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Help, my new nanny is a bit shouty, and I'm worried, and would like advice on how to handle it

313 replies

PrincessPeaHead · 31/05/2007 11:46

My lovely calm, quiet, loving nanny of 5 years left last week, and a new nanny started. She is NNEB, worked in a nursery (baby room) most recently, nannied for 2 children before that. She's now been with us for just over a week.

I'm a little worried about how she interacts with the children. She has been playing quite well with DD1 (9), and has been givena very hard time by DD2 (16 months) who screams at strangers generally and hasn't settled with her yet (screamed constantly yesteerday morning when I went to the supermarket apparently). DS1 (6) has been OK with her, DS2 (3) had his tonsils and adenoids out last Tues and was feeling rotten until this weekend.

She is a bit of a sargeant major - issues orders and won't brook any discussion at all, even when it would be (I think) completely reasonable to listen to what they are saying. eg she was asking them to go upstairs for a bath - we have two staircases to go up, and DS2 wanted to go up the other one to the one she was asking him to go up - and she was raising her voice and saying "DS2, I have asked you to go up to your bath and you need to go up these stairs NOW". I don't see why he couldn't have gone up the other ones if he wanted to. There are lots of other examples - I don't think I heard my last nanny raise her voice more than about 2ce (usually in situations where I would have strangled them hours previously!), whereas raising her voice appears to be this nannies MO.
My 9 year old has asked me why she shouts so much
My housekeeper has told me she is concerned.

What do I do?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ScottishThistle · 04/06/2007 14:40

Sorry have just realised I'm slightly behind the times with this situation & I'm glad you've let her go...Everything you/housekeeper & children said didn't sit well with me.

Most nannies would have a very cheery disposition (not a shouty one) in their first couple of weeks in a new position!

ScottishThistle · 04/06/2007 14:32

PPH I think letting the present Nanny go is a very wise decision...She doesn't sound like good nanny material never mind nanny to 4 children imo.

FWIW I was 19 when I started my first sole charge position...Before that at 17 (while studying)I was nannying part time 4 nights per week (5-10pm) for 4 children aged between 6mths-6yrs.

Age isn't a great indication of whether or not a girl will make a good Nanny, most of us have a natural ability & a lot of common sense!

Good luck with your new candidate!

fifilou · 04/06/2007 13:03

................a virtual one

fifilou · 04/06/2007 13:02

tutter, im giving you a virual kicking........

PrincessPeaHead · 04/06/2007 13:00

yes I may never see it again eleusis oh well, its insured!

Tutter... well I might in all seriousness! Where does she live? Near you?

OP posts:
Eleusis · 04/06/2007 12:41

Oh good. Glad it went well. You are far too normal and civilised for anything Channel 4 would air.

I have to say it was VERY nice of you to let her take the car.

CrispyNoodles · 04/06/2007 12:38

Glad all went well.
Fingers crossed for a brisk, breezy day and Mary Poppins blowing in from the North.

Tutter · 04/06/2007 12:38

pph my nanny is at a loose end til july 1st hen she starts with us - would you like to break her in for me

LieselVentouse · 04/06/2007 12:37

Oh BTW Cod is now Dogsby - but you probably realise that now

Dogsby · 04/06/2007 12:36

your houskeeper is not like mrs danvers

PrincessPeaHead · 04/06/2007 12:35

ha ha ha ha

sorry I' ve been so long but now that I don't have a nanny I don't have TIME to be on the computer! until baby is in bd for her nap, that is

she was brilliant about it - said she'd been thinking about the garden thing and thought she'd jsut got so used to there being more than one resp adult in the nursery that she hadn't thought. But she didn't cry, she was very mature and said "I quite understand", asked very politely if she could use the car until Wed since she needed to sort out some transport tomorrow (which I agreed to), and she went.

Then the cab came and I gave him a tenner to go away again!

So all fine. Thanks all fopr your help and support, I will no doubt be keeping you posted on the Great Peahead Nanny Hunt (do you think channel 4 would buy it as a format? Find the perfect person to look after 4 feral children, a large stately home, and deal with an internet-obsessed mother and Mrs Danvers like housekeeper at the same time...._)

OP posts:
Eleusis · 04/06/2007 12:35

Well, Cod (or whatever your name is this hours), have you called?

Eleusis · 04/06/2007 12:31

I think she has begguered of on hols, and didn't even consider we were all anxiously awaiting the report.

PinkTulips · 04/06/2007 12:29

o dear, my rampant imagination is getting the better of me and i'm imagining all sors of horrific nanny attack scenarios.

give her a ring cod and chack he nanny hasn't gone postal on her

Eleusis · 04/06/2007 12:24

Off to fetch more tea (one decaf, two regular), one biscuit and one donought... BRB

Tutter · 04/06/2007 12:18

link liesel?

LieselVentouse · 04/06/2007 12:18

TUTTER GET ON MY THREAD NOW
(((sorry for hijack))

BaffledByBabyTights · 04/06/2007 12:05
Tutter · 04/06/2007 12:03

oh sorry eleusis - tapping was too loud, missed offer of tea

yes please, decaff

with a biscuit

yes, cod, please text her - does she not know she is keeping us waiting?

hatrick · 04/06/2007 12:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Dogsby · 04/06/2007 12:02

shall i clal her?

BaffledByBabyTights · 04/06/2007 12:02

. Maybe nanny has murdered pph??? (now I am a SAHM there is nothing to check my rampant imagination.....)

fifilou · 04/06/2007 11:55

but now that im 32 i cant type as well, oooh arthritis see? th ld;s; fofzpok kvof p

fifilou · 04/06/2007 11:54

dont let age put you off!

I was 18 and newly qualified in my first job, and I loved it!

it was a it weird when we were out together once though, the mum was 40 and when we were at the a coffee shop the waiter asked what her 'daughter' would like!!!! poor love, she must have felt awful. I just laughed it off and said the ppor man must be blind. she found the funny side.

im now 32 and have the same energy and enthusaism as i had when i was 18, but years of expereince and extra qualifications. no one can tell you who the right nanny is for you, qualified, unqualified, old, young, but by god, please dont advertise for a mary poppins- do you know there are STILL parents palcing adverts in lady magazine, for a real life mary poppins!!!? Spit spot!

Eleusis · 04/06/2007 11:53

Yeah it left the station on Friday.