Nanny Mistake?

[Anonymous]

I'm a FTM and got a nanny when my baby was 2 months old. I recently let her go for the following reasons:
- she was always hinting & asking for loans even though paid above average
- she began spending excessive amount of time on the phone & watching tv while baby awake against my instructions
- my 10 month old got severe food poisoning after she gave him rotten yoghurt
- she started lecturing me on how to patent and would ignore instructions she didn't agree with
Otherwise she was very good with the baby. When he turned 1 I decided to let her go and made an occasional babysitter full time

Now I feel like I made a mistake and should have stuck with the initial nanny until age 3
- the new nanny is loving but has no concept of good nutrition
- her English is poor & she can hardly read and my son 15 month old cannot say any words
- she insists on doing housework while watching the baby even though I have a cleaner come 2x a week

Overall I have less stress since I don't have a nanny who is constantly criticizing my parenting choices and always complaining about money. However I feel like much child is getting less intellectual stimulation and I'm worried I made the wrong decision. I'm really concerned about the language delay and feel like it would not be the case with the previous nanny and she read & sang to/with the baby, taught him stuff, and her elocution was perfect.
Help?!
I cannot ask the nanny back as during her notice she asked me for a bonus which would have been due 3 months hence and I was very annoyed as I was broke and had given her a full months pay notice even though she last worked in Dec.

[Anonymous]

I think that next time you are ready to hire a nanny, you should conduct very very thorough interviews. Write down a list of at least 30 questions to ask each potential nanny. Take your time in the hiring / interview process. Really think about what you want in a nanny. Have your spouse, or your BFF, or a relative also help you decide once you have it down to a few finalists.

[Anonymous]

I think both of these nannies stink.

OP, don't worry about the fluency of your nanny outside of the ability for you and she to communicate. So long as the nanny is talking to your child, it will not interrupt her language development.

There's definitely room to work with the new nanny. Write out what you want her to feed your kid, ask her to talk to and read to your child more- even in her native language, ask that she play with your kid and that you don't expect her to clean.

[Anonymous]

How much did you pay to old nanny and how much are you paying new nanny? I think both are not very good and there are plenty of amazing nannies you could have I think you should continue looking and see that their are plenty of choices that will you will be happy with

[Anonymous]

So, find a new nanny. It is not the nanny's fault your child has speech delays. Wait a few more months and get a speech evaluation. I would have long fired the first one.

[Anonymous]

Kids talk when they talk. You can't change that. Early walkers make late talkers and vice versa. Encourage the nanny to talk and read to your child even if it's in her native language. Tell her not to do housekeeping outside of cleaning up messes incurred during the day. If you're still unhappy with the nanny, there is sure to be The One out there somewhere. You'll find her.

[Anonymous]

Yes, fire this current nanny and get a better one. Interview much more carefully this time and explain your needs and wants as far as your child's development is concerned.

And you may have to pay more to get a better educated nanny. But I feel it is a worthwhile investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids talk when they talk. You can't change that. Early walkers make late talkers and vice versa. Encourage the nanny to talk and read to your child even if it's in her native language. Tell her not to do housekeeping outside of cleaning up messes incurred during the day. If you're still unhappy with the nanny, there is sure to be The One out there somewhere. You'll find her.

Far more important tan actual talking is a child's receptive communication. Does the child understand everything that you tell him/her? And he/she follow two and three step commands (eg "Please bring your dolly over here and put her in her crib with a blanket") A nanny can and should help a child with that.
"

[Anonymous]

Why do you act like these two nannies are your only options? You can - very easily - hire a much better nanny than both of these. You just have to be willing to do a proper interview. Which it sounds like you haven't done either time.

[Anonymous]

My best advice is to cut both losses here & begin a brand new Nanny search.

These two Nannies are not your only options.
There are many fantastic Nannies out there and w/a little due diligence you can definitely find one.

Both the Nannies you have tried thus far sound incompetent + simply not serious minded about their duties.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you act like these two nannies are your only options? You can - very easily - hire a much better nanny than both of these. You just have to be willing to do a proper interview. Which it sounds like you haven't done either time.

This. Your mistake was making the occasional sitter full time instead of looking for a new full time person. These are not the only two nannies in the world. However, I suspects you're not going to want to fire your current nanny, so instead look into helping her find activities and such.

[Anonymous]

How much were you paying the first nanny? I'm curious if it really is above average.

[Anonymous]

Your kid nanny: absolute garbage.
You want her back? Are you crazy?

The new nanny. Well, doesn't sound terrible, but not great; start looking for a new one now.

[Anonymous]

Not kid nanny - read: old nanny (first)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much were you paying the first nanny? I'm curious if it really is above average.

It isn't above average at all. So funny how most employers like to think that.