One thing you should realize is that there are countless agencies and organizations that provide non profit services for those who are hiring nannies as well as nannies themselves. These organizations are a treasure trove of information and details. One of them is the International Nanny Association. Here are their standard qualifications for a nanny.

o The individual must be at least 18 years of age.

o The individual must have at least a high school education or have the equivalent.

o The nanny must be in good health themselves. This including having all necessary immunizations for the area they are serving and have a negative TB test done.

Beyond this, though, there are other things you must consider. For example, does the age of a nanny matter? For most people, the age of a nanny is a consideration. But, it differs from one person to the next.

You may be looking for someone that will be able to provide you with physical interaction with your child. You may want someone that can keep up with the three young children you have.

Or, you may be looking for someone that has a great deal of experience and has a more “set in stone” outlook on rearing children.

Either of these examples, extreme as they are, is a fine qualification. It is up to you to decide what the ideal age or other qualifications that your nanny should have. In fact, a nanny can be anyone you wish, over 18 that you feel has the right qualifications you set forth.

Later, we will touch on the benefits of hiring a mannie, or a male nanny. This too should be something that you take into consideration.

One Rule That Can’t Be Surpassed

Most of the qualifications of a nanny center on your actual preferences for a nanny. There is one rule, though, that should always be considered.

A nanny should always have a genuine interest and love in children. They should respect children and truly enjoy being around them. A nanny that considers this a job is not someone to hire. Rather, hire a nanny that considers this to be their career and even their calling. The difference will come forth in their dedication.

3 Types of Nannies

Nannies can be broken down into three basic types of people. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but you should consider where your preferences are in these basic types.

o Younger: Nannies in this group are often single, young and are looking to work as a nanny for the next couple of years, perhaps to pay for college or their future training. Some are taking a break from work or school, while others want to serve as a nanny part time. They may not be getting the personal rewards from their current employment. The benefit in these nannies are that they are more energetic, eager, active and often open to working with all types of people.

o Older and Experienced. This group of nannies is generally older people that are experienced in raising children of their own. Some are people that have raised their children and wish to help others do the same. In this case, there are countless differences in the education, skills and background of the individuals.

o Experts. In the final group of nannies you will find people that consider themselves professionals, experts and even child care specialists. Here, you have people that are looking to make being a nanny a full time career. They generally have gone through educational programs and may have an early childhood education or even an elementary education degree. They may have a training certificate in nanny specialized fields. Many will have years of experience working as a nanny, while others are just starting out.

How do you select? Determine what it is that appeals to you. Education, experience, long term dedication, energy and more are things that you should consider here. How important are these features to you?

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of not considering people from all of these situations as your nanny. Each offers something unique that may fit with what you are looking for better.

What about A Manny?

What is a manny? A manny is simply a male nanny. Today, these are becoming more and more popular. Traditionally a nanny has always been a woman. Yet, there is more and more demand for a male role model within the home.

Is a manny the right choice for you? If you are completely uninterested in whether the person that you bring into your home is male or female, the only considerations that you have are that of the previous qualifications that you’ve set forth. Yet, there is no doubt that for many this is something of concern.

A manny is a good choice in a number of situations. Assuming that you can trust anyone that you bring into your home because you’ve done the necessary research on them, you can begin working on determining the right fit for you. A manny may work well in a home that has several boys that may or may not need a male role model. Some women feel that having a man in the home is a good thing for boys as it helps them to have someone to relate to.

This can be especially true as boys begin to get older and need to make decisions that they would feel more comfortable talking to a male about.

Yet, a manny is still a good choice for any home that requires a male role model. If you feel more comfortable having a man take care of your child, then by all means it will work for you.

Men can be just as compassionate, nurturing and considerate as women can be. Often, men are looked at as being more fun and engaging to children over what women are. Nevertheless, they are just as educated, just as experienced and more often are the ideal person to handle those situations that boys don’t want to work with.

If you have a girl, don’t be afraid to bring in a manny. In this case, especially when the child may not have a male role model, she’ll appreciate all of the same things that the boys would.

Whether you select a manny or a nanny is up to you. At least give them the same considerations as you would a nanny as you may find that a male nanny is a better fit for you and your family.

By: Christine Li

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