Positively Parenting

By Candi Wingate, President of Nannies4Hire.com

If you just read the headlines in American pop culture, you would get the wrong idea about nannies. With books and movies like The Nanny Diaries, lawsuits between celebrity couples and their nanny, or an affair between the nanny and the husband, you might want to run away from the idea of a nanny.

The truth is, just like a reality show, what you see is not really what is going on. Millions of families are enjoying the privilege and responsibility of working with a nanny without a scandal. You can too.

In January of 2010, we asked the families who use nannies through Nannies4hire.com to complete a survey about how the economic downturn was affecting their families. We are using the data gathered to answer some of the myths about nannies.

Myth #1

Nannies are for the wealthy.

The federal government has identified income of $250,000 a year as the threshold for the wealthy. When asked how much the family income was; 34% earned less than $100,000 per year, 22% earned between $100,000 and $150,000, 17.5% earned between $150,000 and $200,000, and 31% earned over $200,000. Working families are the ones most using nannies. (33% did not answer the question).

Myth #2

A nanny must work full-time.

The nanny’s schedule works around the schedule of the family. Of the families who responded to our surveys, 46.9% of the nannies worked part-time, with a range of hours per week varying from under 10 to 30. You will be able to find a high quality nanny who can work with your schedule.

Myth #3

A nanny is not safe.

In a study of Healthy Steps for Young Children 2, the leading cause of injury to children was related to the family, not the nanny. Children of unmarried parents were the most likely to be injured. The conclusion of the study was, “Household composition seems to play a key role in placing children at risk for medically attended injuries.” In a study that compared children who received home care, center-based care, and other forms of out-of-home child care, the rate of minor injuries was highest in center-based care, but there was not a significant difference among the 3.

Myth #4

Hiring a nanny is too complicated.

Hiring a qualified nanny is easier than you think. With an online database service like Nannies4hire.com, you can preview available nannies in your zip code in the comfort of your own home. You will see their picture, experience, health status, education, and more. After you have narrowed your selection to two or three prospects, take advantage of the tools (such as the sample nanny contract found in the Appendix) that will give you peace of mind when hiring a nanny to care for your child.

Myth #5

A nanny will only take care of the children (no housework, cooking, etc.)

A nanny is an asset to a family and, in most cases, will help your house run smoothly. The most important criterion is not to burden a nanny with non-child related activities and detract from their primary responsibility: the care of your child. Seventy-seven percent of the nannies who responded to our first survey in 2009 are doing child-related activities (homework, errands, birthday parties, housework, laundry, and meal preparation), while 19% are involved in family duties. In 2010, 79% are doing more than just watching children. When you get ready to hire your nanny, see how your nanny can help your family as a whole.

Candi Wingate is an expert in the child care industry with over 20 years experience. She is the founder of Nannies4Hire.com and Care4Hire.com. She is also the author of 100 Tips for Nannies & Families, and The Nanny Factor: A Parent’s Guide to Finding the Right Nanny for Your Family (available October 1st).