Nanny Attire

[Anonymous]

No nails done as in always polished..I have standing manicure appointments every week. It's one little thing that makes me feel pulled together..it has probably been 5 years since I haven't had them polished...

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a good thing for all nannies.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't understand how anyone, employers or nannies, thinks that it's acceptable for a nanny to be in ratty clothes. I myself don't wear sweatsuits too often to work, maybe 2x a year..I am out with these kids and I would never want someone to think I cared so little about my job..I don't look perfect every day..I work 55-60 hours a week plus I work out daily and prepare all of my own meals..I don't eat processed food or fast food.I just think if you can't take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of someone's child??

[Anonymous]

I am a professional nanny and I also happen to wear yoga pants at least 3 days out of my week. As most professional infant and toddler nannies can attest to, jeans/black pants and skirts just aren't practical, much of my day is spent on the floor, carrying babies, or bending over to pick things up. I take myself seriously and so does my employer. A family that cared about my appearance more than how their children were being raised wouldn't be a family I would want to work with anyways. And seriously...the nails?? We are supposed to get manicures now? My day ends anywhere from 6pm to 10pm...who has the time? A nanny is not an extension of yourself, they are there to care for your children, shouldn't they be comfortable when doing so?

[Anonymous]

To the poster who said teachers have to dress professionally- not so, in every case. I worked in a non public school for behavioral kids before taking this nanny job and we dressed down. Way down. Yoga pants and t shirts were the basic dress code, aside from admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a professional nanny and I also happen to wear yoga pants at least 3 days out of my week. As most professional infant and toddler nannies can attest to, jeans/black pants and skirts just aren't practical, much of my day is spent on the floor, carrying babies, or bending over to pick things up. I take myself seriously and so does my employer. A family that cared about my appearance more than how their children were being raised wouldn't be a family I would want to work with anyways. And seriously...the nails?? We are supposed to get manicures now? My day ends anywhere from 6pm to 10pm...who has the time? A nanny is not an extension of yourself, they are there to care for your children, shouldn't they be comfortable when doing so?

I am a nanny to a 15 month old and I wear jeans/black pants and button-up shirts/blouses to work. I literally do not sit on the couch AT ALL during my shift. I am always on the ground with my charge, running around with him, playing outside, doing finger painting, etc. I don't seem to have a problem with what I wear. I want to come off as professional. Perhaps I wear my clothes a little looser than most of the nannies on this board care to wear their clothes. Of course I don't want skin-tight jeans and a body-fitting button-up making me uncomfortable all day. I wear clothes that are loose enough to have a little give in them but that also allow me to look professional while at work. I understand that babies/toddlers will get their paint/food all over your clothes at times. That's why I buy my clothes pretty cheap, sometimes at Walmart or Target. I never wear anything into work that I would be too upset about it getting ruined. I toss my hair back in a bun, wear sensible shoes, and don't wear makeup. I just don't see any excuse to not look professional while at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a professional nanny and I also happen to wear yoga pants at least 3 days out of my week. As most professional infant and toddler nannies can attest to, jeans/black pants and skirts just aren't practical, much of my day is spent on the floor, carrying babies, or bending over to pick things up. I take myself seriously and so does my employer. A family that cared about my appearance more than how their children were being raised wouldn't be a family I would want to work with anyways. And seriously...the nails?? We are supposed to get manicures now? My day ends anywhere from 6pm to 10pm...who has the time? A nanny is not an extension of yourself, they are there to care for your children, shouldn't they be comfortable when doing so?

I am a nanny to a 15 month old and I wear jeans/black pants and button-up shirts/blouses to work. I literally do not sit on the couch AT ALL during my shift. I am always on the ground with my charge, running around with him, playing outside, doing finger painting, etc. I don't seem to have a problem with what I wear. I want to come off as professional. Perhaps I wear my clothes a little looser than most of the nannies on this board care to wear their clothes. Of course I don't want skin-tight jeans and a body-fitting button-up making me uncomfortable all day. I wear clothes that are loose enough to have a little give in them but that also allow me to look professional while at work. I understand that babies/toddlers will get their paint/food all over your clothes at times. That's why I buy my clothes pretty cheap, sometimes at Walmart or Target. I never wear anything into work that I would be too upset about it getting ruined. I toss my hair back in a bun, wear sensible shoes, and don't wear makeup. I just don't see any excuse to not look professional while at work.

Who cares? Everyone here is so annoying arguing about what you should and shouldn't wear. As long as you're comfortable with what you yourself are wearing and you and your boss feel its appropriate, then don't worry about it and don't worry about what everyone else is wearing. You all need to get a clue. Or a hobby that doesn't involve Internet arguing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a professional nanny and I also happen to wear yoga pants at least 3 days out of my week. As most professional infant and toddler nannies can attest to, jeans/black pants and skirts just aren't practical, much of my day is spent on the floor, carrying babies, or bending over to pick things up. I take myself seriously and so does my employer. A family that cared about my appearance more than how their children were being raised wouldn't be a family I would want to work with anyways. And seriously...the nails?? We are supposed to get manicures now? My day ends anywhere from 6pm to 10pm...who has the time? A nanny is not an extension of yourself, they are there to care for your children, shouldn't they be comfortable when doing so?

I am a nanny to a 15 month old and I wear jeans/black pants and button-up shirts/blouses to work. I literally do not sit on the couch AT ALL during my shift. I am always on the ground with my charge, running around with him, playing outside, doing finger painting, etc. I don't seem to have a problem with what I wear. I want to come off as professional. Perhaps I wear my clothes a little looser than most of the nannies on this board care to wear their clothes. Of course I don't want skin-tight jeans and a body-fitting button-up making me uncomfortable all day. I wear clothes that are loose enough to have a little give in them but that also allow me to look professional while at work. I understand that babies/toddlers will get their paint/food all over your clothes at times. That's why I buy my clothes pretty cheap, sometimes at Walmart or Target. I never wear anything into work that I would be too upset about it getting ruined. I toss my hair back in a bun, wear sensible shoes, and don't wear makeup. I just don't see any excuse to not look professional while at work.

Who cares? Everyone here is so annoying arguing about what you should and shouldn't wear. As long as you're comfortable with what you yourself are wearing and you and your boss feel its appropriate, then don't worry about it and don't worry about what everyone else is wearing. You all need to get a clue. Or a hobby that doesn't involve Internet arguing.

I am the PP and I really don't care what other nannies wear. I just hate hearing the excuse of "I work with infants/toddlers, there is no way to dress professionally while working with them."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP and I really don't care what other nannies wear. I just hate hearing the excuse of "I work with infants/toddlers, there is no way to dress professionally while working with them."

NP here, so I'll try to phrase my response differently.

I work with infants. I don't wear button-downs because they try to chew off the buttons and that's a choking hazard. I don't wear skirts because I'm on the floor all day and that's indecent or uncomfortable. I wear dark wash jeans and a cotton shirt (sometimes tshirt, sometimes blouse) with a sweatshirt on top so the little one who is in his biting phase doesn't do quite so much damage to my arm/shoulder.

That said, I agree with the PP who said NO ONE CARES WHAT ANY OF US WEARS. If you're comfortable, if your bosses are happy, that's the end of it. I don't think it is possible for me to dress "professionally" and do my job well because I'd be too worried about stains and tears and the cost of replacing it that I wouldn't have as much fun jumping in mud puddles or finger painting in the bathtub, but if it's possible for you, great. We're all different and this is a pointless thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP and I really don't care what other nannies wear. I just hate hearing the excuse of "I work with infants/toddlers, there is no way to dress professionally while working with them."

NP here, so I'll try to phrase my response differently.

I work with infants. I don't wear button-downs because they try to chew off the buttons and that's a choking hazard. I don't wear skirts because I'm on the floor all day and that's indecent or uncomfortable. I wear dark wash jeans and a cotton shirt (sometimes tshirt, sometimes blouse) with a sweatshirt on top so the little one who is in his biting phase doesn't do quite so much damage to my arm/shoulder.

That said, I agree with the PP who said NO ONE CARES WHAT ANY OF US WEARS. If you're comfortable, if your bosses are happy, that's the end of it. I don't think it is possible for me to dress "professionally" and do my job well because I'd be too worried about stains and tears and the cost of replacing it that I wouldn't have as much fun jumping in mud puddles or finger painting in the bathtub, but if it's possible for you, great. We're all different and this is a pointless thread.

First off, no one said anything about skirts. And the few people on this thread who are against nannies "dressing down" for work aren't talking about wearing jeans and t-shirts or blouses, like you are. They are talking about wearing yoga pants or sweatshirts, and t-shirts or tank tops.

I wear button-ups t work often. I have some button-ups that cost me $30 or $40. I choose not to wear these to work. I choose to wear button-ups from Walmart or Target that cost me $12. I probably spend less money on my work clothes (jeans, black pants, button-ups, blouses) than you girls wearing Victoria's Secret yoga pants to work.

[Anonymous]

Again...WHO CARES? Worry about your own outfit, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP and I really don't care what other nannies wear. I just hate hearing the excuse of "I work with infants/toddlers, there is no way to dress professionally while working with them."

NP here, so I'll try to phrase my response differently.

I work with infants. I don't wear button-downs because they try to chew off the buttons and that's a choking hazard. I don't wear skirts because I'm on the floor all day and that's indecent or uncomfortable. I wear dark wash jeans and a cotton shirt (sometimes tshirt, sometimes blouse) with a sweatshirt on top so the little one who is in his biting phase doesn't do quite so much damage to my arm/shoulder.

That said, I agree with the PP who said NO ONE CARES WHAT ANY OF US WEARS. If you're comfortable, if your bosses are happy, that's the end of it. I don't think it is possible for me to dress "professionally" and do my job well because I'd be too worried about stains and tears and the cost of replacing it that I wouldn't have as much fun jumping in mud puddles or finger painting in the bathtub, but if it's possible for you, great. We're all different and this is a pointless thread.

First off, no one said anything about skirts. And the few people on this thread who are against nannies "dressing down" for work aren't talking about wearing jeans and t-shirts or blouses, like you are. They are talking about wearing yoga pants or sweatshirts, and t-shirts or tank tops.

I wear button-ups t work often. I have some button-ups that cost me $30 or $40. I choose not to wear these to work. I choose to wear button-ups from Walmart or Target that cost me $12. I probably spend less money on my work clothes (jeans, black pants, button-ups, blouses) than you girls wearing Victoria's Secret yoga pants to work.

I'm the PP you're responding to, and I don't think we really disagree about anything here - except I guess from my time in a former career, when I think about dressing "professionally" it isn't really in sync with the requirements of a nanny job. That's just an issue of definitions, I think, and nothing more - for me, jeans and anything without a collar just can't be considered professional, so I certainly group myself with the nannies who say they "dress down," although I suppose my attire is a step up from yoga pants (which I genuinely have no opinion on - like most things in this job, it varies from family to family and if everyone else is happy it is absolutely none of my business).

[Anonymous]

So many different opinions, the way some "nannies" want to scrub the house spotless, and some nannies want to educate the children.

[Anonymous]

If my MB wanted me to wear anything other than jeans or khakis and a nice T-shirt, she'd have to pay me enough to actually go out and buy the kind of clothes she wants me in, and to subsequently get them laundered. I'm thankful to work for a MB who actually asks if I'd rather borrow a pair of sweatpants than wear the jeans I usually show up in, but frankly I don't get paid enough to be wearing slacks and blouses every day that then end up covered in drool and maple syrup.

[Anonymous]

Covered in maple syrup? How does that happen?