I hired #2. I regretted it. She was never "all in" with the nanny job, and it resulted in a lot of reliability problems on top of needing guidance. Also, she quit right after one year b/c she found another job in her hoped-for field.

On the one hand, if you only need someone for 18-24 months, that might correspond with #2's foray into nannying. On the other hand, there is no way to know if she will stick around that long -- she has zero experience as a nanny, and has already told you that this is not her long term career plan.

Number 1. The most important things a child needs is support, love and patience and positive discipline. Teach empathy before the abs and numbers where kids learns that easily fast.

Albert einstein didnt have a high educated master degree nanny. HAHAHAHA

Anonymous wrote:Option 1 will know and willingly do all the parts of a nanny job that aren't just watching the kids.
She will do laundry, keep everything clean and organized, act as a pseudo mom.

Option 2 will be more like an Au Pair. You will have to teach her everything about how to run a household with children for 8-10 hours per day. I've had Au Pairs for years- it is EXTREMEMLY time consuming.

I'd pick the experienced nanny

This this this. You will have to teach and guide #2 a lot. There are things that a childless person has NO IDEA how to do well. Stuff you can't learn in parenting books but pick up after caring for multiple kids. I used to think educated nanny was better because I valued academic achievement and I had a professional job. After being a mother myself, after hiring many sitters and nannies, I found out that the experienced motherly type is way better. Even is she does not to the extra non-childcare stuff.

Would nanny 1 be speaking to your kids in broken English or in her native language?

Option 1 will know and willingly do all the parts of a nanny job that aren't just watching the kids.
She will do laundry, keep everything clean and organized, act as a pseudo mom.

Option 2 will be more like an Au Pair. You will have to teach her everything about how to run a household with children for 8-10 hours per day. I've had Au Pairs for years- it is EXTREMEMLY time consuming.

I'd pick the experienced nanny

Anonymous wrote:OP we need someone for 12-18 months, that's when the youngest will go to school.

When the oldest goes to school, where will youngest stay? Do you plan on putting her/him in daycare? I would go with option #1 because option #2 might leave when she graduates to another job even if you only need someone for 12-18 months. Assuming youngest won’t go to daycare, you’ll need someone to take care of youngest right? So wouldn’t it be easier to find a nanny who can commit 2+ years? (Also assuming youngest will go to school around ages 4-5)? My concern with option #2 is that she’s doesnt have relevant experience and might want to leave soon.

#2. My only hesitancy would be that she might pick up a TA job or something else and quit. But energy and enthusiasm go a long way to being great at any job.

MB here.

i think both candidates could work, especially since you aren't planning on employing a nanny for more than 2 years.

Does #1 have kids of her own that she's raised? If so, I'd pick her. While the language challenges shouldn't be underestimated, the value of someone more experienced, especially if they've had their own kids, is huge. You're more likely to get someone who will take 5 minutes to leave the kitchen clean at the end of the day, who'll think about whether you're running out of basic things heading into the weekend (core foods, formula, laundry detergent), who will just automatically think more holistically about the family and home. While those aren't the core functions of a nanny position, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the nanny who ensures that I walk into a calm, orderly, tidy house at the end of the day - and a lot of that comes from experience, not from education.

Also, the references I've always found most useful were those from other mothers who've employed candidates for an extended period. They can tell you so much about the day to day dynamics in the house, the reliability/honesty/integrity of the candidate, their responsiveness to the wishes of the parents, their general demeanor, etc... So you can get a lot more info on candidate 1 to help you make the decision.

Most of all though, trust your gut instincts - and maybe have a trial afternoon or something before you extend an offer. Nice to have good options in candidates though!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP maybe doesn’t necessarily care that option 2 has a degree. I just think she’s a little concerned that option 1 May not have enough energy and her English is not good. I have a degree AND experience. However, when I was looking for work parents leaned toward experience. Also, even though I have a degree in child development and psychology, it hasn’t helped much with being a nanny.

Unrelated but where did you look for employment as a nanny? I have a masters degree in ECE and I had three great offers to choose from when I first started (I had part time nanny experience - nothing more).

I live in LA and I joined a yahoo group where parents posted ads looking for nannies. It’s a local group, positions are only around the LA area. And you had 3 nanny positions offered? Did you have your masters already?

Yes. I signed with The Help Agency and posted a profile on care.com but didn’t answer any ads - the potential employers found me. Are you still looking for a nanny position in LA?

Hi, well that’s good! I am currently working for a family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP maybe doesn’t necessarily care that option 2 has a degree. I just think she’s a little concerned that option 1 May not have enough energy and her English is not good. I have a degree AND experience. However, when I was looking for work parents leaned toward experience. Also, even though I have a degree in child development and psychology, it hasn’t helped much with being a nanny.

Unrelated but where did you look for employment as a nanny? I have a masters degree in ECE and I had three great offers to choose from when I first started (I had part time nanny experience - nothing more).

I live in LA and I joined a yahoo group where parents posted ads looking for nannies. It’s a local group, positions are only around the LA area. And you had 3 nanny positions offered? Did you have your masters already?

Yes. I signed with The Help Agency and posted a profile on care.com but didn’t answer any ads - the potential employers found me. Are you still looking for a nanny position in LA?

I am in LA, too. Should have mentioned that! The Help Agency is in Brentwood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP maybe doesn’t necessarily care that option 2 has a degree. I just think she’s a little concerned that option 1 May not have enough energy and her English is not good. I have a degree AND experience. However, when I was looking for work parents leaned toward experience. Also, even though I have a degree in child development and psychology, it hasn’t helped much with being a nanny.

Unrelated but where did you look for employment as a nanny? I have a masters degree in ECE and I had three great offers to choose from when I first started (I had part time nanny experience - nothing more).

I live in LA and I joined a yahoo group where parents posted ads looking for nannies. It’s a local group, positions are only around the LA area. And you had 3 nanny positions offered? Did you have your masters already?

Yes. I signed with The Help Agency and posted a profile on care.com but didn’t answer any ads - the potential employers found me. Are you still looking for a nanny position in LA?

i think someone young and hungry could be better. you aren't looking for someone to stay for a long time, so i think someone who is looking for a short term job while she goes to school could be a better fit. the first person may be worried about their next job and therefore be less likely to be really happy and present with your kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP maybe doesn’t necessarily care that option 2 has a degree. I just think she’s a little concerned that option 1 May not have enough energy and her English is not good. I have a degree AND experience. However, when I was looking for work parents leaned toward experience. Also, even though I have a degree in child development and psychology, it hasn’t helped much with being a nanny.

Unrelated but where did you look for employment as a nanny? I have a masters degree in ECE and I had three great offers to choose from when I first started (I had part time nanny experience - nothing more).

I live in LA and I joined a yahoo group where parents posted ads looking for nannies. It’s a local group, positions are only around the LA area. And you had 3 nanny positions offered? Did you have your masters already?