Need advice from nannies

Payroll payroll payroll!!!

diggingintheribs- I don't do so many non-childcare related chores in my current position, though I have offered. I have no problem picking up drycleaning on the way home from school run, or dropping a parcel off at postoffice if needed. I've offered. However I have in the past been taken advantage of- first its 'please could you... oh thanks so much' then it becomes assumed that I'll do it, which can be annoying if it interfears with the routine!

Regarding babysitting, I'm live-out and my contract says they pay £10 per hour for babysitting outside of contracted hours. Which is good to know so I don't have to ask or assume they will add to my wages. I hate having to ask for money, even if I know its owed me!

I won't lie, Love those kids to bits, but sometimes, yes, the thought of babysitting is horrendous but it's the late night as opposed to the kids iygwim

If she doesn't want to, she'll say no but tbh staying on a couple more hours at work when the kids are in bed with the tv, is pretty good!

Full time, but can work anything between 36 and 70hours pw depending on various things!

No babysitting in a live-out nanny contract. However I would have thought your nanny would be the first person you would ask if you needed a babysitter and they would probably say yes to requests, if it fits with their plans for that evening, especially if it's a work day evening as they could just stay after their usual finish time.

I do evening babysitting, I don't have it in my contract as my hours vary so much...I work a set amount per month (Used to be week) then I get £9ph for any work after that

I get first refusal on babysitting if they just want to go out rather then are working late (iygwim)
:)

Please excuse typing! I typed on the aforementioned phone!

I'm sure this will sound odd, depending in the phone she has I'd consider a cheap small cameras that can be slung ub the nappy bag on any day trips out

I have a great camera on ky phone bit not so fab battery life, having a camera means u can take loads of snaps without worrying about being contactable in an emergency

I do use ny phone for in the house or local places mind

No. It's something else to lug about and to lose. Most mobile phones have a camera built in... does hers? You don't want high quality image... you want a quick snap as and when to "capture the moment" (that's probably trademarked by one of the photo companies!)

Yes, good idea to track first few weeks to get a typical kitty amount.

Mobile phones often have camera's these days, ideal for taking quick pics whilst out and about. They can then be emailed or uploaded to secure image sharing site.

No, shouldn't need to phone you during the day. The odd text message however during the first few weeks can be of reassurance to you - such as "x has had 6oz bottle and is now napping."

I agree with the camera,I take a camera everywhere when we are out,take photos ,such as when the girls started football club this week, and when they dressed up for the royal wedding ,I took photos of how I did their hairIt was a bit way out] which may seem a little thing but their parents obviously interested in anything different we do.I give them either copies of photos ,although recently I gave them my camera and they downloaded all the pics of their children.

1. Kitty for activities - I like having a set budget with which I can do I what I like. £5 per day seems to work well - it's enough for toddler group, will usually cover going swimming, will cover misc things like icecream.
   Toddler groups don't give receipts usually. It can also be hard to get a receipt from the icecream van. Consider why it is that you are wanting receipts - is it a trust thing? Put trust in your nanny to spend the money wisely, to save up money for more expensive things. I work 4 days a week, get £20 to cover activities and misc expenses. Next week I get another £20 and so it goes on. If we overspend one week, we can then underspend the next. I got this kitty amount when Child1 was a pre-schooler and Child2 was a baby. Now I get the same amount with Child1 at school, Child2 pre-schooler, Child3 baby. In that situation amount could be increased for school holiday times, given that Child1 is no longer Free entry for many places.

2. Travel - I don't know about bus passes. The potential issue I see is that you could end up paying for her travel to/from work. That would be a taxable benefit I believe (check with your payroll provider or an accountant). Is there an electronic version of the bus pass which enables you to see itemised journeys and thus factor in a cost allocation? (as I said, know nothing about bus passes but with technology these days, I do wonder what is possible.) In my view you need to pay for work travel but not travel to/from work.

3. Day diary - personally I don't bother with this these days. Maybe I should but my boss seems relaxed about it now that I've been there several years. You can certainly ask, however it's bit like diaries at nurseries - you never really know how accurate it is. I found sending digital photos helped to reassure parents that we are actually doing things, going places.

4. Why would she want to use your mobile phone? Probably has her own mobile. You pay to call her mobile, as that's the way phones work - the caller pays. If you mean her sending you texts, calling you from her mobile, then that's part of the job... though could factor something into the daily/weekly kitty.

5. Lunch - nanny eats with the children. Nanny eats the same as the children usually, except for things like baby porridge! Ask nanny to suggest things for the shopping list, also to let you know when they spot things are running out. Presume nanny is cooking the meals.

Overlapping with a parent at home is fine. You can take that opportunity to have YOU time (or should that be ME time) to get things done just for you. Then you could spend time with 1 particular child - especially useful to help bonding with an older child who my be feeling pushed out by baby.

Why would nanny not want to eat at kids dinner time (tea time)? I do it on occasion, not always but often if there is enough food for all of us. If nanny is eating later themselves back home they may well only have a small amount at tea time, just to help encourage the children to eat and gives a time when they can talk. With baby, I find that she can need a feed around tea time, or a nap, often both. So can be fed at or near the dinner table, so we are still able to talk to the older children.

Makes perfect sense and would work fine, except sometimes accept that 1 dc may not want to go with the nanny and will cry and scream for you, but that's natural :)

And back the nanny up, I can't stress this enough! Any problems with discipline etc, tell her away from the kids! She needs your support and you both need to follow each others punishments etc

I often eat dinner with charges tbh....In the job I'm in now I already have to cook 3 different meals....I can't be bothered doing myself one at home

:)