Most parents have sitters for their kids, not nannies. It makes them feel better if they call the sitter a nanny. Then they bitch about the "nanny" who doesn't know how to be a nanny. Crazy.

I'm a professional nanny too! I speak 27 languages except for English. I have a PHD in physics. I have never had a full time nanny, but I'm the oldest of 12 sisters. My rate is $50 for one kid.

I'm a professional nanny. I speak 5 languages and have a bachelors degree. My rate is $30/hr, one child.

Anonymous wrote:I think a huge part of being a professional nanny means showing up on time EVERY day and not bitching about having to work on snow days.

I disagree. A professional would set a standard for snow days in her contract, agreeable to herself and her employers, and she will abide by it. Otherwise, yes, a professional should show up on time every day, barring extenuating circumstances, like the weather.

I think a huge part of being a professional nanny means showing up on time EVERY day and not bitching about having to work on snow days.

Anonymous wrote:I agree you are a professional nanny, although I'm surprised at your rate. I would bet you could demand at least $20 an hour.

I'm an MB and I think a nanny license and a union would be a great idea. I wonder if it is possible though. Do you have any suggestions for licensing? Would it be some sort of test you have to pass? (I'm a nurse so I tend to think of licenses like that) Or would you have certain criteria that a person must have in order to be licensed?

I suppose the only issue is that there will always be employers that are going to look for the cheaper/unlicensed option. And perhaps unionizing would also cause some employers to be fearful. (what would happen if there was a threat of a strike? What if nanny is a bad fit/bad apple for the family but they can't fire them?)

Interesting idea and I look forward to hearing others opinions.

OP here, and thank you! I know that I probably could make a little more money, but I make enough to live comfortably, and I have my pick of jobs when I'm looking. Also, while I like to think of myself as a professional nanny, I do not plan to make a career of this.

I think maybe union is the wrong word for what I mean. What I mean is a licensing body that both sets standards for who is a professional nanny, offers training and educational opportunities, as well as advocates for nannies to lawmakers, and teaches nannies to advocate for themselves when it comes to labor laws, contracts, negotiating, and calling out employers who break the law.

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you are happy, PP, but if you are paid under the table, you are breaking the law and not at all a professional.

I'm an MB and think licensing would be great and would protect both families and nannies from exploitative situations. I would definitely expect and gladly pay a higher rate for a licensed nanny. I would also like to see certain professional development requirements (along with opportunities) to maintain a license. I envision it as something similar to teaching licenses, and could even be categorical. So a nanny who wanted to be a specialist in infants could pursue an infant license.

Would nannies want categorical licenses, or would a generalist license be more attractive?

OP here, and this is exactly what I'm thinking. I think in the nanny industry, a general license, with maybe the opportunity to get specific certifications would be great. Its not like teaching, where your students move on each year. A nanny should be prepared to grow with her charge and have a larger knowledge base than will serve you through a charge's infancy.

OP, what you describe is a professional nanny. I imagine a high end nanny to be someone who speaks multiple languages and can teach the kids, can play a musical instrument that they can teach, has a certain hobby they can teach, a college education plus up to date certifications, continues taking classes or certifications to stay current on knowledge and what is going on in the child rearing world. Obviously not ALL of these, but a good mix of them would make someone a high end nanny.

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a difference in High-End Nanny and Professional Nanny. Yes, you need to be a Professional Nanny to be a High-End Nanny. But you don't have to be a High-End Nanny to be a Professional Nanny.

OP here. Well then what makes someone a professional? What is the bar? Being a nice person isn't enough, which I think a lot of nannies seem to believe. If all of us call ourselves a professional nanny, and the word has no commonly held definition, it means nothing. I don't think its completely necessary for a nanny to have a degree, but I do think some kind of training in childhood development and discipline strategies, CPR and first aid certifications, a driver's license and the ability to properly install carseats, and the ability to actually carry themselves as a professional should be required. They should have a resume with references, they should have a contract, and they should be paying taxes like any other professional.

I'm glad you are happy, PP, but if you are paid under the table, you are breaking the law and not at all a professional.

I'm an MB and think licensing would be great and would protect both families and nannies from exploitative situations. I would definitely expect and gladly pay a higher rate for a licensed nanny. I would also like to see certain professional development requirements (along with opportunities) to maintain a license. I envision it as something similar to teaching licenses, and could even be categorical. So a nanny who wanted to be a specialist in infants could pursue an infant license.

Would nannies want categorical licenses, or would a generalist license be more attractive?

Anonymous wrote:There is a NY Facebook group I belong to with the title "NYC PROFFESIONAL Nanny's Group". On the page they overuse the term proffesional IMO. But they only post jobs that are $75,000 or over $25+ an hr. But they also talk about what a proffesional nanny does, and what they need to know. They exclude a large number of the ny nanny's. They seem to discriminate largely with those who who are foreign or who get paid in cash. I am here to tell you, that not all professional nanny's are American born or get paid $$$$$. I am from South American and get paid $16 in cash, I'm happy and I'm PROFFESIONAL. And not all professional nanny's have a college degree. I have live experience and that more important. I am also happy

a nanny who agrees to do something illegal (paid in cash) is not a professional nanny.

I think there is a difference in High-End Nanny and Professional Nanny. Yes, you need to be a Professional Nanny to be a High-End Nanny. But you don't have to be a High-End Nanny to be a Professional Nanny.

There is a NY Facebook group I belong to with the title "NYC PROFFESIONAL Nanny's Group". On the page they overuse the term proffesional IMO. But they only post jobs that are $75,000 or over $25+ an hr. But they also talk about what a proffesional nanny does, and what they need to know. They exclude a large number of the ny nanny's. They seem to discriminate largely with those who who are foreign or who get paid in cash. I am here to tell you, that not all professional nanny's are American born or get paid $$$$$. I am from South American and get paid $16 in cash, I'm happy and I'm PROFFESIONAL. And not all professional nanny's have a college degree. I have live experience and that more important. I am also happy

I agree you are a professional nanny, although I'm surprised at your rate. I would bet you could demand at least $20 an hour.

I'm an MB and I think a nanny license and a union would be a great idea. I wonder if it is possible though. Do you have any suggestions for licensing? Would it be some sort of test you have to pass? (I'm a nurse so I tend to think of licenses like that) Or would you have certain criteria that a person must have in order to be licensed?

I suppose the only issue is that there will always be employers that are going to look for the cheaper/unlicensed option. And perhaps unionizing would also cause some employers to be fearful. (what would happen if there was a threat of a strike? What if nanny is a bad fit/bad apple for the family but they can't fire them?)

Interesting idea and I look forward to hearing others opinions.

The topic of "professional nanny" comes up on here all the time, and inevitably some poster will go on and on about how it is impossible for a nanny to actually be a professional. Nannies who consider themselves a professional nanny, what defines a professional nanny? Parents, what would you consider to be a professional nanny, and if such a standard was set, would you pay professional rates ($18/hour+ IMO) for candidates that met said standard? Nannies, would you be interested in seeing some kind of licensing system put in place that distinguishes truly professional nannies that have met education and training standards, similar to those of a teacher or even daycare providers?

I'll go first. I am what I would consider a professional nanny. I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, 6 years of experience as a nanny, speak 2 languages and can teach ASL, as well as first aid and CPR certified. I also have some training in speech therapy, and special needs experience. My rates start at $18/hour, and go up from there depending on the job, and I usually don't have a problem finding families willing to pay my rates, but I often have to disappoint families who want me but are then surprised by what a nanny like me costs. I would really love to see a nanny license and union of some sort to set industry standards concerning who can call themselves a nanny and what that really means, as well as setting standards for appropriate pay rates and treatment. It burns me up to see degreed, experienced women accepting paltry wages, and jobs without proper benefits, because they feel they have to compete with far less qualified, but nonetheless cheaper, "nannies".