About Janinne Gardner

Hello I am glad you found me.  Are you looking for temporary child care either newborn or older kid care?  Well you found someone.  It is August 2016 and, wow, has the time flown I can’t believe I have been doing this for 12 years. That old adage is certainly true; time does fly when you are having fun. Here is a little about me so you can get to know me a bit.

After graduating high school in Rockville, MD I went to Frostburg State University where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Soon after, I began substitute teaching in the Montgomery County School system. At the same time I was helping out a newly divorced mother who was going back to work for the first time in years. I would meet the kids after the bus dropped them off and stay with them until she got home. During this same time period I met another nanny who was working as a live-in provider. She ultimately became my best friend and decided to try this nanny thing for a year. I met a wonderful family through an agency and I was so excited two work with them. My plan was to do this for a year then actively seek a teaching job. Boy was I wrong; I didn’t count on loving this so much! When I started with this family they had a three month old baby girl. When I left, nine years later, she had been joined by two brothers and two sisters. Leaving these kids was the hardest choice I ever made, but I wanted to make a change in my life.

I moved into being a  temporary nanny quit by accident when word got around that I could fill vacancies for vacationing nannies. I discovered that I really enjoyed going to different places, meeting new families, and filling in where I was needed. It was a nice surprise to me when I realized this is a much needed service. When I found other nannies, who also focused on the temporary nanny jobs, I was hooked…this is what I wanted to do with my life!

Since then I have been delighted to work with newborn singles and twins, toddlers and preschoolers as well as all elementary ages. I have also worked with a few middle school aged children, and a couple of high school boys and a girl. I have extensive experience as a substitute teacher in two school systems. I loved being a substitute teacher, and enjoyed not only positions as the regular classroom teacher, but also special education, music, physical education, media center and art but I found I preferred the one on a few ratio rather then the classroom situation. Children have been a part of my life since I was a child and I am proud of my ability to relate to children of every age.  I have also volunteered at Hoof Prints in the Sand, a nonprofit therapeutic riding program in Parsonsburg, MD, where I have learned to ride while working with a wide variety of special needs children and adults.

In 2012 I moved to Glover Park in Washington, DC, just north of Georgetown. The move was due to my cats, who are now 16, having a thyroid issue and require daily medication and needed me on a daily basis. Until then my parents were my kitty sitters while I traveled as a temporary nanny. This has made it hard for me to travel so I decided to move where most of my positions have been.  Until then, when I was in a position, I required live-in arrangements.  Now I am looking for live-out.  I will do occasional 24-hour care and travel with families in the DC area.

At the 2009 INA Conference in Dallas, Texas I met Caroline Stulberg an neonatal nurse who opened a school for nanny training and Newborn Care training at the Alexandria School in Solon, Ohio.  I was very intrigued by her curriculum.  She offered three sets of curriculum tracks: nanny, advanced nanny and newborn care with the later being of most interest to me. I met her again at another nanny conference in the fall and decided this was a great time to continue my education.  I proceeded  with the Newborn Care Specialist track.  Everything I saw about it looked wonderful.  I was knowledgeable about babies, however this delved into more medical aspects of both the newborn and the new mom.  I decided to jump in head first and I am so very glad I did. I learned so much and had fun while doing it. I completed the program to get my certificate.  I am not a nurse I am a Newborn Care Specialist.

I look forward to working with you. I will treat your children with love and affection while ensuring their health, safety and stability. If you find that we may be a good match, I welcome the opportunity to discuss your family’s needs.

Throughout the years…