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

Finding/vetting a nanny in Spain!

39 replies

MyKidsThrowFood · 09/08/2023 10:12

I have a wedding in Spain (Marbella) next year. Kids aren't invited so need to find a nanny out there to look after my two (both under 5) on the wedding day. The problem is I have no idea what questions to ask to vet them! What's the Spanish equivalent of a DBS check? What are the different childcare qualifications I should ask about?
Help from any Spanish mums, holiday-goers or expats in Spain would be much appreciated. feeling quite intimidated by the whole prospect as have only ever left my DSs with people I know really well!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
StillWantingADog · 09/08/2023 11:15

have you considered leaving the children with a family member in the UK?
that would be my presence. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t be going at all tbh

adriftabroad · 09/08/2023 11:14

I would advertise privately in the UK for a DBS checked au pair, willing to go to Spain for a weekend in June! Flights paid - Accomodation paid 400 euro?

adriftabroad · 09/08/2023 11:11

Hi OP, yes I live in Spain. In Valencia though: Marbella/Malaga is far more Britcentric so may be slightly different.

I really do not know about DBS checks. But I teach and have never been asked for one.

August would have been impossible, so great that it is June. Your best option is as a poster said above, to fly someone with you. Things like this need booking (obviously) and I really would not rely on booking so far in advance in Spain. I am not sure such things really exist. (Thing youre after, I mean)

An idea (that they do at Spanish weddings) is to get organisers to sort a "creche catered for room" for babies etc with some local nice older teens helping one main person in charge. It would work if there were several children.

They do it in many restaurants and venues.

The problem is, child free is not really a thing here as much as UK. (I wish it was)

As it is a weekend, nurseries are out plus you need to be resident to enrol.

veryberrypericherry · 09/08/2023 11:06

Ahhh I'm sorry I have no idea of prices but definitely ring a few agencies. I worked abroad as a nanny for peanuts back in the 90s! Absolutely steal I was 😂
There are good agencies in Bristol/London & SW but I don't know where you're based or if that matters.

Or you could contact a local UNI/College to ask if there is a student with relevant qualifications (they'd have DBS if on a child related/education course) to see if there's anyone who'd be interested in this. It could be that they do some babysitting for you and through the year and then go on the trip?

Original poster
MyKidsThrowFood · 09/08/2023 11:00

@veryberrypericherry how expensive are we talking? Have you used any you can recommend?

OP posts:
veryberrypericherry · 09/08/2023 10:55

There are UK nanny agencies who would be able to find you a nanny to fly out with you, it will be more expensive but you have the option of letting the children get to know the nanny before you go (and also extra help on the journey).

Original poster
MyKidsThrowFood · 09/08/2023 10:55

@adriftabroad - it's June 2024. Friday/Saturday afternoon and evening

OP posts:
Original poster
MyKidsThrowFood · 09/08/2023 10:54

@adriftabroad sounds like you speak from experience. Do you/have you lived in Spain? Is there no Spanish equivalent of a criminal record background check? Surely nursery workers or teachers etc would need something?!

OP posts:
adriftabroad · 09/08/2023 10:53

What day and key the month?

adriftabroad · 09/08/2023 10:52

NannyR · 09/08/2023 10:45

Would it be an option to pay for a friend or family member to fly out with you?

That was exactly my thought.

Original poster
MyKidsThrowFood · 09/08/2023 10:52

@NannyR sadly most family and friends will be at the wedding. It's a big one!

OP posts:
NannyR · 09/08/2023 10:45

Would it be an option to pay for a friend or family member to fly out with you?

underneaththeash · 09/08/2023 10:28

I would use an agency, if you just try and get someone ad hoc they may not turn up and then you have the added stress of finding someone else.

https://www.childcaremarbella.com/

PS I'm not recommending them, they just came up on a google search.

Peter Rabbit Childcare Marbella | Babysitting Service

B

https://www.childcaremarbella.com

adriftabroad · 09/08/2023 10:23

What day(s) of the week would you need childcare? What month?

There are not really "nannies" as such out here.
You will get a student or lovely older lady who does ad hoc childcare. DBS check, not really a thing.

Swipe left for the next trending thread