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Original poster

Nanny Christmas present

30 replies

starsinyourpies · 13/11/2020 10:23

Can any nannies advise on what is a good Christmas present? I usually do something crafty from the kids and cash. One year did a massage voucher but that was less well received....

Is cash generally most welcome do you think?

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Elcantador · 10/12/2020 19:43

I am a nanny and over the years i have been given chocolate, amazon giftcards, space nk giftcards, alcohol, handcream, candles, cardigan, scarf , gloves, books, book gift vouchers and cash. I found all of those great bar the scarf, which was 'itchy'..
The kids normally do a handmade card, or sometimes i get those cards where a family photo is on the front of the card.. i love those.
Parents often ask me what i would like but i love it when they 'take notes' and get to know me enough to give me something that i will definitely like without asking. Once i got a huge box of luxury hot chocolate powder which was fab!
When it is cash it is normally £100 - £150.

Respectabitch · 03/12/2020 17:57

We give a cash bonus and a small personal gift - last year a picture of her with the kids, previously we've given gifts tailored to her hobbies/interests. In a normal year we also go out for an Xmas meal.

Diverseduvet · 29/11/2020 14:13

Always get a Christmas bonus of cash. Just about to leave a family and getting a weeks wages.

HappygoLucie · 29/11/2020 14:11

Oh and some vouchers for things I enjoyed and had mentioned- tickers for country house bf and I wanted to visit, some garden centre vouchers and a big starbucks voucher as they know I grab one on the way to theirs. Very personal and thoughtful I thought

HappygoLucie · 29/11/2020 14:09

The family I used to nanny for gave me a small hamper with a bottle of wine, some chocolates, christmas socks and some bath smellies as well as some handmade christmas decorations from the children. Sort of a relax/pamper hamper? Was very well received and lovely to have keepsakes and something for me to enjoy. I suppose families can alter the budget for that as well, can be inexpensive to make a hamper or like mine they put a lovely bottle of wine and some expensive chocolates etc.

Cjw73 · 27/11/2020 20:18

Tbh, I prefer a gift that shows the family know me well as I, personally, think cash is the easy option but I know lots of nannies who would disagree 😉 My favourite gifts have been a long,warm hoodie (perfect for cold school pick ups) , a Tweety Pie watch chosen by the children and a voucher to stay in a castle.

Icanseewhyichangednyusername · 25/11/2020 23:50

@FreeButtonBee

I always do small but luxurious gift (so a Space NK gift set or really nice candle) plus cash. Plus a card that the kids have vomited glitter and stickers and whatnot all over!
as a nanny this would be right up my street. Luxurious treat, something handmade from kids, fat wedge of cash, card with lovely thoughtful words of appreciation from the parents. Other memorable previous gifts have been bottle of champagne, extra paid time off over christmas, early finish on the last day of work before christmas, meal out with kids paid for, tea party with local nannies and their charges
Bowerbird5 · 25/11/2020 00:00

Book voucher, tickets to film or theatre, something that the nanny is interested in.

organised5 · 21/11/2020 23:53

Late to this thread but wondering too. I searched back and it seems like a weeks wages in cash is standard as a Christmas bonus, plus a gift (maybe £50?!)

runningpink · 14/11/2020 18:19

I have had various gifts over the years. The ones that stand out and mean the most to me are the ones done by the kids like ceramic tree decorations and ceramic mugs which I will always keep.

I don’t ever expect a gift but I have one boss who always tries to get something g related to my interests or favourite foods. The fact she takes note of this means a lot!

WutheredOut · 14/11/2020 10:36

We give our Nanny a bottle of whiskey 🥃😂

Original poster
starsinyourpies · 14/11/2020 10:33

@Blondeshavemorefun yes I think we try to be generous employers in other ways as well so hopefully it all evens out.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 13/11/2020 19:04

Not at all. I worked for families who could afford it and lovely with it

Many nannies on threads over the years have never had a cash bonus let alone a weeks wages

Original poster
starsinyourpies · 13/11/2020 18:55

@Blondeshavemorefun wow a week wages, now I feel stingy!

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Blondeshavemorefun · 13/11/2020 13:26

I always had a weeks wages in cash and something little from the kids

Original poster
starsinyourpies · 13/11/2020 12:35

@nannynick thanks she definitely likes wine so probably a nice bottle as well. 👍🏻

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nannynick · 13/11/2020 12:29

I also like Chocolate so a big box of qualify chocolate is always nice to get, or a year subscription to chocolate by post such as Hotel Chocolate Tasting Club.
I also like good quality red wine.
So you need to know what your nanny likes - ask them.

nannynick · 13/11/2020 12:27

I like things that are practical and can be kept a long time. I have a coffee mug that a child gave me one Christmas which he had drawn on (at age 3) and was glazed. I still have that mug 18 years later.

Statusless · 13/11/2020 12:15

The post wasn't to you specifically, rottiemum. Only that I've seen many people who feel some kind of way about giving others cash when they have no idea what those people want and cash is what they'll need to get what they want. It's neither good nor bad.

FreeButtonBee · 13/11/2020 12:14

I always do small but luxurious gift (so a Space NK gift set or really nice candle) plus cash. Plus a card that the kids have vomited glitter and stickers and whatnot all over!

Statusless · 13/11/2020 12:11

Don't know why some people have such hangups about cash - it's a means. Unless you know what someone actually needs/wants specifically or you know they too have hangups about being given cash, cash is better and they can get what they prefer themselves.

Buying a gift to make you the giver feel better doesn't necessarily mean it's something the receiver will find useful. Besides, the cost of your gift is the same as the cash value.

Original poster
starsinyourpies · 13/11/2020 12:09

@rottiemum88 given we pay by the hour I guess she already knows how much we think she's worth Wink.

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Original poster
starsinyourpies · 13/11/2020 12:08

Thanks all for the response. Hopefully combination of thoughtful child-made present and cash is a winner! Will stick with that formula.

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rottiemum88 · 13/11/2020 12:06

@helloxhristmas

Cash.

It's really not vulgar. It means the recipient can get whatever they want. Whatever you buy they could find out the price of in seconds on google if that's what you are worried about @rottiemum88.

It's just that cash in itself seems like a value judgement to me, like 'this amount of £ is what I think you're worth'. At least with presents, if you pick something the individual likes, it shows some more effort/thought has gone into the process, irrespective of the price 🤷🏼‍♀️
adagio · 13/11/2020 12:01

We always gift cash, plus a lovely homemade card from the kids (so obvious we invested our weekend time thinking if her and trying to do something nice) and a gift (toy) each of her kids, which my kids help choose (again, hopefully comes across as thoughtful). Always seems well received.

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