"Nanny Transitions" How many are to many during your child's first three years of life?

[Anonymous]

Assume you need the typical 50 hours a week, starting at three months old. Zero consequences? Stability of primary caregiver is irrelevant? So thinks at least one MB on this forum.

[Anonymous]

OK you wacko with an axe to grind - I'll bite. I'm probably the MB who tweaked you enough to trigger this.

I believe saying that my kids would survive a nanny transition just fine put you over the edge. I didn't say that stability is irrelevant of course, just that my kids would be fine if we had a change - as would almost all kids who have decent parents and stable homes.

We've had one nanny for their entire lives - and she's in her 4th year of employment with us.

However, she had a personal emergency this year which made her vanish suddenly without any warning and resulted in a string of agency nannies to get us through her extended and unplanned absence.

My kids amazed me with how well they weathered the sudden, and repeated, transitions during those weeks. That is why I can say with confidence that they would do equally well if we had to make a permanent change (assuming we hired well of course.)

Kids are resilient, especially when blessed with good parents. Of course, we also have a terrific nanny, for whom we provide great working conditions and tons of support.

I'm a great parent and a great boss. As a result we've had only one nanny and we have strong, resilient kids. We're all blessed, and I'm proud of all of us.