Would you hire a 20yo nanny?

[Mummyteachmummy]

I'm interviewing a raft of nannies this weekend, all v experienced and early 30s plus, but in amongst them is this one 20 year old potential gem. Her profile is just lovely - seems very loving and, yes, very fun! Here are my thoughts...

CONS

1. DD's only 2, so really does need to be actively cared for/ kept safe etc.
2. Lack of experience - she has got a couple of years childminding assistant and one 6 month sole charge nanny stint, but nothing v weighty.

PROS

1. she had paediatric first aid and various other certificates, so actually isn't she better qualified than, say, 36 year old DH if dd, god forbid, chokes, as she's been trained in what to do? whereas DH would turn her upside down, and shake vigorously if that didn't work!

1. I'm only going to be employing her about 15 hours a week. Isn't she therefore just a glorified babysitter? And we wouldn't flinch at a 20 yo babysitter?

1. Couldn't it just be really fun for DD to have a nanny who exposes her to such cultural works as One Direction and... And... Well, that says it all - I know nothing else of what young people do or like 'these days'...

WWYD?!

Our second nanny was employed straight out of college at the tender age of 18. She was fabulous and worked with us for about 9 years, during which time she had her own children.

She was always totally professional, did loads of things with my boys and was so totally reliable and trustworthy, she was wonderful.

I had to teach her to cook, mind you

She was, actually, far better than our first nanny, who was in her 30s when she started with us.

It's maturity that counts and the ability to anticipate issues that are important. Is she also likely to be able to handle family dynamics if they affect her? The main com about a 20 year old for me would be the chance that they lack general life experience.

Main con

I would drill down into her experience and see what she knows and make sure she has lots of good sense. Her age wouldn't put me off but I would want her to prove she could do the job well.

Yes, if she was right for my family of course. Because as a 25yo nanny who was once a 22yo nanny with one year nanny experience with older children, I really needed somebody to give me a break. We all started somewhere after all :)

You can mold younger/inexperienced nannies to a certain extent. I was crap at housework when I started properly nannying, three years later I'm a nanny/housekeeper and love doing the housework thanks to one particular job I left last September where my Mumboss pointed out things that she'd notice as she came home and was patient with me when I started out.

I really miss the first family I worked for, and am thankful to the second even though it didn't work out, for giving me a chance. It annoys me that agencies won't put inexperienced nannies forward for jobs as it's difficult to get into it properly! Had I not been on MN I would never have know to make sure that I was properly employed and things!

I was looking after a 10 week old at that age. I was much better as a nanny then than I am now as a mother .

The age doesnt matter.

You haven't met any of them yet, whet you meet them all then you will have that 'instict'.

Why is her first aid training a plus? Shouldn't all of them have it?
Mind you if you like someone you can always ask her to attend a weekend course prior to start the job.

I have a 19 year old nanny for my 4 children - no regrets at all, as others have said it comes down to the maturity of the individual. Plus I find her really willing and eager to please (in a good way).

Please hire her. I know an amazing 21 year old nanny who puts the older more experienced nannies to shame. She's not jaded by life, doesn't get stressed and the kids love her. Go for it!

I had DS1 at age 20, I'm pretty sure he was kept safe and I didn't have any childcare qualifications or experience, I don't think age should be an issue under con point 1.

Definitely should just come down to how you feel about them and qualifications.

I was a mother to a one year old at 20. I can assure you he was kept safe and I anticipated risks.

Trust your gut.

We had a 21 year old nanny (when she started). DC admittedly a bit older but she was the best nanny of the 3 we have had. I think it is against the equality act to discriminate on the basis of age. Fine if reason for not employing is lack of experience, but not if it is age.

I had a 23 year old nanny. She switched career and it was her first nanny job. She was fantastic. She had younger brothers and sisters, and was very sensible and great with my DDs.

My girls were 1 and 3 at the time.

I have a 21 year old who started at 19 when my older nanny went on maternity leave. She is a gem but i could show her my way of doing things etc. My kids love her!

We have a PT 21 year old. She is perfect. We have three children. She really loves them and is kind and caring.

My first nanny was 19. She had completed a 2 year full time college course on childcare. She knew far more than me about babies. She actually turned out to know a wee bit more about baby illnesses than our GP. She was a lovely girl.

Lady in Red... is dancing with me cheek to cheek
Sorry couldn't resist :)

As someone who was a nanny at 20, yes! 20 yos can make awesome nannies. I was and the 20 year old nanny I hired when the kids were little was too. Especially for the hours you're suggesting.

My first nanny was 20; she knew an awful lot more about looking after a baby than I did and I was 32.

but I hold massive thanks to my first family for giving me the chance to prove myself

Probably massively ur etc etc...but comments like this make me feel a bit uncomfortable. I wouldn't want my children's well being to be anyone's 'chance to prove themself' tbh.

Personally, no, I'd not employ a 20 year old with minimal or no actual experience. I have a cm not a nanny but a shit load of experience was fairly near the top of my priority list.

I was 31 when my son was born. I knew nothing about babies. I only had one friend who had a baby and no family near.

My 19 year old nanny had 2 years' college training and work placement experience- by your standard which of us was best placed to look after a baby?

I'm 28 and like one direction not the point of the thread

I was hired as a nanny for a 6 week old baby when I was 19. I had lots of experience and was with the family until the child started full time nursery 3 years.
I would say yes hire her

Go for it if she's the one you think is best for the job. I was a nanny/ housekeeper at 18, working 55+ hours a week sole charge, organising everything to do with the four year old I cared for and, by the time I was 19, her newborn brother. I worked for the family for 8 years.

Do the interviews, check all references and then decide.

If your dh can't do child infant CPR (you mentioned he could not help if your dc were choking), encourage him to take a course.