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Original poster

What is the difference between a Mothers Help and a Nanny?

41 replies

nannynick · 13/12/2008 17:33

What do you feel are the differences between a Mothers Help and a Nanny?

I feel that a Mothers Help is:
someone who helps around the home, while at least one parent is also at home the majority of the time. The Mothers Help may be left to care for children for short periods, but not all day.

I feel a Nanny is:
someone who cares for children at a families home, who also does some domestic tasks. They can care for children all day.

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tankie · 13/12/2008 18:18

A live in nanny or mother's help would normally work a 50-60 hour week.

Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 18:17

I only work 25 hours. I get paid £60 and by the way people have described what a mother's help is, I am one of them

tankie · 13/12/2008 18:17

Lily - it also is worth bearing in mind that if you were renting a room in a shared house somewhere, you might easily be paying £100 a week in rent, bills and food. So with that considered you're not on great money but it isn't too terrible.

How old are you? Is this the first time you've lived away from home?

wickedwitchofthesoutheast · 13/12/2008 18:12

I was paid £200 a week live in when I was a mothers help about 6/7 years ago if that helps.
I did work all the hours that god sent thou!

Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 18:10

Okay, thanks for your help Tankie. I have previous childcare experience also but not of young children.

tankie · 13/12/2008 18:07

A mother's help would probably be paid more than £60 live in for 25 hours a week Lily - maybe £100? But a mother's help would probably have some childcare experience, in a nursery or previously having been an au pair. They'd almost certainly be working longer hours than you are though.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/12/2008 18:06

mothers helps are not normally left sole charge for long periods, they help mums and basically do what they are asked -also do housework

nannies are gen sole charge and do anything to do with children, but might draw the line at some domestic tasks, ie cleaning house/parents ironing ( well i would, but you all know what a fussy nanny i am )

Original poster
nannynick · 13/12/2008 18:04

Live-In job salaries can be whatever the two parties involved agree. So it could easily vary quite a bit. If the employer didn't want to operate PAYE, then they would probably only go as high as the NICs Lower Earnings Limit Threshold which for 08/09 Tax Year is £90 per week.

OP posts:
Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 18:00

I thought live ins are not paid by the hour but by the week? Sorry for the many questions but I am very curious to see if I am being short changed

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/12/2008 17:56

i would have least thought min wage (though min wage doesnt exsist for live in) but about £5/6ph for a mothers help

Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 17:54

If a mother's help was live in and worked 25 hours a week, in general how much would he/she get paid?

Original poster
nannynick · 13/12/2008 17:47

Lily - Personally I feel that both roles could be either live-in or live-out. I am trying to steer away from discussion about au-pairs, as that visa category no longer exists. The new category is Tier 5 Youth & Mobility Scheme which applies to very few countries. Therefore most of those people coming to the UK (as most I feel will come from EEA countries) to do live-in childcare/housework will be either a Mothers Help or a Nanny.

Tankie - Yes, the level of supervision/management required could be a defining factor. Though some nannies may need more direction than others, and some mothers helps may need less direction. But generally I'd say that a nanny should be able to be left to get on with things without micro-management.

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BabyTalk13 · 13/12/2008 17:45

Yeh Id say pretty similar to you.
Mothers help arnt really meant to be left alone for long where as a nanny has them for the longer periods alone,inside or outside the house.
Everyone I speak to has a diff view on this so I think mainly its just whats agreed between the employee and employer.
Mothers help dont get paid as much as a Nanny would as they do less and have less responsibility

Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 17:45

I sometimes wish I was a nanny instead of a mother's help. It would make my job easier. The best times at work are when the MB has gone out and I can get on with what I am supposed to be doing. Discipline is such a tough issue when both myself and the MB are there.

tankie · 13/12/2008 17:38

I agree with that nick - I'd say one of the big differences is the level of management. A nanny can be expected to be pretty autonomous, organise the children's schedule, bedrooms, laundry etc. A mother's help I feel would have more direction - please clean the kitchen today, take the children to the park for an hour, hold the baby while mum sleeps.

Lilybeto · 13/12/2008 17:38

Thanks for this nannynick. I felt quite bad about the serious hijack of the other thread.

I am most definitely a mother's help.

But now another question. (or a few ). Do you get live in mother's helps? Also, what then is this difference in terms of mothers helps and APs regarding hours, money, duties etc.

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