Are parents prejudiced in hiring older nannies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happens in every field the civil rights act of 1964 is supposed to protect us from age discrimination but hard to enforce for domestic workers

Legal protections are reserved for our employers, not for those who enable you to leave your children at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard of families hiring an older nanny to care for their babies since they usually have more experience to care for an infant's needs, then one the kiddos become active, the families find a younger nanny to be a big sister-type for their kids since they have more energy and can be a peer type of friend later on once they enter school.

Setting up the nanny to be a friend or peer is a terrible idea. Your kids need to know that the nanny is in charge but will still have fun playing with them. And asking the nanny to behave like a sister is worse.

This is right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sought out an older nanny. I wanted the maturity, experience and a drama-free life. Nanny is keeping up fine with my now 3 yr old and new baby! It was the right decision for us.

My sister had really bad luck with young nannies and feels the same now.

+1. I was only interested in hiring a mature nanny.

[Anonymous]

I have a late 50s nanny. She is very high energy and wonderful with my toddler and newborn. She is very nurturing and loving and takes care of our whole family without being asked (folds laundry laying around, makes banana bread when she see bananas going brown etc)

On the flip side she is very set in her ways and doesn't really use technology. She takes the kids to the same activities every week, doesn't look up new things, doesn't plan things based on their interest and can be a bit dismissive of approaches I want to try for my kids.

She works great for us for now. When the kids are older we may need to make a change to better meet their needs and interests (also may not, don't know how much I'll care about that in a couple years). I don't know that this is an age thing vs just a type of person thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a late 50s nanny. She is very high energy and wonderful with my toddler and newborn. She is very nurturing and loving and takes care of our whole family without being asked (folds laundry laying around, makes banana bread when she see bananas going brown etc)

On the flip side she is very set in her ways and doesn't really use technology. She takes the kids to the same activities every week, doesn't look up new things, doesn't plan things based on their interest and can be a bit dismissive of approaches I want to try for my kids.

She works great for us for now. When the kids are older we may need to make a change to better meet their needs and interests (also may not, don't know how much I'll care about that in a couple years). I don't know that this is an age thing vs just a type of person thing.

I think that is a type-of-person thing. We have an older nanny who was a teacher and is always engaging the kids on their interests and very open to new ideas. She has a iPhone but generally isn’t interested in it and still can’t turn on our TV - so the technology part is true for us.

After five years with this nanny, however, and the way my kids love her - I know we would only hire another nanny if our nanny retired. I honestly get a lump in my throat thinking oh her leaving us.

[Anonymous]

I’m biased in favor of older nannies. Probably bc our 60 yr old nanny is amazing. But also, see the “pregnant nanny” thread. Not something I even thought about when hiring but I am glad it’s not something I have to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m biased in favor of older nannies. Probably bc our 60 yr old nanny is amazing. But also, see the “pregnant nanny” thread. Not something I even thought about when hiring but I am glad it’s not something I have to worry about.

Same here. I love the no drama of the older nanny, too. Our nanny is a retired teacher and has more energy than I do. She is also calm and drama-free. Even her mother’s death didn’t throw her. She goes home at night to a calm, peaceful environment and always come to work happy and well rested.

[Anonymous]

Excuse me, but PLEASE don’t ASSUME an older person lacks energy to keep up with young charges! I’ve seen way more young people overweight and out of shape than my 52 yr. old self, because I wasn’t raised with a screen in hand. My generation went outside to play. So please don’t judge!

[Anonymous]

How is your education and continued learning??
Are you keeping up with all the current recommendations and changes to raising children? Do you attend your local conferences like iNNTD? NNPD? Or annual conferences like INA, nannypalooza, or maybe DEMA just to name a few. Are you part of any associations like INA, NDWA, NAYCE etc???

What was required or recommend 5 yrs ago isn’t what is now. Keeping up with different parenting styles, education and laws (local and all over).

Is your resume changing with the newer looks that are coming out (not just the same 1 pg black and white paper. FYI nanny resumes don’t need to be 1 pg).

Also depending on the area, if your resume don’t stand out it may just get passed up. Agencies are looking for that over all nanny with skills, education and more. Parents the same.

Stand out and shine bright. Own the age, prove that age is just a number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is your education and continued learning??
Are you keeping up with all the current recommendations and changes to raising children? Do you attend your local conferences like iNNTD? NNPD? Or annual conferences like INA, nannypalooza, or maybe DEMA just to name a few. Are you part of any associations like INA, NDWA, NAYCE etc???

What was required or recommend 5 yrs ago isn’t what is now. Keeping up with different parenting styles, education and laws (local and all over).

Is your resume changing with the newer looks that are coming out (not just the same 1 pg black and white paper. FYI nanny resumes don’t need to be 1 pg).

Also depending on the area, if your resume don’t stand out it may just get passed up. Agencies are looking for that over all nanny with skills, education and more. Parents the same.

Stand out and shine bright. Own the age, prove that age is just a number

Please. You do not need to attend a nanny conference and let me tell you, from someone who has worked in childcare for a long time and has went to school etc., a degree does NOT teach you common sense- something you need when taking care of young children. I’ve learned more about ‘how’ to care for children under age 5 from childcare courses from the state or MD and in person training, than when going to school for ECE to be honest.

Parents definitely discriminate and it’s not just based on age but color too. I’m in a new area now and I know my credentials (a long list too) are valid and up to date, yet the jobs I’m applying to (a specific race) looks at my message and keeps going. And while I think care.com is going down the drain, I have both a background check and drivers record displayed on my page.

[Anonymous]

Ageism is a real problem in America. It’s a known fact it’s harder to find jobs in any career field after 40 years old

[Anonymous]

I'm 55 with over 30 years of childcare experience. I have no problem with modern technology, no problems moving or getting around or playing at the playground. I do have minor physical issues but they are the type younger people have as well (back problems). I've heard some prefer younger nannies who can keep up and some prefer older nannies with wisdom who aren't attached to their phones. I just hope I can keep on working with children as long as I can. It keeps me young

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is now 64 and has more energy than I ever have! She walks miles with our toddler, plays with him on the floor all day, and is both brilliant and educated.

If anything, as a new first time mother, I wanted an older nanny for our baby so perhaps I was a bit prejudiced the other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't hire you and I am not prejudice. I just want someone with energy and stamina to keep up with my 2 year old.

If this is all that you look for, then you are a fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't hire you and I am not prejudice. I just want someone with energy and stamina to keep up with my 2 year old.

If this is all that you look for, then you are a fool.

+1. The laziest sitter we ever had was 25. This young woman was always tired! Give me a healthy older nanny any day of the week!