If you have the option it would be nice to hire someone that has an associates degree in early childhood. However the most important things is hiring someone that you feel comfortable will truly care about your child. I think that I personally like the idea of hiring someone that is a mother themselves because only a mom can really understand your concerns.
Having a college degree does say something about a person though. You have to have a certain amount of intelligence, dedication and responsibility in order to receive your degree so those are good qualities. But, of course that gut feeling of being comfortable with someone means the most.

If the degree is related to child care it's a definite plus. But I believe experience goes a long way.

ummm....how about saving the money you would have paid to the college grad, get ride of your three cars and parent your own child?

If a working parent needs child care but can't afford a nanny, there are many resources in the community that can help them identify a quality caregiver or program. Children's Services Council and its partners have worked hard to ensure children have quality child care options. Parents can go to www.cscpbc.org/QISparents or www.familycentral.org for information and referral services.

My degree in psychology has helped my nanny career. I obviously took courses in child psychology while earning my bachelor degree, but my degree also allowed me to work with mentally handicapped children and neglected and abused girls. Although, no doubt, experienced nannies and mothers do make excellent nannies too!

What a coincidence to see this topic! I just emailed a family looking for a nanny and they were only interested in a college graduate [which I am not, although I have 26 years experience as a nanny and 31 as a Mom]. I told the Dad that I thought he would be missing out on a lot of great nannies and that I have never met anyone who put in four years of college, not to mention the cost, and then decided to become a nanny, with the long hours and low pay one usually sees. As for me personally, I would only want someone with mothering experience so that they would understand that sometimes you will be bored and sometimes exasperated with your charges. I have found that highly educated people do not have the patience to deal with kids and many lack basic common sense. Thanks for letting me vent. I'm still looking for work after 17 years with the same family!! Barbara

What a coincidence to see this topic! I just emailed a family looking for a nanny and they were only interested in a college graduate [which I am not, although I have 26 years experience as a nanny and 31 as a Mom]. I told the Dad that I thought he would be missing out on a lot of great nannies and that I have never met anyone who put in four years of college, not to mention the cost, and then decided to become a nanny, with the long hours and low pay one usually sees. As for me personally, I would only want someone with mothering experience so that they would understand that sometimes you will be bored and sometimes exasperated with your charges. I have found that highly educated people do not have the patience to deal with kids and many lack basic common sense. Thanks for letting me vent. I'm still looking for work after 17 years with the same family!! Barbara

The best nanny is a Mother who cares. Moms should stay home until the child is 5. The option is--Don't have them.

As a college student looking for nanny work, I think that I look better than other applicants that are not attending college, or have a degree. I have taken psychology courses durning my years at college, and I think that I am much more responsible than some high school drop out. I think that it mostly depends on the personality. People who tend universities tend to be more orgnaized and can handle many things at once, see as we do it on a daily basis. I find this article to be insulting to college students.

a college degree gives you lots of knowledge especially if its a degree in Child development because usually those degrees require you to get at least 5 months hands on training in a preschool classroom in order to graduate, some more than others. But the experince and the college degree really do not matter unless you are a female, because it seems males like myself have to try twice as hard to get anywhere in this feild.

I guess I might be a rarity, but I'm going to be graduating in the spring (2010), and I really do hope to find a new position as a nanny again after graduation. (I nanny now, but I won't be able to do so as I spend the next two semesters student teaching.) I am an Early Childhood and Elementary Education major, but, as a home-school student through high school, with a wonderful stay-at-home-mom, I want to be able to bring that one-on-one attention and care to more children. I am not that happy in public school classrooms, as I see so many problems that I cannot do a thing to help with, due to overcrowding, over legislation, etc. Nannying though, I've really found my calling. I love working with families and children, forming real relationships and watching the children grow and learn.

I certainly think that experience should come first (I've been babysitting for 10 years and nanying for 3), but having a degree in a related field also gives me a lot of tools, including a lot more hands on experience with a variety of children.

I understand people wanting to hire mothers., though, unfortunatly, many people won't hire a mother who wants to bring their child on the job, and I can't see most nannies being paid enough to afford decent care for their child, and I would never be able to leave my child with someone else while I went off to care for someone elses child(ren). I hope that I will be able to stay at home with my own children, but we'll see how that goes, and for now I'm enjoying being able to work with other families.

Sarah, you raise some really good points, and it's great to hear from a college student who seriously see the power that comes with being a nanny and helping a family raise their children. You're right that you can have an impact in the home and give a child that one on one care. I didn't realize there were so many college graduates who would like to work as a nanny.

I do believe that earning a college bachelor's degree is important. Now, I don't completely agree with the fact that it should be necessary for a nanny position. Although, a high school diploma is necessary. Some college courses like education development courses and child development courses allow a sitter or nanny to gain more knowledge that will help them as a tool when they are working for you. An education is power; it gives a nanny a powerful tool to help your child grow and develop. It shows they believe education is important and will be a positive role model for your children, which who wouldn't want?

I think that a college degree is a wonderful thing...but also very expensive. Many nannies, myself included, would need to get quite a pay raise to afford a four year degree. Finding an individual who has strong morals/values, and experience with children is much more important.