin newborns.

Both women were terrific fits for our needs at the time.

So a great deal depends on the people in question, the ages/needs of the kids, and the overall fit of family and nanny.

[Anonymous]

I don't really know. We will be interviewing for a live-in in a couple of months and I will be looking for a 50- to 60-year old, energetic grandma type. To me this is the sweet spot, if everything else works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id hire you for my newborn come June! If you are a good fit for our family otherwise. I have no qualms about older nannies as long as there's a personality match and you're not coming off as condescending.
I can however imagine in this Information Age that some moms feel like they know everything or have plans on how to handle everything and don't want an older adult to deal with.

I'm a MB and don't understand your last sentence. When you're the boss, you dictate how you want things done. When you hire an employee with experience, they can (and should) give suggestions based on past experience or education, but ultimately the boss decides what they want done, when they want it done, and how. My MIL thought there was nothing wrong with using baby powder because she used it in the 80's. She's very "spry" for her age and will go rock climbing and stuff with us, but she has old info.

What IS the harm in baby powder?

It's horrible for your lungs and it causes cancer.

That was true for talcum powder but they don't sell that anymore. They've changed the formulation to cornstarch which is just fine.

[Anonymous]

I am very overweight which I think turns some parents off hiring me. However, The families I have worked for have loved how much I take their kids out to do things. Walks every day, playgrounds, bike riding etc. I don't enjoy playing soccer or running around but I do make sure the kids have plenty of activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am very overweight which I think turns some parents off hiring me. However, The families I have worked for have loved how much I take their kids out to do things. Walks every day, playgrounds, bike riding etc. I don't enjoy playing soccer or running around but I do make sure the kids have plenty of activity.

I'm overweight, but I'm a whole lot more fit than I look. I run after kids on the playground, play soccer, etc. But all most parents see is that I'm overweight.

[Anonymous]

Cost. Younger ones have less experience and cheap parents can get away with paying less money. I ammot a nanny but one of the women in my neighborhood told me this is what she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our first nanny (for our newborn twins) was 58 when we hired her and she was with us for three years.

She was fantastic and her experience and maturity made her invaluable in all kinds of ways.

Then, as our kids became preschoolers, they became much more difficult for her - they were too heavy for her to lift easily, she has growing arthritis challenges, they were too fast for her to keep up with which made her nervous about taking them out, etc...

So we switched nannies. We now have a very young nanny. Her energy and enthusiasm is fantastic (and exceeds ours!), but I also miss the maturity and experience of our first nanny. Our current nanny would be overwhelmed by the demands of twin newborns.

Both women were terrific fits for our needs at the time.

So a great deal depends on the people in question, the ages/needs of the kids, and the overall fit of family and nanny.

This was one reason I stuck with younger women. It's not fair, but I would have felt awful about letting an older woman go because I needed a younger model, especially if I was going to have to recommend her to the next family. I had once had an older housekeeper, and it was a similar story; I am not in a position to provide a pension to someone who can't work (particularly someone I've only know for a couple of years, not a lifelong family employee), but I also found it difficult to let her go knowing she lived paycheck to paycheck. I didn't want that to happen again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our first nanny (for our newborn twins) was 58 when we hired her and she was with us for three years.

She was fantastic and her experience and maturity made her invaluable in all kinds of ways.

Then, as our kids became preschoolers, they became much more difficult for her - they were too heavy for her to lift easily, she has growing arthritis challenges, they were too fast for her to keep up with which made her nervous about taking them out, etc...

So we switched nannies. We now have a very young nanny. Her energy and enthusiasm is fantastic (and exceeds ours!), but I also miss the maturity and experience of our first nanny. Our current nanny would be overwhelmed by the demands of twin newborns.

Both women were terrific fits for our needs at the time.

So a great deal depends on the people in question, the ages/needs of the kids, and the overall fit of family and nanny.

This was one reason I stuck with younger women. It's not fair, but I would have felt awful about letting an older woman go because I needed a younger model, especially if I was going to have to recommend her to the next family. I had once had an older housekeeper, and it was a similar story; I am not in a position to provide a pension to someone who can't work (particularly someone I've only know for a couple of years, not a lifelong family employee), but I also found it difficult to let her go knowing she lived paycheck to paycheck. I didn't want that to happen again.

Well, our first nanny is now a live-in nanny to another newborn, in a job that we helped her get. She's great w/ newborns and her plan is to work 2 more years and then retire. She's fine. It can be done. I can wholeheartedly recommend her for babies - just not for preschoolers. She's a fantastic find for someone who plans to put their child in daycare at 2 or 3 (or who has just one kid - twins are a lot for anyone!)

She also still visits us regularly, came to the kids' b'day party, babysat a couple of weeks ago, etc.. It really can work quite well.

[Anonymous]

This happened to our nanny til I hired her. She is now 58 and has been with us for 3 years. She has more energy than I do. She was the best candidate. There is ageism in all professions, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our first nanny (for our newborn twins) was 58 when we hired her and she was with us for three years.

She was fantastic and her experience and maturity made her invaluable in all kinds of ways.

Then, as our kids became preschoolers, they became much more difficult for her - they were too heavy for her to lift easily, she has growing arthritis challenges, they were too fast for her to keep up with which made her nervous about taking them out, etc...

So we switched nannies. We now have a very young nanny. Her energy and enthusiasm is fantastic (and exceeds ours!), but I also miss the maturity and experience of our first nanny. Our current nanny would be overwhelmed by the demands of twin newborns.

Both women were terrific fits for our needs at the time.

So a great deal depends on the people in question, the ages/needs of the kids, and the overall fit of family and nanny.

This was one reason I stuck with younger women. It's not fair, but I would have felt awful about letting an older woman go because I needed a younger model, especially if I was going to have to recommend her to the next family. I had once had an older housekeeper, and it was a similar story; I am not in a position to provide a pension to someone who can't work (particularly someone I've only know for a couple of years, not a lifelong family employee), but I also found it difficult to let her go knowing she lived paycheck to paycheck. I didn't want that to happen again.

Not all nannies live paycheck to paycheck. I'm a live in nanny in my early 30's I've been able to save close to a million dollars with the help of a inheritance that I recieved when I was 18. I fully plan to retire when my parents are no longer able to take care of themselves. I'm guessing in another 20-25 years. Once they die I will have their home which is paid off, my tiny rental home I bought years ago which I paid cash for and all my retirement savings. I plan to live quite well.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, million dollar nanny. This is not the case for most women working as nannies for middle class families in their 50s and 60s.

[Anonymous]

I'm almost 50 and English is not my first language I don't have problems finding job in my area (Los Angeles) - Here ppl will hire old nanny (not fat old nanny) because they feel insecure with 20-30 's nannies.

I do part-time and right now I have 4 families. I received enough money monthly. Live is good.