Anonymous wrote:And the Spanish speaking nanny didn't know her.

I don't care if you are a mom, a nanny, I'm not going to tell you my charge's name just because you ask. I don't know you.

Not PP but when you are in the park and your charge and another child are playing, if the mother/nanny of the other child asks you your charges name -- you refuse to tell them?!!! That is total nonsense. You are extremely paranoid.

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority of foreigners working illegally in the US will not call the police no matter what for fear of being deported. For that reason alone I would never hire an undocumented nanny regardless of her English speaking abilities.

This is so true. An undocumented nanny will be slow in calling the police if the child is lost, for example, and those few minutes can be the matter of life and death to a child.

And the Spanish speaking nanny didn't know her.

I don't care if you are a mom, a nanny, I'm not going to tell you my charge's name just because you ask. I don't know you.

Anonymous wrote:I am fluent in English and I wouldn't tell just anyone who asked my charge's name.

Maybe her response was her way of telling you to myob.

No I would not hire a nanny that could not communicate in English.
Though Spanish is commonly spoken in the States it's not always easy to find a translator.

Just anyone? I assume OP is a nanny or mother -- why else would she be on this board?

Anonymous wrote:At least she is affordable.

You could probably get a trained dog for less.

At least she is affordable.

I am fluent in English and I wouldn't tell just anyone who asked my charge's name.

Maybe her response was her way of telling you to myob.

No I would not hire a nanny that could not communicate in English.
Though Spanish is commonly spoken in the States it's not always easy to find a translator.

The vast majority of foreigners working illegally in the US will not call the police no matter what for fear of being deported. For that reason alone I would never hire an undocumented nanny regardless of her English speaking abilities.

I wouldn't hire a nanny who was not able to speak English or work legally to begin with but certainly if I did hire such a nanny I would insist she take English lessons and know rudimentary emergency English phrases.

My grandfather spoke only Italian and we've always thought that he died as a result of not being able to explain his symptoms when he went to the hospital.

No, I would never hire a nanny for my kids who could not communicate in English.

I wouldnt hire a nanny that only spoke spanish, but maybe one of the parents speaks spanish and can communicate with her.
If she calls 911 they can get a spanish speaker on the phone, If she needs to show an EMT an emergency she can point or gesture. They don't need a whole story to handle an emergency.
Its not ideal but its doable

And the parents can boast to their friends that they found the cheapest childcare in town.

MB/DB are probably paying the Spanish-0nly-Speaking nanny five dollars an hour. If she can't speak English, chances are great that she is working illegally. To some crappy parents, saving money is more important than their child's safety.

As a parent, no - I would not hire a care-giver for my child who spoke no English but the chances are great that someone in either a ER or police station speaks Spanish.

I know a grandmother, however, who cares for her grandchild all day/five days a week who speaks no English and only Farsi. I do think that is dangerous and reckless as fewer people speak Farsi than Spanish in this town.

I met a nanny yesterday who spoke no English whatsoever. I asked her her charge's name and she answered in Spanish that she didn't speak English (that and "good day"are the only things I understand in Spanish). I completely understand wanting your child to be immersed in a second language but having a nanny who speaks no English seems a bit reckless to me. How would she explain to EMT's what is wrong or happened to the child in a health emergency? How could she even call the police if there was a break-in?