Anonymous
Post 09/03/2013 11:35     Subject: Young Nanny
We've had two 20yo au pairs. The first had tons of experience with children including a pedagogy certification. The second had babysitting experience and great references, but nothing like a full-time nanny job. The first was amazing and mature, the second one acts like you'd expect a 20yo to act and I have felt like I had to tear her away from her social life and her iPhone to get her to engage with my kids. Age is an indicator, but not the only one. In my experience, what made the difference was experience with a full-time job and a generally mature personality.
Anonymous
Post 09/03/2013 10:29     Subject: Young Nanny
I would only hire someone that young to care for school-aged kids...You know...Maybe be a "big sister type sitter."

No way could someone that age care for youngsters. She is just too young and inexperienced OP.

Big Mistake.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 17:51     Subject: Young Nanny
I would have done a great job at such a position at age 20 when I had no other huge worries in my life, good knees, plenty of energy and ideas. You'll be with her for a few months and can point out things that might seem to be missing in terms of common sense or whatever. I see a LOT of nannies when I'm out and about and some of them are horrible and some are great. Age never seems to be a factor in which is which. I say go for it!
Anonymous
Post 06/16/2013 23:32     Subject: Re:Young Nanny
17:43 I base my opinion on exactly what you base yours on: my experience. And it's just as valid as yours.
Anonymous
Post 06/16/2013 23:28     Subject: Young Nanny
I have a friend who is an amazing mother who nannied for four years before going to college. She is such an intuitive mother that I can only imagine that she had much to offer the children whom she cared for as a young adult.
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 17:43     Subject: Young Nanny
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At age 20, just graduating college with my BA in child psychology, I was a full time nanny for a 3 year old and twin infants. It was my first real nanny gig with competitive pay and benefits. I was with the family for 4 years. 12 years later, I am a very professional nanny specializing in infant care. I definitely don't believe you can judge on age alone. Many 20 year olds have more experience in life than some of their MBs. By age 20 I had already spent 6 months volunteering in an orphanage in Peru and a year working with pre-mature infants in a hospital in rural Kenya.


That's cool. We still have no idea how good you were at your job, though, you know? You may have been great - I'm sure you'll insist you were - but you might have been pretty crappy. We just don't know.

And yes, a lot of parents keep crappy nannies for years on end because they don't care, don't know, or are intimidated by the thought of finding someone else who might turn out to have the same (or worse!) shortcomings.


What kind of argument is that pp? DUH- you can't "tell" how good any nanny is on here but she stated her experience which says A LOT about a person. She's saying you can find an experienced nanny who is in her 20's, its up for an MB to decide how good she was, not you.


I bet you're the same poster I want to stab in the eye in every thread, because holy crap you never respond to what I've actually said but to some strange interpretation of my very literal words.

Experience tells you very little about a person, first of all. For instance I work 2x/month for a family with two little boys, and their FT nanny left a few months ago to go back to school. After failing to poach me from my job they began searching for a new nanny and after months of interviewing (they had a lot of notice) they settled on a late-20s nanny who'd just moved back to the US after opening and running an orphanage in...well, somewhere in Africa, I don't remember where. And she is terrible! They regret having hired her and are debating what to do at this point, even though on paper everyone would say OMG BEST NANNY EVER. Besides which, the amount of experience you can have at 20 is very, very minimal because you just haven't had time for more.

So, yeah, my point was I stand by my belief that no 20yo is equipped for 3-under-3 because PP's personal story didn't compel me to change my mind. That's all. Except "in her 20s" is much different from "20 years old," too.


Wow, what is your problem? I am the nanny who wrote about my job at age 20. I frankly don't care what you think because I KNOW what kind of a nanny I am and so do the parents who have hired me. You can believe what you wish, however I know quite a few young nannies (especially in the community the family I nanny for now live in) who are very qualified, wonderful nannies. They are very respected and highly valued. I know firsthand I learned a lot but was very prepared for 3 under 3 when I nannied for my first family and I currently know one nanny, age 21 with 3 under 3 who is doing an amazing job! So your opinion is your opinion, but you really have nothing to base it on.
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 17:36     Subject: Young Nanny
If experience tells you very little, would you deem a 26 year old with no previous multiples experience fit to watch 3-under-3?

Also, I am pretty certain if you are 20, you would be considered "in your 20s"

yeah...
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 17:19     Subject: Young Nanny
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At age 20, just graduating college with my BA in child psychology, I was a full time nanny for a 3 year old and twin infants. It was my first real nanny gig with competitive pay and benefits. I was with the family for 4 years. 12 years later, I am a very professional nanny specializing in infant care. I definitely don't believe you can judge on age alone. Many 20 year olds have more experience in life than some of their MBs. By age 20 I had already spent 6 months volunteering in an orphanage in Peru and a year working with pre-mature infants in a hospital in rural Kenya.


That's cool. We still have no idea how good you were at your job, though, you know? You may have been great - I'm sure you'll insist you were - but you might have been pretty crappy. We just don't know.

And yes, a lot of parents keep crappy nannies for years on end because they don't care, don't know, or are intimidated by the thought of finding someone else who might turn out to have the same (or worse!) shortcomings.


What kind of argument is that pp? DUH- you can't "tell" how good any nanny is on here but she stated her experience which says A LOT about a person. She's saying you can find an experienced nanny who is in her 20's, its up for an MB to decide how good she was, not you.


I bet you're the same poster I want to stab in the eye in every thread, because holy crap you never respond to what I've actually said but to some strange interpretation of my very literal words.

Experience tells you very little about a person, first of all. For instance I work 2x/month for a family with two little boys, and their FT nanny left a few months ago to go back to school. After failing to poach me from my job they began searching for a new nanny and after months of interviewing (they had a lot of notice) they settled on a late-20s nanny who'd just moved back to the US after opening and running an orphanage in...well, somewhere in Africa, I don't remember where. And she is terrible! They regret having hired her and are debating what to do at this point, even though on paper everyone would say OMG BEST NANNY EVER. Besides which, the amount of experience you can have at 20 is very, very minimal because you just haven't had time for more.

So, yeah, my point was I stand by my belief that no 20yo is equipped for 3-under-3 because PP's personal story didn't compel me to change my mind. That's all. Except "in her 20s" is much different from "20 years old," too.
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 17:14     Subject: Young Nanny
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At age 20, just graduating college with my BA in child psychology, I was a full time nanny for a 3 year old and twin infants. It was my first real nanny gig with competitive pay and benefits. I was with the family for 4 years. 12 years later, I am a very professional nanny specializing in infant care. I definitely don't believe you can judge on age alone. Many 20 year olds have more experience in life than some of their MBs. By age 20 I had already spent 6 months volunteering in an orphanage in Peru and a year working with pre-mature infants in a hospital in rural Kenya.


That's cool. We still have no idea how good you were at your job, though, you know? You may have been great - I'm sure you'll insist you were - but you might have been pretty crappy. We just don't know.

And yes, a lot of parents keep crappy nannies for years on end because they don't care, don't know, or are intimidated by the thought of finding someone else who might turn out to have the same (or worse!) shortcomings.


What kind of argument is that pp? DUH- you can't "tell" how good any nanny is on here but she stated her experience which says A LOT about a person. She's saying you can find an experienced nanny who is in her 20's, its up for an MB to decide how good she was, not you.
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 16:33     Subject: Young Nanny
Anonymous wrote:At age 20, just graduating college with my BA in child psychology, I was a full time nanny for a 3 year old and twin infants. It was my first real nanny gig with competitive pay and benefits. I was with the family for 4 years. 12 years later, I am a very professional nanny specializing in infant care. I definitely don't believe you can judge on age alone. Many 20 year olds have more experience in life than some of their MBs. By age 20 I had already spent 6 months volunteering in an orphanage in Peru and a year working with pre-mature infants in a hospital in rural Kenya.


That's cool. We still have no idea how good you were at your job, though, you know? You may have been great - I'm sure you'll insist you were - but you might have been pretty crappy. We just don't know.

And yes, a lot of parents keep crappy nannies for years on end because they don't care, don't know, or are intimidated by the thought of finding someone else who might turn out to have the same (or worse!) shortcomings.
Anonymous
Post 06/13/2013 02:32     Subject: Young Nanny
At age 20, just graduating college with my BA in child psychology, I was a full time nanny for a 3 year old and twin infants. It was my first real nanny gig with competitive pay and benefits. I was with the family for 4 years. 12 years later, I am a very professional nanny specializing in infant care. I definitely don't believe you can judge on age alone. Many 20 year olds have more experience in life than some of their MBs. By age 20 I had already spent 6 months volunteering in an orphanage in Peru and a year working with pre-mature infants in a hospital in rural Kenya.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2013 23:15     Subject: Young Nanny
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm paying a good wage -- we had plenty of older applicants.

Thank you for this feedback; her references were good, and she seems mature. I think we're going to go for it.


Good luck OP. I'm glad you aren't letting the crazy MB's on here steer you away from a young nanny who will probably be fabulous with you children.


No one has posted anything crazy that I've seen. I'm a nanny and I'm one of the only people who said I thought it was a bad idea.

I've never met a 20 year old who I thought should be in charge of 3-under-3. I still believe it is a recipe for disaster, but I hope it works out if that's OP's decision. IMO they just don't have enough life experience to be able to juggle the needs, demands, wants, and movements of so many small children.