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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Older nanny. Am I employable? Advice please.

17 replies

catsclaws62 · 03/07/2013 18:09

Am now 50 and have older children who have flown the nest.
I am keen to get into nanny work but don't have a qualification as yet.
I have booked to take the St John's ambulance Paediatric course and am waiting to get my CRB check back.
What, if any other course would you expect me to have taken or is my life experience of being a mother (and soon to be grandma) sufficient?
Also any views on employing an older nanny would be helpful.
Is English mother tongue and full driving licence an advantage?
Thanks :-)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Megsdaughter · 03/07/2013 18:15

I'm 55 and still nannying.
I wasn't going to carry on after last job finished but my present family had heard about me and made me an offer I would have been mad to refuse.
Lots if families prefer an older nanny.
For one they don't go off on maternity leave.
They have more life experience.
And often they just prefer a 'grandmother' age

Original poster

catsclaws62 · 03/07/2013 18:34

Thanks Megsdaughter. Your post is very encouraging :-D

OP posts:

frutilla · 03/07/2013 18:38

I think 50-55 is still pretty young! I would definitely employ an older nanny unless they had health issues and weren't mobile. I would see someone mature as having more experience and probably also more relaxed and calm.

millyme · 03/07/2013 18:49

I specifically wanted an older nanny and found our wonderful woman (age 49, a mother of four and a grandmother) on gumtree. She is so experienced and patient, and I don't have any of the worries others I know have with young nannies eg. flakiness, relationship dramas, hangovers, spending all day texting instead of interacting with my DC.

I would tell anyone to seek only an older nanny. It's the best decision I ever made for my family! She is such a calming influence on us, and helps me learn and understand more about how to be a good mum and run a house.

Oh and I trust her not to flirt with my husband...

Go for it and good luck!
xx

Original poster

catsclaws62 · 03/07/2013 20:14

Thank you ladies!
I have the same thoughts and if I were looking for a nanny, would go for someone older myself.
Glad that 50+ is no longer an issue in the jobs market :-)

OP posts:

EasterHoliday · 03/07/2013 21:19

I'm on the lookout for a nanny and would love an older one. As well as what's stated here, it avoids (I think) a lot of the school gate nannygang gossip - I do not want to know what's going on with every other family / which nanny smuggled half a bottle of malibu into the nightclub etc etc... (which area are you in?!)

Theironfistofarkus · 03/07/2013 21:25

I wouldn't expect qualifications. If no recent experience of children could you get a bit of work in a nursery for a couple of months as a refresher?

Ragusa · 03/07/2013 21:58

I would snap an older nanny up. Lots of people with thriving childminder businesses are slightly older.

I would think it might be helpful if you could do some research on recent childcare theory, sleep training, weaning, milk feeding ( esp safe preparation of formula and/or storage of breastmilk) .... not because I think you won't know about these things (ha, as if!) but because fashions and recieved wisdom changes rapidly, and mums of young kids might have ideas about how they wamt to approach these things and it'd be useful to know where they might be coming from.

Best of luck!

BigW · 03/07/2013 22:02

I think I would see your age as an advantage to be honest! Good luck.

Wandastartup · 03/07/2013 22:41

Would you consider nanny/ housekeeper type role. Lots of people with school age children would like someone who could cook, do a bit in the garden and have the children pre/ post school. Sort of an extra granny or a wife!

Original poster

catsclaws62 · 04/07/2013 00:34

Hello Easter holiday. I am in Islington. Where are you based?

OP posts:

Original poster

catsclaws62 · 04/07/2013 00:46

Again, many thank you's ladies.
I agree a refresher course on today's new thoughts on child rearing. I don't agree with some of the ideas but of course it is up to the mother in the household.
Always good to know what's being researched and I know from listening to the radio, Mumsnet is always on the forefront of of anything new!

OP posts:

Norem · 04/07/2013 00:57

I have an older nanny and we all love her, she really is a member of he family.
Your age is definitely an asset. Life experience cannot be taught on a course.

FeelingOld · 04/07/2013 10:00

I am not a nanny, i am a childminder and i am the oldest childminder in our childminding group (we have approx 30 members)... I openly talk about my age when prospective parents come to see me and the majority of parents say they chose me partly because of my age (am 47 and have 2 teenage kids) as they feel i am more patient and experienced.

yamsareyammy · 04/07/2013 10:10

safeguarding training?

HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 05/07/2013 19:06

I was just about to start a similar thread!

I used to be a nanny (in London) then registered as a CM and now CM far from London.

London is where I plan to be when DS has grown up and flown the nest...or he can stay in our home and I'll just come back and visit for weekends .

It's very reassuring to hear so many positive comments about people wanting older nannies. I wonder if that also includes live-in nannies?

FeegleFion · 05/07/2013 19:30

If I could afford and had the need of a nanny, I'd definitely look for one with your credentials, that's including age.

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