The Rise of the ‘Manny’: Kim Kardashian Breaks Stereotypes as She Hires a Male Nanny – and Expert Reveals Why YOU Should Too

Being a nanny is just one of many gender-stereotyped professions – it conjures up images of a fresh-faced and somewhat saintly woman, like Mary Poppins or Maria Von Trapp, but that’s slowly starting to change.

Kim Kardashian has revealed she has hired a male nanny so her sons can benefit from a male role model following her split from Kanye West last year, although the mum-of-four admitted she was scared to tell her ex about the decision.

The female-dominated Kardashian family structure encouraged the mother of four to seek male help to accompany Saint West, 7, to sports practice among other daily activities.

Male nannies are also becoming increasingly popular in Britain. Manny company AtheleteMannies – a company that offers sports-inspired childcare – has around 400 male nannies across London.

In addition to typical babysitting duties, which include homework, dinner and maintaining the family home, Richard Goodman, co-founder of AthleteMannies, said male nannies “bring a new perspective to childcare” by “promoting trust” and “inspiring children to be more active.” are’. and curious’.

Richard Goodman believes the childcare sector can ‘significantly benefit’ from the presence of male nannies.

He told FEMAIL: ‘Many young boys lack positive male role models in their lives. By having a male nanny, it provides them with a ‘big brother’ figure who can teach them valuable life skills, boost self-confidence and encourage them to have fun and play after school.”

He added: ‘This creates a unique dynamic that can be very beneficial to the child’s development.’

But Richard suspects that the real difference in men’s babysitting lies in a renewed sense of pleasure.

‘Male nannies bring a fresh perspective to childcare. They often add a sense of fun, energy and adventure to their approach, which can have a positive impact on children.

‘Their role as a big brother figure can create a unique bond and inspire children to be more active and curious.’

Like Kim Kardashian, many of Richard’s clients are single mothers who want to provide a male role model for their children. But the company has recently witnessed a boom from a new demographic: families with fathers working long hours.

“In such cases, our male nannies provide valuable support and companionship to the children, contributing to their overall growth and development,” Richard said.

AtheleteMannies offers a sports-inspired approach to childcare (pictured above are the company’s Mannies and Nannies)

Of course, a key distinction in AthleteMannies is the addition of physical activity – often a daunting task for kids in the age of social media.

During Richard’s time as a manny in London, after the typical tasks were completed such as homework, dinner and maintaining the family home, he involved children in physical activity.

Parents praised the alternative approach, and eventually his success at Richmond Upon Thames catapulted him into the business world.

In 2015, he and his partner Ben Coldray launched AthleteMannies with the aim of ‘keeping kids active and engaged after school’ by promoting outdoor play and creating an active and healthier lifestyle for the kids.

As avid runners who compete at an international level, combining sport and childcare seemed like a natural fit for the pair.

Richard Goodman (left) and Ben Coldrey (right) employ around 400 male nannies in London

“We want to instill in children a passion for physical activity that goes beyond organized sports and into their everyday lives,” says Richard.

Richard and Ben have approximately 400 Mannies in their care – with additional female nannies.

The couple have seen a “significant increase” in demand for male nannies, a change Richard says is the result of changing attitudes.

He said: ‘The stigma around male nannies is gradually disappearing and more and more parents are recognizing the importance of male role models for their children.

“This trend reflects a broader shift in parents’ perspectives and the evolving child care landscape.”

There is a boom in male nannies in the British capital, and James McCrossen, founder of Manny & Me, a London-based Mannying service, has found similar results.

He said: ‘Business was quite slow at first as it was still a new concept for many, but now we get four to five inquiries a week from families specifically looking for a male nanny.’

James, who has a teaching degree and most recently a master’s degree in elementary education, believes the main benefit of male nannies is changing perspectives.

‘One of the great benefits of male childcare is the effect it has on breaking down gender stereotypes that children can only be cared for by women.’

‘Men and women also care for children differently; both have different styles of caring, playing and teaching.’

‘It’s great that children grow up with the idea that it is balanced, so that the pressure on mothers, for example, does not become too heavy.’