Nanny agency won't place a nanny with kids?

[Anonymous]

I'm in a suburb of Boston. I've spoken to 2 different agencies about joining, however neither would be willing to place me, 1 due to me having a child of my own and the other because I may want to bring my child.

Has anyone here ever gotten a nanny position while brining a child along? Through an agency? Am I a less desirable nanny because I'm a mother? I am highly qualified and experienced and I've never had a problem finding job before having my son. MBs do you prefer nannies who do not have children of their own?

This makes me very sad that the best thing that has ever happened in my life (having my son) is what will keep me from finding a decent nanny position!

[Anonymous]

No one searching through an agency wants a nanny who will bring her child. Agency fees are thousands of dollars, and parents who use agencies are looking for a nanny who is exactly right for their family.

Try again, but either don't mention your child (as in most job searches in most other industries), or present your childcare plan.

Rates in Boston are also some of the highest in the country. You'd probably have more luck finding a "mom-friendly" job through other means, especially if you give a break on your rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one searching through an agency wants a nanny who will bring her child. Agency fees are thousands of dollars, and parents who use agencies are looking for a nanny who is exactly right for their family.

Try again, but either don't mention your child (as in most job searches in most other industries), or present your childcare plan.

Rates in Boston are also some of the highest in the country. You'd probably have more luck finding a "mom-friendly" job through other means, especially if you give a break on your rates.

+1 I'm in Boston. families willing to pay for an agency aren't the kind of families who want a nanny who has their own child tagging along. Look at mom groups like garden moms boston or jp moms and try to connect with families looking for a nanny share. No one is going to hire you with a baby for top nanny wages if your baby comes with. You will have to settle for a $12 rate or $15 if you get really lucky. If you dont plan on bringing your baby than make sure to have a clear childcare plan.

[Anonymous]

I would not hire a parent as a nanny - that increases the germs they're bringing my kids plus what happens when their kid is sick? Parents take more sick days.

[Anonymous]

MB here and I agree w/ pps (though I don't know the boston market).

I hired our nanny through neighbor referrals. I would have been open to a mother, especially one who had been a nanny before. But it takes more personal hiring to find that right fit than one would get with an agency.

If I were hiring through an agency I would assume I'd be paying higher hourly rates, paying a commission to the agency, and hiring someone who was at a professional enough level to go through an agency and command those fees. In return I would be more demanding with my requirements. I think if you were in the pool of available nannies with a given agency you would have a hard time as the single, fully (seemingly) unencumbered candidates would have an edge.

Try putting the word out on neighborhood listservs, through parent groups, religious organizations, care.com, etc...

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I posted here a while ago about not being able to find a nanny without kids. I think I'd consider it, but definitely not while paying agency fees. I definitely prefer having a nanny without a child tagging along because I feel uncomfortable basically subsidizing her childcare.

[Anonymous]

I prefer nannies that do not have children of their own since they have less childcare-related issues and tend to have more flexibility to work occasional weekends and evenings. My first nanny had a young child and brought her to work one day since her MIL (her childcare) couldn't sit that day. Her daughter was constantly trying to get her attention away from our children. She also asked for a raise when her MIL was no longer able to watch her daughter for free. From then on, we hired only childless nannies or those with older children.

[Anonymous]

PP I pity your nanny you sound like a gem to work for

[Anonymous]

MB here.

I would hire a nanny with a child, but I would not at all be open to a nanny wanting to bring her own child to work. That is more like a nanny share and if I wanted to have a nanny share, it would be less complicated to structure one with another family than the nanny.

OP, I think the suggestions to look into neighborhood listservs and advertise for a nanny share if you want to have your child at work with you. You will make less money, but you won't have any childcare expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP I pity your nanny you sound like a gem to work for

You don't need to. She's worked for us happily for 12 years and is very well-compensated with full benefits, including vision/dental/health insurance and an IRA. OP asked directly for MB's opinions and I gave her the truth.

[Anonymous]

In my experience it's a very small percentage of families who are open to a nanny bringing their child with them. When I say small, I mean like maybe 1 in 10 families.

As an agency owner I just can't justify trying to place a nanny who wants to bring their baby when it's such a smaller percentage of families who would be open to it.

[Anonymous]

Most of the time, when I've seen a family open to a new nanny bringing their own child, it's because they really need the flexibility of a nanny (for what ever reason, daycare center hours/location/etc. doesn't work for them) but really can't afford it. They are open to a nanny bringing her own child if the nanny is willing to charge a greatly reduced rate.

Some families are open to keeping an already employed nanny who has a child, maybe even at the same rate, because they truly feel she is a gem and don't want to go through the hassle of a new nanny search.

It is very rare for a family to want to take on a new nanny who wants to bring their own child, at a "market" rate. I can't imagine it would have any benefit to the family.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny with children I could never imagine taking them to work with me. If you work at a school or daycare you can't bring your baby with you, they sometimes give a discount but your child won't be in the same room as you.

I don't get it nannies want to be respected and seen as professionals yet get mad when they can't bring their child/children

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't pass up a very well qualified nanny because she had a kid. However, if I had two equally qualified nannies to choose from and felt both would be a good match, I'd likely choose the one without kids.

As for bringing their kid, under the right circumstances I would consider it.