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Original poster

How much would you pay this nanny?

29 replies

yesway · 23/09/2010 09:57

We are about to recruit a live in nanny and I would like advice about how much pay to offer.

This is the remit:

Mon-Fri 8am - 7pm (Our current nanny finishes by 6.15pm but when she was learning the ropes it took longer)
Sat and Sun off

We have 2 girls 5 and 3 who attend school and preschool. I will take them and collect them except Tues afternoons when they would need collecting by nanny. (I work part time round school hours.)

Nanny would have sole charge of 6 month old and 2.5 yr old boys. With 2.5 yr old attending nursery 3 mornings a week.

I would expect help with laundry and clearing up after meals but no other cleaning (we have a cleaner).

We would also want the occasional (once a month) night of babysitting.

What I am prepared to pay will depend on experience BUT the attributes I'm looking for are:

  1. Someone bright and intelligent
  2. Good spoken English
  3. Over 23 - the older the better

But I'm not too bothered about their previous childcare experience as I think that with the right attitude and personality they will learn what to do and bonding with baby / children doesn't come from experience.

So I've had interested from some uber experienced nannies ie 30yr old nannying since 19 who I don't think we can afford.

But there is a candidate who is czech but has been speaking English at work for 2 years. Her childcare experience is of raising her niece and nephew who are 2 and 6 months and have lived with her all their lives.

She wants to move into childcare from a boring office job and this would be great CV points for her. If it worked out after a year I would be prepared to give her a hefty payrise on the basis that she then had experience and could get better pay elsewhere.
Assuming her English is good enough - what would you pay?

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frakkinnakkered · 23/09/2010 12:59

Every nanny starts somewhere and not all are qualified. As long as you are satisfied with her skills and have time to show her the basics it's doable. I would insist on 1st aid though.

£250 gross/week? Where in the country are you?

Original poster
yesway · 23/09/2010 12:16

I take your point checkmate - and fully expected to get that response on here. I have hired a nanny before (who did have experience) but I strongly feel that personality matters much more than knowledge.

We're in London - but I don't know what the bottom end of the nanny pay scale is.

geordieminx - there's only 4 of them Wink

OP posts:
geordieminx · 23/09/2010 11:28

You have 5 under 5??? Respect.

Checkmate · 23/09/2010 11:23

I'm surprised you're not bothered about childcare experience with a 6 month old needing sole care. I get it that you think you can't afford a highly experienced and trained nanny, but what about someone whose finished at college training in childcare and looking for their first job, or someone who want sot bring their own child so is cheaper?

If you go for the Czech girl, you need to pay nanny rates and not au pair rates, as au pairs can't do sole charge of babies. The very bottom end of nannying rates for your area is I guess the right thing to pay, I guess, as well as paying for her to do a first aid course as soon as possible.