How to get started as an infant nanny

[Anonymous]

I want to work with babies so badly!! The trouble is, no one will hire without previous experience. I'm currently employed for a family with elementary children during the day (not trying to leave, but looking forward to my next job being with an infant), so can't work for a daycare or anything like that. I don't have any friends or relatives with babies I could practice with.

I've had a couple of interviews (prior to my current position) with babies.. and I don't know if this is usual, but my lack of familiarity with such tiny little ones made me feel pretty awkward. I was worried about holding it right, feeding it, felt like a bumbling idiot. I am so eager and I love them so much but feel like one of those new dads who doesn't know how to hold one (I'm a girl, but you know.) I read lots of books, have taken the infant care class at school, but what I really need is some exposure to get used to actually handling them and I have no idea how to get that.

I assume most infant nannies started with caring for baby nephews and nieces, younger siblings, etc. If you were in my position, what do you think? Just keep applying to jobs til I find a patient parent who doesn't mind that I don't have experience? I've considered being a mother's helper too, but at 29, it seems a bit awkward.

[Anonymous]

Maybe babysitting for a family with an older child and an infant? But no, I wouldn't keep applying to jobs until you get one. The fact that you admit you feel awkward and you are worried about caring for them indicates you aren't ready to be a full time nanny of one. And you'll probably find yourself quickly being fired from that job.

[Anonymous]

Being an infant nanny is not for every one. I for one am not comfortable with school age children. I'm awkward with them the way you say you are awkward with babies, and so I stick with younger kids. I'm not trying to be rude, but if you are uncomfortable simply holding a baby, I don't know how well you'd be able to handle a screaming 6 month old who has been inconsolable for 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

We hired our manny for our infant and he had no experience working with infants. But he was really comfortable with her, really open to hearing what we'd figured out she liked, and he did a ton of research on child development for her age (and has continued doing so as she gets older).

So I'd say keep trying. We interviewed with people who looked great on paper in terms of experience.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has to start somewhere but unfortunately your first infant job probably won't pay as much as your like. I made $12/hr my first baby! So first step is to align your wage expectations with reality. Second, what about working/volunteering at a synagogue or church care room on the weekends? That's how I got a lot of my early experience!

[Anonymous]

Try being a mother's helper at a lower rate to gain experience.

[Anonymous]

I am the youngest in a big family and became an aunt when I was 7, and I have LOTS of nieces and nephews, babysat a ton in high school etc so I had a basic familiarity with babies before getting hired to care for one full time. I recommend what a PP suggested...work as a mother's helper for a reduced rate, volunteer etc. I don't know if you go to church, but that might be a good place to meet moms who need a hand here and there especially if they have two kids. Let them know you're looking to gain infant experience. Network as much as you can.

Your best bet might be to look for jobs with toddlers who have no siblings and then you'll slide into the infant roll when the younger sibling is born. But you'll need to get that basic experience first by volunteering and being a mothers helper. Babies full time is not the same as snuggling one for 20 min. They can test your patience as much as a toddler and they can't tell you what they need...they might scream for 30 min for "no reason" or they might be teething 6 teeth and there's not much you can do for them, or they might have a gas bubble. You have to have extreme patience and excellent problem solving skills because working with babies is like playing charades some days.

[Anonymous]

Well luckily, with the little experience I have with them, at least I already know that baby crying doesn't actually bother me. I'm a naturally patient person and very resilient. I'm also rather socially awkward, which makes me most nervous about a mother's helper position (I get along way better with young little folks rather than people my age ).. but that may just be the way to go. I used to volunteer at a local church and it was a great experience, but they only had toddlers+ in their care room (my highest experience level). Thanks for all the help!

[Anonymous]

When I had my first job taking care of an infant, I did not have any real experience with infants. I had a lot of experience babysitting babies and young children, but not infants. The family took a chance on me. That job only lasted a few months, but I got another job taking care of an infant. I had that job for many years and took care of the brother who came along a couple of years later from infancy. Then, after I left that job and I was interviewing again, I had a mother tell me I did not have enough infant experience.

When it comes down to it, keep interviewing for those jobs. Take some more classes in infant care. In the end, it all comes down to you and the parents being a match. And if they like you, they will overlook your lack of infant experience.

Another thing you might want to consider, try getting a job in a daycare with infants. Yes, the pay is generally crappy, but real life experience could be helpful for you. And you have to work on your social skills. That is always going to be a negative for you until you can really become comfortable around people and babies.

[Anonymous]

I'm an infant only nanny (birth-2yo) and I started out nannying for preschool/school age kids while volunteering in our church nursery and then as any additional children were born into my current nanny families I started gaining real life experience being with a baby 40-50hrs a week. I also babysat a ton to get more exposure, took classes, read every hot baby book on the market and generally built up a solid expertise which then seamlessly merged into doing what I love, which is care for the tiniest little people. I don't automatically leave at 2yo, I leave when the youngest is 2, although I will leave if there is no sibling either just born or mb is pregnant.
Anyway, I'm in my 3rd year as a newborn nanny, and previously I had newborn-2yo twins and now my current charge who is 1, I've had since 8weeks.
There is a niche out there for dedicated newborn nannies and the pay is above average (I make 52 a year, not in a major nanny market)
Good luck, I hope you manage to break into this area of care. Babies are seriously the best people on earth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try being a mother's helper at a lower rate to gain experience.

+1
Best way to gain experience without being thrown into something you're not yet ready for on your own.