English has no good word for nanny

[Anonymous]

One strange thing is that English has no good general word for nanny, since the word nanny to itself sounds more like infant language. I found a great word, childminder, onlly to learn that a childminder works in the childminder's home.

Babysitter is not a good word. Babysitter is more temporary, and not under official employment by the family.

[Anonymous]

Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

[Anonymous]

A governess teaches children, like a schoolteacher, more than taking care of them.

Childcare provider sounds better, but I'm not sure if it only means those working in their employer's home.

[Anonymous]

I like "nanny", too!

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with nanny? It's a perfectly acceptable word.

[Anonymous]

"Nanny" is a fine word! I also like it as a title/name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

We call our kid's coach "Coach" and their doctor "Doctor". I call my advisor "Professor" and my senator "Senator". At my kid's gym class they are instructed to call the teachers "Teacher Barbara" or "Teacher Jonathan". I don't let my kid call any adult by their first name so when our nanny asked to be called "Nanny", I was fine with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

Interesting the occupations you listed as equal to the person caring for your kids. Plumbers, cleaning ladies, waitresses? I think your post reveals more about you than you know, PP.

[Anonymous]

I'm not talking about what you personally call your employee or not, I'm talking about other words for the job many call "nanny".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not talking about what you personally call your employee or not, I'm talking about other words for the job many call "nanny".

Why?

[Anonymous]

Don't like the word nanny for males, it sounds feminine even if it technically isn't. Lots of childcare words are feminine like governess, etc. I just call out male nanny "sitter", he seems to like that one the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

I don't think children should call adults by their first name. It's disrespectful in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

I don't think children should call adults by their first name. It's disrespectful in my opinion.

+1 I think it is especially disrespectful when a child calls the parents' employees (plumber, housekeeper, nanny, chef) by their first name. My child calls his nanny "Nanny Ann", the housekeeper, Miss Ingrid and our handyman Mr. Johnson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Governess? Childcare provider?

I actually like "nanny" and all of my charges call me "Nanny".

I would NEVER allow my children to call their nanny "Nanny." We don't call our plumber "Plumber" we call him Dan. We don't call our landscaper "Landscaper" we call him Vito. We don't call our cleaning lady "Cleaning Lady" we call her Ingrid. Why would we allow our children to call someone by their occupation? And what happens if you change professions? Then when they see you out and about are you going to correct them? "No, don't call me 'Nanny' anymore - now call me "Waitress"?

We call our kid's coach "Coach" and their doctor "Doctor". I call my advisor "Professor" and my senator "Senator". At my kid's gym class they are instructed to call the teachers "Teacher Barbara" or "Teacher Jonathan". I don't let my kid call any adult by their first name so when our nanny asked to be called "Nanny", I was fine with it.

Huh. We don't do that. I call my doctors Sarah and Ivan and Jeff. I called my senator "Senator Schumer." But I would never JUST call them by their title without their name. And I'm northern, not southern, so my kids can call adults by their first name if that's what the adult wants.