For me a really good nanny is very close with the children, giving the parents the feeling that the kids is taken perfect care of and loved while they are gone.
She is understanding and really interested in the kids lifes.
I always have 5 minutes a day for the parents where they can tell me whatever they want and i always want to walk in with a smile!
I love my babies. Maybe not always their parents but they pay me to make their life easier so i do!

Anonymous wrote:A legal nanny is a good nanny. This is not true! Many illegal nNnies are good and some legal are not.

You are misreading the post. Being in the country legally is one of the qualities of a top nanny. This makes perfect sense. Family can pay legally and will not have to go through any kind of trouble by hiring someone who has no rught to work in the USA

Ha! No one really knows, huh!

Anonymous wrote:This people is so mean to other's.

How is it mean to simply state facts? There are a lot of nannies that think they deserve top dollar rates for having no more than basic nanny traits. ALL employable nannies SHOULD be responsible, fun, kind, and literate. Being those things doesn't mean you are exceptional, nor does it make you a "bad" nanny. The whole thing about being above average, means the vast majority is average. Its not mean to acknowledge that fact.

This people is so mean to other's.

Anonymous wrote:No.

A decent nanny does all these things and makes $15/hr in DC.

This is not an exceptional list, 17:23.

As a nanny, I completely agree. An exceptional nanny has more than just "nice" qualities, she has something that most other nannies don't. The PPs list was that of the bare minimum qualities that every decent nanny should have. If a parent is hiring a nanny without one of those qualities (minus maybe the cooking and bilingualism) you really have to question they're choice. At that level of nanny, the only thing that differs and affect the pay would be level of experience. Brand new nanny: $12/hour, extremely experienced highly recommended "decent" nanny: $18/hour. A nanny with an education, a certain level of professionalism, truly fluent in English AND another language, and has a special skill desired by families (cooking, tutoring/teaching, musical/athletic instruction, etc.) I have a degree in education, speak 3 languages including English, can offer special needs tutoring, and have taught both piano and martial arts to my charges. If I want a particular job, and the family can afford me, I have never not gotten it.

Anonymous wrote:An excellent nanny is one who does everything, including heavy cleaning, so flexible she will stay ten hours everyday and refuse OT.

This statement is a joke. Hahahahahaha......

This nanny would be a nanny/maid in my book. And a doormat for refusing what she is legally entitled to. Overtime is not a benefit..It is a given.

Also, remember people, the term GOOD is very subjective here.

A top nanny is always properly compensated for her exceptional skills.

A legal nanny is a good nanny. This is not true! Many illegal nNnies are good and some legal are not.

No.

A decent nanny does all these things and makes $15/hr in DC.

This is not an exceptional list, 17:23.

A good nanny is
legal
bilingual
reliable
responsible
fun
flexible
nice
understanding
active
careful
punctual
friendly
full of ideas
reading
singing
coloring
cooking
and making 20 an hour dont you think so?

I'm sure we could crowd source the qualities of a top nanny, although everyone's specific details will vary. I'd say:

A top nanny is agreeable and knows how to speak professionally with her employers.

A top nanny has the experience, education, or both that the central issues of development (e.g. speaking to babies and toddlers almost constantly, using proper grammar and complete sentences, naming things then describing them or, for older children, using positive framing or utilizing "do it again" techniques, etc.) are second nature to her.

A top nanny sees things that need doing even if they haven't explicitly been pointed out - things like picking up more milk, moving wet shoes into the sun to dry, bringing out the trash if she's going that way - and does them. She keeps the household running smoothly without having to redefine her role or responsibilities.

A top nanny strikes the right balance between taking direction and taking initiative. For instance, she isn't offended when first time parents ask her to keep a detailed log or follow their activity outline but is equally capable of finding interesting, age-appropriate activities for her charges.

A top nanny isn't afraid to advocate for herself when necessary, but always enters into those discussions with the utmost professionalism and assumes the best of her employers and their intentions (until proven wrong).

Only you can honestly determine who is the best nanny for you, OP. What one family wants, and will pay a high premium for, may be 100% worthless to you.

Some parents are looking to get themselves serviced, while others want the high standards for their child's care and early education.

An excellent nanny is one who does everything, including heavy cleaning, so flexible she will stay ten hours everyday and refuse OT.

I keep reading average nanny, below average nanny and very good top nanny. What does it mean? what constitutes a good top nanny?