Valubale lessons learned by a First Time Parent

[Anonymous]

We went through the long process of finding an experienced and educated nanny and are paying a much higher wage for her.

Here is my mistake - as a FTM I assumed that if I couldn't do something that it couldn't be done. It took both DH and I to give the baby a bath so I assumed that the nanny couldn't do it alone either and never let her bathe the baby. Turns out that the nanny could do it as she has been bathing babies for decades. I couldn't make the baby's bottle with the baby in my arms so I premade and measured the bottles before nanny arrived in the morning- turns out nanny could do it one handed and not spill a drop. I have so many examples of this error that both DH and I made. So my advice to FTM is to ask your nanny about how she does things and not assume that just because you cannot do something that she cannot do it.

[Anonymous]

I love you, OP. Here's from a admitted hygienic OCD'er: I could change a baby's poopy diaper in the dark and on my lap, if I needed to, without a single mis-step. Only because I've been lovingly changing diapers forever, I can do it with my eyes closed, just like you could touch your nose.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

Go. Away. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

Go. Away. Please.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

Perhaps you should learn what IS a nanny.
Hint: It's not everyone who calls themselves a nanny,
nor is it antomatically the person whom your girlfriends claim is "their" nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

Perhaps you should learn what IS a nanny.
Hint: It's not everyone who calls themselves a nanny,
nor is it antomatically the person whom your girlfriends claim is "their" nanny.

+1. Many people who really are just babysitters are calling themselves a nanny. While there are too many out there who should not be taking care of children, there are those of us who are incredible with children and do a whole lot more than just let your children watch tv all day long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust most nannies to do those things though. The majority of nannies, especially the ones on here, are lazy and no good. If I had found this site before I hired my first nanny a couple years ago I would never have done it, I would have just quit work to stay at home and do it right.

Go. Away. Please.

+1000

xInfinity

Great post OP, and great advice. Glad you found such a capable nanny

[nannydebsays]

OP, you said a mouthful!

I would add only that those of us nannies who absolutely know what we're doing often feel we need to hang back for fear of upsetting our new-to-parenthood employers, so we might not speak up and say, "I can do X, would you like me to show you how I do it?"

OP, how could your nanny have phrased an offer to bathe baby solo or make up bottles without upsetting you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went through the long process of finding an experienced and educated nanny and are paying a much higher wage for her.

Here is my mistake - as a FTM I assumed that if I couldn't do something that it couldn't be done. It took both DH and I to give the baby a bath so I assumed that the nanny couldn't do it alone either and never let her bathe the baby. Turns out that the nanny could do it as she has been bathing babies for decades. I couldn't make the baby's bottle with the baby in my arms so I premade and measured the bottles before nanny arrived in the morning- turns out nanny could do it one handed and not spill a drop. I have so many examples of this error that both DH and I made. So my advice to FTM is to ask your nanny about how she does things and not assume that just because you cannot do something that she cannot do it.

I'm surprised that, as first-time parents, you and DH had this attitude. Most first-time parents assume that someone more experienced, like a nanny or experienced mom, would have a better grasp on childcare.

[Anonymous]

I can get a kid to eat just about anything, obey my directions, clean up their own toys, and sleep on a regular schedule. Parents always ask me how. I don't have any secret recipe. I give limited choices and praise good behavior.

[Anonymous]

How surprising, OP, that you have had time to witness your nanny bathing your baby enough times to know she is an expert! And wait! You also have witnessed all your baby's feelings with your amazing nanny who never spills a drop and is worth so much more than average??

How completely unbelievable.

Trolling is boring and takes away from the really good nannies who may post here.

Shame on you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How surprising, OP, that you have had time to witness your nanny bathing your baby enough times to know she is an expert! And wait! You also have witnessed all your baby's feelings with your amazing nanny who never spills a drop and is worth so much more than average??

How completely unbelievable.

Trolling is boring and takes away from the really good nannies who may post here.

Shame on you, OP.

Not OP but the constant accusations of everyone being a troll are so boring.

[Anonymous]

A nanny who can't be trusted to bathe a baby is not a nanny worth having. Seriously--as an MB, I am stunned to hear other MBs say things like they aren't sure they trust the nanny to give baths, or they prepare meals for the nanny to feed their kids because they aren't sure the nanny will feed them appropriately, or they lay out the baby's clothes because they don't think the nanny will dress her properly. I expect my family's nanny to take direction when given, but I also expect her to know and do her job at least as well as I would. If she can't or doesn't, then she might be right for someone but definitely not for me.

[Anonymous]

We live and we learn don't we OP?

Thanks for spreading the message out there.

Sometimes it is good when others make mistakes so we don't have to make them ourselves.