Stressful Nanny Jobs are Bad for the Nanny's Health

[Anonymous]

Of course the same thing goes for all stressful jobs.

Smart parents make an effort to REDUCE the nanny job stress, NOT increase it.

Long, long hours of nanny isolation is not such a healthy thing either.

A few words of appreciation (or a little note) would go a long way. Even if it's only once a month.

I've never needed to take sick days, until now.

Parents are scrambling...

Stressful Jobs often produce Poor Health has been recently documented by Hopkins researchers.

[Anonymous]

Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

Well said, thank you.
Good nannies and intelligent parents understand this.
They also understand the undesirable consequences of non-child related stress and the importance of avoiding/reducing it. Frequent parent-nanny communication is key. Every attentive parent should carve out the time for routine meetings with the nanny, and encourage (and model) open and honest communication, even when it's hard or unpleasant. One can always be respectful.
-OP

[Anonymous]

If so many of you nannies are stressed out and hate your employers, why in the world don't you find something else to do with your lives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

BAHAHAHA. This is rich. Yes, caring for children is stressful, but you are doing something seriously wrong if it is affecting your health.

You want to know real stress? Talk to a neurosurgeon or an ER nurse. Talk with someone who works with refugees and victims of abuse or in the penal system.
Nannies are well paid, have little to no daily oversight, can eat/pee/sit down when they want to and never get stuck at work for an extra two hours because a gun shot wound walked in 10 minutes before their shift ended.
Have a little perspective please, and stop trying to make your role so much more important than it is...parent's aren't going to read your thread and magically decide you are worth the $25/hr you would like to be paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

BAHAHAHA. This is rich. Yes, caring for children is stressful, but you are doing something seriously wrong if it is affecting your health.

You want to know real stress? Talk to a neurosurgeon or an ER nurse. Talk with someone who works with refugees and victims of abuse or in the penal system.
Nannies are well paid, have little to no daily oversight, can eat/pee/sit down when they want to and never get stuck at work for an extra two hours because a gun shot wound walked in 10 minutes before their shift ended.
Have a little perspective please, and stop trying to make your role so much more important than it is...parent's aren't going to read your thread and magically decide you are worth the $25/hr you would like to be paid.

It's Sunday morning. You sound *very* stressed and angry. Has it been a long weekend with the kids? I hope you feel better tomorrow morning when you get to go back to your (hopefully!) less stressful job.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree. I've worked with some truly disadvantaged children and communities, worked overseas with Peace Corps, and volunteered with refugees, and nannying is the most relaxing job I've ever had. Even working at customer service was more stressful than handling a preschooler and toddler! Is it exhausting? Absolutely. But not even close, and definitely not more so, than a lot of other jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

You really sounds like you have an anxiety disorder. I'm not sitting around all day wringing my hands, fearful that death of my charges are right around the corner.

As a nanny I don't allow my charges to play in the middle of 495, nor do I leave fevers untreated, and I don't give my toddler jolly ranchers.

Get a grip. Your anxiety probably rubs off on your charges and that is not good for the growth of children. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

No, you're the nut case parent pretending to be a nanny. It's obvious.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

You really sounds like you have an anxiety disorder. I'm not sitting around all day wringing my hands, fearful that death of my charges are right around the corner.

As a nanny I don't allow my charges to play in the middle of 495, nor do I leave fevers untreated, and I don't give my toddler jolly ranchers.

Get a grip. Your anxiety probably rubs off on your charges and that is not good for the growth of children. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

You really sounds like you have an anxiety disorder. I'm not sitting around all day wringing my hands, fearful that death of my charges are right around the corner.

As a nanny I don't allow my charges to play in the middle of 495, nor do I leave fevers untreated, and I don't give my toddler jolly ranchers.

Get a grip. Your anxiety probably rubs off on your charges and that is not good for the growth of children. Get help.

No, you're the nut case parent pretending to be a nanny. It's obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a nanny is only stressful and isolating if you are doing it right. Seriously, how many nannies do you see out there "doing it right"?

Does "doing it right" mean we care about doing the highest quality of work?

Those who don't care about the children aren't nannies.
They're fly-by-night sitters, not nannies.

Too bad if parents refuse to understand the difference.

Yes. And from what I have seen most nannies don't care about doing "the highest quality of work" and too bad for them refusing to understand the difference. Nannies constantly on their phones, nannies who don't know or understand developmental stages, nannies who never talk, read or engage their charges (or who can't because they don't speak English). Sitting on your phone in the park while your charges run around bugging good nannies and parents to pay attention to them is not stressful.

If you find playing with your charge stressful, being a nanny is NOT for you.

I'm a nanny and don't even have a data plan on my phone, so there is no "being on my phone" ever. I nanny two lovely kids, a toddler and a preschooler. Nothing stressful about my day. Sure they fight sometimes, but they are loving children and I've known both of them since birth. I have them on a great routine that allows me about 2hrs a day completely to myself.I get to be outside, often go fruit and vegetable picking at local farms and plan all kinds of fun activities outside of the house.

How is this stressful again?

You are responsible for the life of a child. It is not an office job where if you don't pay attention you could lose a report. When a nanny doesn't doesn't pay attention a child can die. A toddler can run into the street in four seconds flat. A sudden spike in a fever can lead to a febrile seizure and permanent brain damage in a baby. A child can choke while eating (the DC nanny who watched her charge die in front of her in spite of performing CPR). I find the enormous responsibility of caring for a child stressful - as I should.

As a nanny, your job is more than playing with your charge.

You really sounds like you have an anxiety disorder. I'm not sitting around all day wringing my hands, fearful that death of my charges are right around the corner.

As a nanny I don't allow my charges to play in the middle of 495, nor do I leave fevers untreated, and I don't give my toddler jolly ranchers.

Get a grip. Your anxiety probably rubs off on your charges and that is not good for the growth of children. Get help.

No, you're the nut case parent pretending to be a nanny. It's obvious.

LOL, time for you to get a new crystal ball.