Stay at Home Mom Interested in Becoming a Nanny

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I just found this board through research on Google. I have been a Stay at Home Mom of two kids for over 18 years. My children are enrolled in high school & college. I absolutely love kids & have been think about pursuing a Nanny career . Where do I start? I researched traing & the nanny training schools are out of my area. An associates degree in Early Childhood Education is one option but will take long.I feel that I qualify since I have hands on experience at the hardest job-mom ?.Please offer any advice that you may have.
Thanks in advance!
Sherrie

[Anonymous]

Get CPR certified and send your resume to nanny agencies.

[Anonymous]

As an MB, I can tell you that someone simply telling me that they kept their kids alive for 18 years wouldn't enough. Particularly if I have younger kids, which would mean you haven't had relevant experience in over a decade. You will definitely need some credentials, training, or at the very least references.

[Anonymous]

She has to start somewhere! OP, someone will hire you. There are plenty of parents who will like the fact that you're a mom and experienced. You may need to start out with lower paying jobs, but of course you can break into nannying. It's not hard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She has to start somewhere! OP, someone will hire you. There are plenty of parents who will like the fact that you're a mom and experienced. You may need to start out with lower paying jobs, but of course you can break into nannying. It's not hard

I'm 15:53. I agree - there will definitely be someone willing to pay you, particularly if you're at the low end of the average range. But I would caution against presenting your credentials only as "I've been a mom!" and expecting the demand to roll in at high rates. Having been a mom doesn't mean you know anything about being a nanny.

[Anonymous]

MB here - I would hire a SAHM whose kids are grown. I don't think you need an associates degree - but definitely do go take basic and infant CPR, and maybe a class or two offered by all the hospitals on handling infants. I don't think there's anything you couldn't do - but you want to be able to assure parents that you're familiar with current guidelines on sleep positions, carseat (RF vs FF) recommendations, food allergy management, etc...

You also want to know what new/first time parents are hearing/being taught so you can seem in touch w/ what they're hearing from experts.

Other than that, just start networking in your neighborhood, etc... You could also see about working in a local daycare for some period of time - that would give you some additional/formal work experience (and exposure to things like routine setting and discipline tactics) which would help make you more marketable.

Also, talk with a couple of agencies and get their advice.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know being a mom for 18 years I most certainly did not just "keep them alive". I put alot of time & individual love & attention into raising them into well adjusted, smart, healthy, goal oriented , drug & alcohol free, athletic children. I did not just feed & water them! I also do have young nieces & nephews who I spend time with.

Thank you to the people who offered me some better advice.

[Anonymous]

I would market yourself go families looking for after school care. It would be very attractive to have a mom to help with homework and it is normally tough to find people for that slot. For you it would let you update your skills with younger ages in a PT way and gain some experience being an employee (vety different). Once you have experience and a reference you can be in a better spot to look for something full time.

[Anonymous]

That's great advice 16:12.Thank you so much!

[Anonymous]

16:14 Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so you know being a mom for 18 years I most certainly did not just "keep them alive". I put alot of time & individual love & attention into raising them into well adjusted, smart, healthy, goal oriented , drug & alcohol free, athletic children. I did not just feed & water them! I also do have young nieces & nephews who I spend time with.

Thank you to the people who offered me some better advice.

I'm the one whose advice you're not taking - I didn't accuse YOU personally of just keeping them alive. I'm just saying look at it from my perspective as a person hiring a childcare provider. You telling me you raised your own kids into adulthood and that you have young nieces and nephews tells me nothing about what kind of childcare provider you will be to my child. I know plenty of people who have adult kids and nieces and nephews who had no business even being parents, let alone someone I would leave my kids with. I'm cautioning you not to expect people to be wowed that you have drug and alcohol free teenagers. I'm suggesting that you don't simply rely on the fact that you are a parent and sit back and wait for the offers to come in. Maybe you were a great parent and you will be a great childcare provider - show me that you will be by, like a PP said, making sure you're knowledgeable about up-to-date guidelines, being professional when we meet, etc. That's what I'm saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an MB, I can tell you that someone simply telling me that they kept their kids alive for 18 years wouldn't enough. Particularly if I have younger kids, which would mean you haven't had relevant experience in over a decade. You will definitely need some credentials, training, or at the very least references.

I strongly disagree with the first sentence here OP.

As a MB myself, I prefer candidates who have successfully raised their own children. When I say "successfully," I am implying that these children have not become delinquents. LOL. I think hands on parenting is much more preferable over someone who has simply got their child development stages from a textbook. A parent has actually experienced every stage of a child's development first hand and is more likely to know how to handle all the challenges that come along with caring for young children.

I agree that references are necessary as well however.
OP, you will have to probably babysit for a lower rate just to get started.
By doing so, you will build up your base in your area and establish your reputation as a stellar nanny!! Also, make sure your CPR certifications are up to date as well. I wouldn't worry about training..I would say you have had enough training raising your kids...what could they teach you in a classroom that you haven't already learned on your own??

I wish you the best of luck.

[nannydebsays]

Op, I disagree that you don't "need" any training. If your kids are grown and gone, it's been a while since you cared for an infant/toddler/preschooler, correct?

I believe parents would be more likely to give you a chance if you could tell them about your parenting experience AND show them that you are not only up-to-date on CPR/First Aid but also that you have taken some community college type child development classes focusing on the latest in safety standards, nutrition, and how to effectively engage children in learning through play.

Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

7:36, just because she has experienced all the stages of hildhood with HER children doesn't make her qualified to deal with my children. It's entirely possible that she got lucky with fairly easy kids who responded well to her natural discipline style. An experienced childcare provider has a bag of tricks that has been broaded by working with lots of different children in lots of different family backgrounds and environments, which means that discipline can be tailored to what your child needs, not just repeating what worked for some other kid in some other family 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great that OP wants to use her parenting experience like this.