Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Full time live in nanny ..inc nights

83 replies

khaa2091 · 01/03/2022 13:37

I am just in the process of trying to sort out childcare for when I return to work in September when dd 10 months.

I am a single parent with grandparents nearby, but my normal working day is 0645 to 7pm. I will not be working one day a week, but will be at work from 0645 Wed or Thurs am to 1900 Thurs or Fri pm every 2 weeks. There are also monthlyish nights (where I will be gone 1900 to 0900) and some weekend working, both day and night.

What is reasonable to discuss? I will have a separate annexe with its own entrance which can be used by a nanny, but they will then have to come into the main house (which I would be happy with full access with, whether or not I was there) if working over night. Are overnight hours usually paid at the same rate as daytime? How do the rates usually divide I am also getting help from grandparents and my sister.

I realise that this is an unusual and demanding job and can't see how this is going to work without flexibility on everyone's part (whilst still needing to work fulltime in order to pay for it all). Does anyone else to anything remotely similar, or would you even consider a job that required this?

Any advice / experiences gratefully received....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
NuffSaidSam · 01/03/2022 15:13

Nannies, particularly live-in ones will be fine with covering an overnight a few times a year (and working the day either side).

But they will want regular, well-paid hours the rest of the time. You'll need to pay particularly well if these hours will move/change a lot. What are the core hours in a week? That's what you need to look at, anymore than 60 would need two nannies really (or nanny plus other childcare).

Twizbe · 01/03/2022 14:21

Flexible working request?

You could ask for no nights or an alternative or fixed shift pattern?

Original poster
khaa2091 · 01/03/2022 14:02

Father not in the picture, or even the country so not an option. I've moved to be nearer my parents, but further from work (so the commute is what is making the normal day so long).

OP posts:
Original poster
khaa2091 · 01/03/2022 14:01

The hours are defined with 3 months notice so on call not required - I will know when needed.
I'm looking at potentially combining with nursery, as well as parents / sister doing some of the overnights and weekends.

However, I'm trying to work a plan b and c. What I was not sure about was if my parents unable to do an overnight is there any possibility that a nanny would be able (unusually, maybe 2 or 3 times a year) to look after dd for the day before and after an overnight.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 01/03/2022 13:57

Thats long hours for a single parent. Could your parents do some or could the child live with its father?

Russell19 · 01/03/2022 13:55

I wouldn't do a job like that as a single mother. Near impossible for childcare.

FennecShandDoesEverything · 01/03/2022 13:51

Honestly, I think it's going to need 2 nannies to cover that. And they need defined hours - you can't just have them "on call" round the clock or they can't have a life. I hope you get paid a lot for those hours, because it's going to cost you a lot to cover them with a nanny.

BritInUS1 · 01/03/2022 13:44

That is a lot to ask - even 6.45am to 7pm is a very long day

Can you split it into more than one role? So have one person available Monday to Friday day time

Then the overnights and weekends are covered by someone else?

It doesn't look workable as one role

Swipe left for the next trending thread