Employing a very young, inexperienced nanny - advice?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

This is my first foray into the world of nannies/childcare etc so please be honest but gentle!

I'm a teacher and the other day I bumped into an ex-pupil who was working in a local cafe. She's a lovely girl so we got chatting and she explained that she was working in the cafe until she found a 'childcare job'. Would I be absolutely insane to go back to the cafe to discuss if she'd like to be our nanny?

I will be going back to work for four days per week in April, when LO will be around 8 months old. We were planning to put LO into a nursery, but seeing this girl has got my mind whirling. If we employed her, she would get more experience and LO would get one-to-one attention. She's a bright girl, highly responsible and very friendly - exactly the kind of nanny I would have been looking for had I ever thought my budget would stretch to it. She is however, only 17, has very limited experience and I fear I am being swayed by the thought of a 'nanny on a budget'.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Thank you.

If you are prepared to do a lot of training and to supervise your nanny closely, why not? I have friends who swear by young au pairs (18 year olds) fresh out of school because they are used to following instructions to the letter and not questioning them!

I worked as a nanny when I was 17. I had sole charge of a 4 week old baby for 60 hours a week. I only left when mum gave up work to have baby 2 (and then just babysat occasionally for her)

20 years on, I am still a nanny and have fantastic refs. I would never be where I am now if that first lady hadn't taken a chance on me.

Not all "young girls" see childcare as a walk in the park. Some do see it as a good career choice

Have areally good chat with her about the possibility, and ask her to discuss the pros & cons from her side too while you look into yours.

Sounds like it could be a fab arrangement from both sides!

I would not hire a nanny that young/inexperienced for a child that wasn't old enough to tell me how things are when they're on their own together. I'm sure she'd love to do occasional babysitting for you but I think 4 days a week is too much.