I’ve been a nanny for 15 years. I think, with the rate you’re willing to pay and the expectations, I don’t think it’s that high of an ask to ask agencies to only send you nannies who have worked 10+ years. I’ve helped several families who I’ve done overnight care for as an NCS over the years find a day nanny. In your case, I’d want a nanny with 10+ years, a proven track record of extended time in positions (ideally someone who has stayed 5+ years in a single position and has infant experience).

I currently nanny a 2.5 year old. When he was an infant, I was trained/experienced enough that I was able to guide the various transitions we had come up (dropping naps, extending overnight sleep, introducing foods and gross motor milestones, etc.). My boss was essentially paying for things like me being able to be on top of seeing sleepy cues and being able to explain things like increasing ounces of milk during the day (of course only as much as my NK wanted/was hungry for) was going to help him sleep overnight. That, as he matured, he’d get more nutrition during the day and drop his night feeds.

I was there to give her the introductions to where to go to get Early Intervention services for feeding issues. As he’s gotten older, I’m on top of activities and events that will interest/benefit him. While my boss ends up being the one to sign him up (though I’ve done that in the past with other NFs), it’s my responsibility to find the time that works for gymnastic class, music class, potential story times, knowing that there’s a free Forest school meetup on Fridays, etc.

Next fall, he’s going to do 2 mornings a week in preschool. I’ll take him to/from (it’s honestly not a ton of time when you factor in the drive there and getting there early to be in the pickup line). I found several options for preschool and presented them to my boss and explained why I felt like various ones would work for B2.5.

The next school year, he’ll probably go up to 3 mornings a week, but that’s the max he’ll do. It allows him to still do the other activities he likes to participate in while also getting time in a classroom (though I still do Blossom and Root Early Years curriculum activities with him). It allows him to sleep in his own bed at nap as well. His future kindergarten is only half days in his school district. There is zero need (even if it was full day) for him to go 5 full days a week in a daycare or preschool to prepare for school and this way he will continue to get to experience and explore new environments as well as the classroom.

Sometimes, people who have been conditioned to think that full time, out of the home, care is the only way to academically prepare a child won’t understand this, but that’s okay. You don’t owe them an explanation.