While I agree with the sentiments of Sarah Larking's letter ('Nanny knows best', 26 February), I was disappointed at her attitude towards childminders. All of the childminders I have known have had their own children. Even ten or 20 years of experience as a nanny cannot prepare you for the lifetime commitment of giving birth and rearing your own. I was a qualified nanny for a little over four years before I had my first child and although I had worked with babies and a girl with special needs, I can honestly say that being a mother is an experience worth far more than my years as a nanny. I now have two children aged 11 and eight, my younger having autism, whom I have home-educated for four years.
While I agree with the sentiments of Sarah Larking's letter ('Nanny knows best', 26 February), I was disappointed at her attitude towards childminders.
All of the childminders I have known have had their own children. Even ten or 20 years of experience as a nanny cannot prepare you for the lifetime commitment of giving birth and rearing your own. I was a qualified nanny for a little over four years before I had my first child and although I had worked with babies and a girl with special needs, I can honestly say that being a mother is an experience worth far more than my years as a nanny. I now have two children aged 11 and eight, my younger having autism, whom I have home-educated for four years.
Even though most mothers do not have a childcare qualification, this does not mean they are less 'qualified' than professional nannies.
Carolyn Davison Carmarthenshire
