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Original poster

Thinking of a nanny - currently using nursery. Some advice please

54 replies

Hadeda · 12/11/2009 22:00

I'm going back to work 4 days a week and the increase in nursery fees (extra day plus extra child) means that we will probably pay just as much for nursery as we would for a nanny.

So I'm thinking about finding a nanny for my DDs, but this is very new territory for me so would be really helpful to talk to people who already have a nanny. I think my issue is that I can see benefits for me in getting a nanny, but not sure what it gives the girls. DD1 is currently at nursery and we have been very happy with that.

For me, I may have an easier evening as I'll get home in time for bath time rather than picking them up from nursery around 6pm and then starting the evening from a standing start (so to speak). Also easier mornings (although those are DH's issue) as we don't have to get them out anywhere. It will also give cover for days when one of them has a minor illness (i.e. the coughs and colds that keep them off nursery). And, with notice, the nanny might be prepared to babysit.

For the girls, they will be looked after at home and have one to one attention. I think I have two worries. First, I'm concerned whether they will have the same opportunity to interact with other children - DD1 has a few little friends at nursery that she talks about and sees twice a week. I'm sure the nanny would go to toddler groups etc but would they make the same group of "friends"? Second thought is whether they will have the same chance to do arts and crafts that DD1 has at nursery. It's mostly just smearing paint on paper and sticking, drawing with crayons, etc. Does a nanny do this? I must be honest, I hardly ever do this sort of thing at home myself but wouldn't like DD1 to stop doing this sort of stuff altogether.

Some other more "practical" questions:

  1. DD1 will be just over 2 (probably 27 months) and DD2 will be 10 months. Would a nanny look after two such young girls?
  2. I'd ideally like someone to work from 7:30 - 6pm (these are the hours DD1 is at nursery). Would a nanny work these hours?
  3. Nursery fees will be about £23,500. Would a nanny work for this gross salary? Nannyjob said average gross salary is £25,500. But I've spoken to a mom I know locally who had a nanny, she told me a nanny costs around £90 a day - which is about £23,400 if the nanny was full time (I calculated that as 90 x 5 (i.e. per week cost) x 52).
  4. I only need 4 days a week but know that might be hard to recruit a nanny. So I've thought about a nanny share. I have a friend who will be going back to work around the same time as me who might consider a nanny share. I've assumed she'll be working 3 days a week (which I know is what she wants) and her DD will be 12 months. The nanny would then be looking after 3 very young girls. One day would be my friend's DD only, two days would be all three girls and the other two days would be my DDs. Would a nanny do this or is it just too many small children?

Sorry, lots of questions here so thank you if you've read this far, and thank you even more if you have any advice for me .

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AtheneNoctua · 13/11/2009 08:57

One benefit of a nanny which has not yet been mentioned is that you can choose activities for the girls which would not be available at a nursery or childminder. ~For example, if you want themto learn to swim, you can have nanny take them to swimming lessons (or possibly even teach them herself). You can choose who your children do/don't hang out with. I leave the bulk of the organising to the nanny. But, sometimes I will notice DD is not spending time with another child with whom she used to be close and I'll ask nanny to arrange a play date with that child.

If you did go down the road of a nanny share, I think a 33% increase is rather steep. More like %15-20 would be reasonable. If I was asked to take on more responsibility at work but within the same hours I already work, there is no way I would be offered a %20 raise.

However, frakkin mentioned b-sitting for extra if the nanny is live-out. I think this applies also to live-in.

Also, I notice you are talking about the costs in terms of gross salary. Remember to look at the whole cost of hiring a nanny. There are weekly expenses (probably around £20/week), transportation (bus/tube pass is definitely fine), activity fees if you sign the kids up for any specific activities, holiday pay, possibly a mobile phone. In our case, the nanny takes the kids to swimming/tennis at the gym so there is a gym membership for the nanny as well.

frakkinaround · 12/11/2009 23:11

No they don't have to drive at all, but if you're in the middle of nowhere then it's an almost unavoidable cost unless you want a crazy housebound nanny and your DC to have no friends.

4 or 5 years experience live out in SW London you're probably looking at £9+ gross. Call it £10/hour for ease of calculation and you're looking at roughly £110/day which is £440/week and £22,800/year.

Original poster
Hadeda · 12/11/2009 22:55

Thanks Frakkinaround. I'm in SW London, near Wimbledon. We're looking for a live out nanny. I guess I'd want someone with a bit of experience, say 4 or 5 years at least. Not sure if that's towards the top or bottom end of experience!! It's really encouraging to hear that nannies are after 4 days a week jobs. TBH, I was only thinking of sharing with my friend as a way to fund a full time position.

You mention mileage as a potential cost - do nannies HAVE to drive the children? I ask because my DD2 absolutely hates the car. I don't drive anywhere unless it is 100% necessary because she is so awful in the car - screams herself hoarse and soaks herself in sweat. Hopefully this will change over time 'cos it's driving me mad! - but I would prefer it if the nanny wasn't driving while she is like that. We do live within walking distance of the local library, park and train station and bus ride to a tube station.

The other costs (apart from payroll) I expect will probably be around what I cost anyway now while I'm at home on maternity leave so do-able.

Thanks for your advice.

OP posts:
frakkinaround · 12/11/2009 22:42

Yes nannies will do arts and crafts if you get an arty nanny who likes getting messy. Nannies often build social circles with other nannies/mums so your children will probably have a good group of friends and you can specify that nanny keeps in touch with your DDs friends from nursery.

Nanny will look after your 2 - you will probably have nannies lining up from here to the moon because they're good ages with long term job potential! Nannies do work those hours but remember to build in a good handover time at the end of the day. We also babysit (with notice and paid extra if live out)

Cost, as ever, depends on the nanny. You don't say where you're based but cost ranges from £6.50-15 per hour gross for live out. At the bottom end of the scale you'll get an unqualified nanny with a bit of experience, at the top end you get a very qualified nanny with tons of experience and there are all kinds of grey in between! Work out what's important to you and then we can tell you how much a nanny with a similar profile would cost. Live in, if you can offer it, is cheaper.

Lots of nannies want a 4 day week. You probably won't have a problem filling that.

Nanny share with those ages is possible but would start getting difficult in terms of logistics - nanny won't be able to do as many activities outside the house due to different routines/nap times, you'll need a car that will hold 3 bulky car seats and possibly a triple buggy, depending how good your DD1 is at walking and your nanny may not be quite as up for playdates etc on shared days. If not then a double buggy with a buggy board. That's not to say it's impossible and it would bring the cost down for you. As a rough guide add a third to the hourly figure (because nanny has extra hassle/two families to deal with) and divide by two (half paid by your friend, half by you). Finally on the nanny share point - do you have a similar parenting style to your friend? What happens if one party leaves the share? What happens if your children are sick? Who has to cart their child(ren) to the other's house in the morning?

Then you need to consider the additional expenses of a nanny - operating payroll (if you don't do it yourself), kitty, mileage, food, heating/lighting/wear and tear on house.

Good luck!

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