DCUM Nanny Forum

Anonymous

08/05/2015 16:12 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Good for you. You were lucky. Your situation was not through your brains and setup though.

I've tried the high compensation, good work environment. I do not micromanage. I get people who desperately WANT the high compensation but are not as good as the $15 dollar nanny I had before. Why did the good nannies leave? They had their own children. No amount of money was going to make them come back. Or, they want to pursue a 4 year degree full time. I cannot lure back my good nannies just with good compensation and a good work environment.

Now I've had a string of highly paid nannies who just do not work out. They are entitled, measure job creep too much, are not team players.

Lesson learned: high pay does not bring in the good nannies.

It certainly brings in MORE nannies though in the interview process. That's about all it does for me.

I'm the one with the 5yr nanny and you clearly don't know how to hire with longevity in mind. In addition to compensation I noted that you have to choose wisely. You are focusing and getting defensive over the compensation aspect.

My nanny has no children of her own and was past pratical/typical childbearing years. She also is a career nanny, not someone floundering about in life.

I would never hire a nanny who has little kids or one who is in her 20s who might have babies. I'm simply not down with my kids not having consistency which is exactly why we went the nanny route vs daycare/AuPairs.

FACT is that most people should not be managing people in any capacity. There are shitty managers all over the workforce in all fields who think quite highly of themselves, but who in reality absolutly suck and are miserable to work for.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 15:32 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Good for you. You were lucky. Your situation was not through your brains and setup though.

I've tried the high compensation, good work environment. I do not micromanage. I get people who desperately WANT the high compensation but are not as good as the $15 dollar nanny I had before. Why did the good nannies leave? They had their own children. No amount of money was going to make them come back. Or, they want to pursue a 4 year degree full time. I cannot lure back my good nannies just with good compensation and a good work environment.

Now I've had a string of highly paid nannies who just do not work out. They are entitled, measure job creep too much, are not team players.

Lesson learned: high pay does not bring in the good nannies.

It certainly brings in MORE nannies though in the interview process. That's about all it does for me.

Just echoing this general reality. In hiring nannies, and in hiring staff at my corporate job, money does not guarantee the best candidate. It will increase your options, for sure, but the best employees aren't always (or even necessarily) the ones who command top dollar. I hired someone last week at work who was, by far, the smartest, most talented, best fitting candidate for the position. She was 20k cheaper than the number two choice but we didn't even look at salary costs before picking her as the runaway winner.

I hired a nanny 5 months ago who was less experienced that many other applicants, but was definitely the best fit for our family. She is being paid exactly the same amount (and getting the same benefits package) that we offered regardless of experience or degrees or anything else. We offered a competitive salary within our affordable comfort range and had a great selection of applicants. Our decision was neither driven by nor limited by the salary we offered.

Compensation and skill/fit in the position may correlate, and they may not. That's life.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 15:19 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Good for you. You were lucky. Your situation was not through your brains and setup though.

I've tried the high compensation, good work environment. I do not micromanage. I get people who desperately WANT the high compensation but are not as good as the $15 dollar nanny I had before. Why did the good nannies leave? They had their own children. No amount of money was going to make them come back. Or, they want to pursue a 4 year degree full time. I cannot lure back my good nannies just with good compensation and a good work environment.

Now I've had a string of highly paid nannies who just do not work out. They are entitled, measure job creep too much, are not team players.

Lesson learned: high pay does not bring in the good nannies.

It certainly brings in MORE nannies though in the interview process. That's about all it does for me.

Something tells me we aren't getting the full story here.
Perhaps your boss would also attract a better employee if she lowered your salary? Why not?

Anonymous

08/05/2015 14:51 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 14:50 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Of course. Which are also highly subjective and individualized measures.

You have an agenda you are attempting to impose ad infinitum and you are nothing but tiresome.

One can only hope that *you* have a decent work environment and a good compensation plan.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 13:53 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Of course. Which are also highly subjective and individualized measures.

You have an agenda you are attempting to impose ad infinitum and you are nothing but tiresome.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 11:43 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Bingo. Do you ALL hear that??

A positive environment and a GOOD COMPENSATION PLAN.

Thank you, PP.

I wish I knew why SO many nanny employers prefer to ignore the obvious.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 11:36 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

It's not luck or blessings. It's simple..choose wisely, interview many, offer a motivating compensation package, and thoroughly check refrences.

I had a live out for 5 years, took a break from work after the birth of my 3rd, and now she is back 5 years later as a live in and expect she will be with us for a few more yeas to come.

Why do you think I was able to steal her from the family she was working with to come back and work for me? A positive work environment and a good comp plan.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 10:54 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

You do understand that most families are unable to hold onto the same nanny for three years? Count your blessings. I hope you compensated her handsomely, and still keep in touch with her.

Anonymous

08/05/2015 09:20 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Simply not true.

Sure, lots of changes in caregivers could be disruptive. But some change can be good.

Our kids had one nanny for more than 3 years - from when they were infants until they were 3 1/2. She was fabulous. But increasingly less fabulous as the kids got older. The person who was unfailingly patient and reliable and amazing with twin infants and toddlers turned out not to have the patience and stamina for preschoolers. A change was in the best interest of our kids.

We hired someone completely different for them, everyone adjusted and all is well.

Stable, steady schedules and routines for kids are important - including caregivers. But it is also quite possible for kids to weather transitions quite healthily.

Anonymous

08/04/2015 22:40 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Once a year is not a revolving door.

My family of educators (many preschool teachers) tell me that families who have a nanny forever act like someone has died when they finally move on. Getting a new nanny once a year is not a big deal and has a lot of positives. Kids get a new teacher every year at school too. No one thinks that's a problem.

When you have a newborn, you need a certain type of nanny, all nurture. Then they are toddlers, you another kind--active, animated. When they start school, you need someone who knows how to teach, tutor, teach about the world--clocks, money, geography.

Again, once a year is not a revolving door.

I think every 2 months or less might be more of a revolving door but it depends on your kid and how attached he/she gets.

Anonymous

08/04/2015 19:07 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

But certainly fewer nannies are better than more nannies, no?

Every nanny change is unfortunate for the children.

Anonymous

08/04/2015 18:42 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

This is a really hard question to answer because there is a lot of grey area. Everything depends on your kids, your situation, the nannies, how much of a revolving door. If you see your kids having trouble, then you have too much of a revolving door.

Anonymous

08/04/2015 18:22 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 17:46. The more that the primary caregiver switches, the more difficult the readjustment period for the next one. What are we doing to our children??

This.

Anonymous

08/04/2015 18:14 Subject: Revolving nanny-door

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:insanity to believe that frequent caregiver changes are anything other than harmful to kids - especially when they become excessive.

Agreed. If you have a revolving door it nannies the problem is YOU.