Would You Hire a Male Nanny Or Child Caregiver?

I have a male friend who's been working in child care for the past decade. Even after ten years in preschools and nannying jobs, he says nothing has changed when it comes to the prejudice he faces from parents. Some have stipulated that he not be allowed to change the children's diapers, and only female staff should do it. Others don't want their kids under a man's care at all.

"It's really not fair as all guys are tarred with the same brush," he said. "As a nanny, I wanted to help these kids develop and grow and not everyone saw it as that."

But stories like the one about 23-year-old Anthony D'Tiole, a Contra Costa preschool and Sunday school teacher arrested in April and charged with four counts of child molestation, continue to strike fear into every parent's heart.

"It's awful," said my male child care worker friend about these kind of incidents. "It gives us good ones a bad name. It horrifies me really."

Interestingly, D'Tiole had been the subject of an article about the problems men face in the child care industry, especially when it comes to getting work. In explaining how he reassures parents, D'Tiole was quoted on Examiner.com as saying: "I start with, 'I know you were planning on hiring a female, but let me tell you the benefits of having a male role model.' Once they see how good I am with kids, and the children insist on having me watch them, I get a lot of callbacks." 

In the end, it's up to parents to decide whether or not to work with male child carers, and if the risks are any greater, since not all abusers are men and not all abuse is sexual. Above all, the majority of child care workers, I have to believe, are genuine carers whose motivation is the welfare of children.

How do you feel about male child carers looking after your children? Have you ever hired a male nanny? Share your experience and opinion in the comments below.