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Employing a very young, inexperienced nanny - advice?

29 replies

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 11/01/2012 19:19

This is my first foray into the world of nannies/childcare etc so please be honest but gentle!

I'm a teacher and the other day I bumped into an ex-pupil who was working in a local cafe. She's a lovely girl so we got chatting and she explained that she was working in the cafe until she found a 'childcare job'. Would I be absolutely insane to go back to the cafe to discuss if she'd like to be our nanny?

I will be going back to work for four days per week in April, when LO will be around 8 months old. We were planning to put LO into a nursery, but seeing this girl has got my mind whirling. If we employed her, she would get more experience and LO would get one-to-one attention. She's a bright girl, highly responsible and very friendly - exactly the kind of nanny I would have been looking for had I ever thought my budget would stretch to it. She is however, only 17, has very limited experience and I fear I am being swayed by the thought of a 'nanny on a budget'.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Thank you.

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OhFraktiousTree · 11/01/2012 19:34

Nannies, even inexperienced, can be quite costly. You need to factor in a lot of additional costs (employer's NICs, kitty money, travel, feeding her during work hours) and you become an employer with all the paperwork that entails. Before you make the proposal consider it carefully.

But you know her, she's motivated and I think one to one is preferable for littlies so it is a goer....

Here's what I would do. I would do the maths and research what being an employer means, I would also factor in paying for her to do a paediatric first aid and a diploma in childcare whilst working for you. If she wouldn't do this it would be a dealbreaker for me because it indicates no interest in developing it as a career and finding out more about how to do the best job you can fit the children in your care but rather thinking that childcare is an easy job that anyone can do and it's just playing all day. I would then interview her properly, advertise the job to see what comparable candidates I could get for the same salary and check references. Then I'd have a trial day and if all seems to go well and both sides are happy I'd go for it.

timetosmile · 11/01/2012 19:31

8 months is pretty young to leave with a lovely, responsible (but young-with-no-experience girl)
Does she have any idea what to do if the baby is sick..would she recognise a significantly ill baby...or choked?
IMO there's a world of difference between having this girl babysit a 3 and 7 year old (which I would happily do, on your recommendation!) and giving her the sole responsibility for a small baby.
It's down to your assessment of her safety, as well as her niceness and your wanting to get her started in childcare.
If it was me, I wouldn't not for a baby. After school pickup, then possibly.
If you do go for it, please get her on a decent child first aid course before she starts.
Good luck with the decision..hope you get some good opinions on here.

Nettee · 11/01/2012 19:24

Learn not earn

Nettee · 11/01/2012 19:23

You know and trust her already which is a huge bonus. She would do things your way as she is not experienced and would
Earn in the job with just one 8 month old. Mothers don't necessarily have childcare experience. I had a 19 year old nanny who had worked in a nursary before so not quite the same but worked really well. Also a 20 year old straight put of uni as a mothers help very little experience but no problems.