Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think sitters should be kissing your kids on the lips. Boundary concerns.

OP, have this discussion with your pediatrician who you know and trust for accurate medical information and advice.

well goo thing we are not talking about a sitter, we are talking about a nanny. A nanny has a very close bong with her charges generally. I kiss my charges goodbye everyday and MB completely loves that I care about her children so deeply! I would honestly be concerned as well.....

kissing on the lips....that's what pp was ref to and you twisted it around.

It's your right. I declined to sit for a family because they had fleas in the home. Do what you are comfortable with.

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think sitters should be kissing your kids on the lips. Boundary concerns.

OP, have this discussion with your pediatrician who you know and trust for accurate medical information and advice.

well goo thing we are not talking about a sitter, we are talking about a nanny. A nanny has a very close bong with her charges generally. I kiss my charges goodbye everyday and MB completely loves that I care about her children so deeply! I would honestly be concerned as well.....

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think sitters should be kissing your kids on the lips. Boundary concerns.

OP, have this discussion with your pediatrician who you know and trust for accurate medical information and advice.

+1

When I have a cold sore, I take extra precautions not to kiss at all. I also try to make sure I do not touch my face and I frequently wash my hands. My MB also gets cold sores.

I don't think sitters should be kissing your kids on the lips. Boundary concerns.

OP, have this discussion with your pediatrician who you know and trust for accurate medical information and advice.

Anybody who has had chicken pox caries the virus. They go hand in hand. Flare ups are usually caused by stress or compromised immune system. I have gotten flare ups when I've had a bad cold. I am not the type of nanny to kiss or share food with my charges though. Also, I had more flare ups whe I was younger, rarely get them after I turned 30 or so. It would not be a deal breaker for me unless she were constantly picking at it.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I will probably get flamed a bit for this, but if I was interviewing a nanny with an active cold sore (which is a big open sore on the outside lips as opposed to a canker sore, which you would not be able to see and which is not contagious), I would pass on her.

+1

I've personally never had a cold sore and neither has my husband. I understand your worries! That said, I would be offended if I was that nanny or at least embarrassed- hire someone else.

OP, I will probably get flamed a bit for this, but if I was interviewing a nanny with an active cold sore (which is a big open sore on the outside lips as opposed to a canker sore, which you would not be able to see and which is not contagious), I would pass on her.

How old are your kids?

Anonymous wrote:A cold sore is not the same as herpes. Have you really never had a cold sore?

Actually a cold sore IS the same as herpes (it's the herpes simplex virus type 1) - a canker sore is different. Typically canker sores are inside the mouth, while cold sores are outside the mouth.

Also, completely irrelevant for nannying but as a PSA, a cold sore exposed to the genital region is likely to cause genital herpes as well. They are VERY contagious.

Your post sounds a little odd. Of course it's fine to ask her to take certain precautions to prevent exposure.

Is that your question, or is your question would this be a deal-breaker for other parents hiring nannies?

If you're sure it was a cold sore (and not a canker sore) then yes, I probably would be reluctant to hire her. Oral herpes/cold sores are extremely contagious, unfortunately, and it wouldn't be worth the risk to me. Of course there's no way to know if other people are also infected, but even if they are they're unlikely to be contagious unless there are visible sores.

A cold sore is not the same as herpes. Have you really never had a cold sore?

Hi there--- this may be a weird question but it's a real concern for my family and I currently. We are looking for our second nanny after moving and losing our first beloved one. And we've interviewed two candidates. One, who we prefer, had a large cold sore on her lip at the time of the interview. Now I have no judgment against this-I realize most people carry this virus (I might even myself!) but me nor my husband have ever had any type of flare up and neither have our kids. I would ideally like to keep it that way, and I know there's no way to know for sure that other nannies do or don't have it. But I'm just wary about this. If I were to hire this particular nanny would it be wrong to ask that she don't share food or kiss the girls on the lips? My babies love to give kisses and our prior nanny had the type of relationship with them that they would give goodbye kisses every day before she left. I want this same type of relationship with a new nanny.

And before I get blasted for being crazy---because I know this board and I know I will---just remember these are my kids and I have every right to want to protect them in the best way I can.