Need advice on nanny search

[Anonymous]

Our nanny of the past 7 years is retiring due to some health issues so I am looking for someone new to care for my 3 kids, ages 7, 3 and 1.

A friend of a friend is moving and her nanny needs to find a new position, so we interviewed her over the weekend. She honestly seemed great and we really like her, however, when I spoke to her current employer this morning she mentioned that the nanny just received another job offer but would rather work for us, so if we like her we need to act fast.

When speaking with the current employer for a reference she had glowing things to say about the nanny, how warm/engaging/proactive and overall amazing she is. I asked for any negatives and the two things she told me are that she isn’t the best cook (she is fine with kid basics but not much beyond that) and that she isn’t the best at cleaning/organizing (she does put things away but just isn’t the best cleaner). Neither of these is a deal breaker and I know that no one is perfect, I just wonder if we can find someone even better if we interview more people. But I remember when we hired our first nanny and interviewed like 20+ people we literally liked no one except the nanny we hired (who also isn’t perfect).

So I guess my question is... do we go for it and just hire her because she checks many of the boxes, or continue the search just to meet a couple more people and take the risk that this nanny accepts another position (which it sounds like she is likely to do)? There are really so many things we like about her, but I hesitate because she is literally the first and only person we met.

[Anonymous]

Good nannies won’t stay on the market long. When a family meets the right nanny they scope them up quickly. You can see what other nannies are out there but, don’t expect any good nanny to wait for you to make an offer. I gave a potential family a deadline I needed to know their decision by, as I had an offer I was considering. They waited and when I did hear from them I told them I had accepted another offer. They begged me to consider their offer.

[Anonymous]

Cooking (beyond the kid basics) and cleaning (beyond just picking up after the kids) typically aren't nanny duties anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cooking (beyond the kid basics) and cleaning (beyond just picking up after the kids) typically aren't nanny duties anyway.

+1. You have to put your children’s welfare first.

[Anonymous]

You can hire her with a one month trial period OP. Write a good contract, lay out what you need clearly, work in things that matter to the nanny and build a contract that you're all happy with.

Include a one month probationary period and pay careful attention during that month. If she's great - you're all set. If she's not the best fit then you can move on.

There are nannies who can cook well and who will leave your home clean and orderly at the end of the day. Nannies who are also housekeepers are something else entirely, and probably not what you're looking for at this stage. But a good nanny should leave the home as tidy as he/she finds it and certainly be able to handle basic cooking/feeding for a kid(s).

[Anonymous]

You sound like you are hoping for a “perfect” Nanny.

One who checks ALL the boxes.

No such Nanny exists - - trust me.

I think you should go ahead & hire this new Nanny.
Hiring someone on referral vs. someone on your own is the best route to finding a suitable Nanny in my personal opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooking (beyond the kid basics) and cleaning (beyond just picking up after the kids) typically aren't nanny duties anyway.

+1. You have to put your children’s welfare first.

This is OP and I totally agree, and safety and being warm/nurturing are my top two priorities for our new nanny. However, my previous nanny went well above and beyond (without us asking) and always did all of our laundry, was immaculate at cleaning up while the younger ones are sleeping, would stop by the grocery store to grab things when we ran out without having to be asked, etc. So I know these people exist... just not sure I will find one in the time range I have to look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooking (beyond the kid basics) and cleaning (beyond just picking up after the kids) typically aren't nanny duties anyway.

+1. You have to put your children’s welfare first.

This is OP and I totally agree, and safety and being warm/nurturing are my top two priorities for our new nanny. However, my previous nanny went well above and beyond (without us asking) and always did all of our laundry, was immaculate at cleaning up while the younger ones are sleeping, would stop by the grocery store to grab things when we ran out without having to be asked, etc. So I know these people exist... just not sure I will find one in the time range I have to look.

It sounds like your previous nanny was a gem. I think you majorly lucked out and lightning does strike the same place twice. But if you think you can do better, go ahead and hold out for another perfect nanny. What happens if you haven't found this unicorn by the time your current nanny leaves? Can you/your partner afford to take time off work to watch your own kids? Or do you have a family member that is able and willing to drop everything and be your interim childcare?

[Anonymous]

^ obviously that should be "lightning DOESN'T strike the same place..."

[Anonymous]

Great nannies get snapped up immediately. My current job, the parents gave me an offer as I was driving home from the interview. I’ve been with them 9 years.

[Anonymous]

Just because your old baby did cleaning and such you can’t expect your new nanny to do it ‘without asking’ or without extra pay!! Looking like you want a nanny/housekeeper for nanny pay. Hopefully this nanny moves along!

[Anonymous]

I hope she takes the other job as you sound like a major PITA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooking (beyond the kid basics) and cleaning (beyond just picking up after the kids) typically aren't nanny duties anyway.

+1. You have to put your children’s welfare first.

This is OP and I totally agree, and safety and being warm/nurturing are my top two priorities for our new nanny. However, my previous nanny went well above and beyond (without us asking) and always did all of our laundry, was immaculate at cleaning up while the younger ones are sleeping, would stop by the grocery store to grab things when we ran out without having to be asked, etc. So I know these people exist... just not sure I will find one in the time range I have to look.

Please don’t allow your new nanny to do your dirty laundry. That is just awful, OP. The new nanny may well run out and get needed supplies for the kids and you should encourage that and make it easy for her by giving her a credit card.

Talk to the new nanny about the importance of cleaning up after the kids.

But please change, OP. Respect this new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope she takes the other job as you sound like a major PITA!

+1. MB here.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here.

I'm sure that nanny would be happy to do these extra tasks (your laundry, picking up groceries etc) for extra $.
Simply ask