I am a celebrity nanny… AMA

[VIPNanny]

Name changed for obvious reasons but I know I would have been curious about my job if I wasn’t doing it, so I figured I would help answer some questions people might have about what it’s like to nanny for rich/well-known families.

When my DS was much younger he was invited on a play date through our childminder. She asked me whether I would mind and she would take him but it was a celebrity and she wasnt sure whether they would be comfortable sharing their name. Brad Pitt was in town and I honestly thought it might be him and his family.

It ended up being Des O'Connor...

@ohmydayzz honestly I wouldn’t say better than families that weren’t rich. Usually there will be a cake and a small gift, same as I had as a “normal” nanny. Very sweet either way but on par with what I had and was gifted as an Au pair and later nanny in the past. I am sure some nannies are given Channel bags etc… but not me!

@ogorange from an employer, not toward me but her screaming at a poor street employee for telling her she couldn’t park where she did (middle of the street) demanding his name and asking him if he knew who she was and that now he would have to tell her kid that he wasn’t allowed to go on his play date because he wouldn’t let her park there. (She eventually calmed down and parked where she should but it was mortifying.) to be fair I am easily mortified. I am someone who believe in fairness and being treated kindly so any moment where they jump the queue just because without saying sorry or asking or anything of the sort has me go red and heavily embarrassed.

Pretty much the assumption that because some people know of them that they should be able to break the law or have priority access is something that really get to me and annoy me and unfortunately a bit too common.

From a child, I had one kid who when told to get out of the bath as it was getting cold and she might get sick said “I don’t get sick, rich people don’t get sick, only poor people do.” I had to remind her that she was in fact sick just the week previous and that unfortunately illnesses don’t care much about the money in their bank account.

@PermanentTemporary

Not really no. I know some nannies get used to the luxury and hope that by hanging out in those environment they will one day belong to that environment and I know some demand to only fly business or first when at work etc… which for me is absolutely ridiculous. Personally it’s teaching me that money doesn’t buy happiness. A lot of those people I wouldn’t want their life and I actually feel like I have a better life than them as nobody really has any expectations of me.

My job if anything has made me hyper aware of what’s important in life and Botox and designer bags ain’t it. I make a lot more money now and I still spend the same (for the most part) as when I was an Au pair and had £100 a week or less to live off. I personally have no interest in belonging to their world long-term and try to stick to being me as much as I can.

@Carryonmarion overall I have been lucky and for the most part I have been well-treated, I sometimes (often) feel overworked but usually the parents are very nice. I only pick families I vibe with anyway so if at an interview I do not feel like the parents are people I would have a connection with I do not take the job, so it’s helped in the sense that I mostly work with people I could be “friends with” outside of work which limits the negative interactions for the most parts and usually my issues are with how exhausted I am rather than how parents treat me.

@lizzielizard yes and no.

Currently yes because I am the only staff and work 24/6. In other families not as much because you have other staff and so you at least have some interactions and support which is nice. It’s isolating though, due to the schedule. I haven’t met anyone my age in a few months now for example and usually too tired on my one day off to properly socialize.

I definitely feel isolated from society in some ways because at work I am “the help” so I can’t fully be myself but also don’t have the time to be myself outside of it as I can’t socialize in the evenings or anything. I do think that’s actually the hardest thing of my job. Missing out on socializing.

How old are you?

How famous are the families you have worked for?

@Franklin12

That’s funny, had to Google who that was as I am not from the UK. But honestly I don’t follow celebrities so I can’t tell you the amount of time, agencies built up this massive suspense of “X is very famous, can’t tell you his name before the interview is confirmed but if I tell you you will know.” And then they tell me and I am totally blank faced because I have absolutely no clue who they are! Haha and Wikipedia doesn’t really help! So I very rarely get excited!

I also used to live in California and applied to be part of the public for the mask singers and exactly same thing happened. They would take off their mask and my US friend who was with me would get excited but I would have literally no clue who they were so would have to take enthusiasm!

It’s helped for my job actually as I rarely (if ever) get start-struck which I think make life easier as I am sure some nannies wouldn’t stand up for themselves if need be just because it’s Brad Pitt addressing them or something like that. While for me they are just parents who just so happen to have had some success in their work!

But yes, I have learned to act as if everybody I am introduced to by the families is somehow important just in case haha because honestly they could introduce me to Boris Johnson and I would almost not know and some people tend to get offended if they feel you don’t give them the respect and attention they feel they deserve as they just assume everyone have heard of them.

Do you have security with you when you are out and about with the children?

@WindowWanker

How old are you?

Mid to late 20’s

And some are just billionaires so you wouldn’t know them because they just are successful in their specific field or in business and unless you were part of their field you wouldn’t be able to know who they are at all, (or I wouldn’t!), and others are famous enough that by name you would know them if I said it, so it varies.

@chisanunian

Depends on the family, with some yes I have body guards and for some not.

Alright have to go back to work for a bit but will answer any other questions when I next get a break!

Not a nannying Q specifically, but whenever I read about/see pictures of the massive houses (sometimes multiple massive houses) some celebrities/other wealthy people own, I wonder how that works on a day-to-day level - where they keep things, and how they know which house things are in, and - even if they have one of everything in each house - how often they mislay stuff because there’s just so much space.

Have you ever opened the fridge and been surprised that it's all Tesco basics instead of fortnum and Mason ?

What's the most bonkers artwork you've seen in a home?

What has it been like nannying during the covid restrictions - do your employers follow them eg lockdowns or use private arrangements like jets to get around them?

Best parenting tip for happy children?

Your training?

Any regrets?

@jay55

Have you ever opened the fridge and been surprised that it's all Tesco basics instead of fortnum and Mason ?

What's the most bonkers artwork you've seen in a home?

Tesco Basics rock!

@GiantKitten massive house/multiple properties usually means lot of staff involved which usually mean that the family doesn’t really have to keep track of their things as other people are there to find them for you and bring them back to you.

But usually a house, no matter how big, is a house at the end of the day so you do get used to the size and you eventually learn where everything is or at least, should be!

Usually yes families will rather buy double or triple than carry everything over (except for the clothes) so sometimes even for rental holiday properties they will just buy what they need.

I mean I would say they probably lose stuff the normal amount but it’s the housekeepers/staff’s job to make sure everything is back where it’s supposed to be so that nothing is ever really lost.

Housekeepers usually work full shifts every day (or at least 5/6 days a week) so they are always there to check behind the family that nothing has been left behind and that if anything has been left behind after they have left a room that it’s either brought back to them or put back where it belongs.

@jay55 honestly I can’t speak for every rich person or celebrity but as far as I can tell they mostly order from the same places we do. The only thing is that they will eat a lot more fresh products and will splurge a lot more on meat, fish, cheese and wine!

If they have a chef they usually trust him/her to find the freshest produces and to make up the best/healthiest meals and I don’t think there is really a budget when it comes to food.

I know of one family who spent over 4000€ in one go at Carrefour (so barely a high-end supermarket) which was stock for a week or so. I personally have no idea how one can have 4000€ worth of groceries but mind you most host families feed their full-time staff, so the food budget is A LOT!

As for the most bonkers decoration. I mean I see a lot of lovely things as well as a lot of stuff I would never buy in a million year. Two things I remember, one who had machine guns, AK 47 and pistols in the shape of lamps in the kids room (they actually looked quite nice but found it an odd choice of decor for children’s room) and another was a cello that had been painted in very flashy but not harmonious colors at all with a bunch of what I wish was diamonds but was very clearly “cheap” gemstones and rhinestones all over it. And I just found it a total eyesore personally.

Have you ever had an affair with the footballer husband and then gone on to force a vaguely z list career including wanking off a pig?

@EatSleepRantRepeat

I did a few family during Covid. The first one and the one I had during 2020 and the first part of 2021 was quite strict about it, but that was understandable they had young kids and so little was known about Covid and people were dying on mass and it was pre-vaccination and they did follow the rules as well.

In 2021 I changed family and there I heard that during 2020 they had asked the staff to move in with them and everybody had been stuck in the estate for 3 months or so at the beginning of the pandemic but by the time I came, the family was extremely relaxed about it, they weren’t vaccinated, had already had it and mildly and so felt like Covid wasn’t that big of a deal and they would definitely break the rules, as in use other people’s Covid pass and things like that. I don’t think they felt impacted by lockdown, most of those families are happy to “quarantine” in whichever villa they have rented for their trip. But what was a bit annoying is that they would endanger staff by going for lunch with people who were close contact with someone (either staff or direct relative) who was actively positive etc… and they didn’t seem to see it as an issue. That was problematic because some of the staff was on the older side and some were looking after vulnerable people at home. It’s not like they would break all of the rules but they definitely would follow them on and off and definitely felt a certain impunity towards it due to their status.

Currently the family I am with have zero Covid restrictions but by now I do feel it’s the spirit of most people and there is also currently no Covid restriction where we are at.

But I mean rich Russians are still flying out on their private jets and getting around the current restrictions regarding Russia so money and came definitely buy you a certain peace of mind that laws don’t fully apply to you, also when money is no objection a fine is barely going to scare you or put you off. Unfortunately.

What's your accommodation like?

@Daffodilz not sure about best parenting tips, I would say kids are more sensitive to your love and presence than toys, so as long as you love on them, care for them and show them the attention and support they deserve and don’t pressure them into becoming someone they are not, or don’t have the abilities to be, you are probably doing a good job!

Any regrets? Accepting certain contracts and not standing up for myself more at the beginning of my career. Something I have thankfully learned from!

@Pyri no, no affair with the footballer or the wife or the footballer! Haha and no Z list career so far!

To be honest you see them in their day to day life and you also see them with their kids. If they are not the greatest of parents or partner it’s hard to to not be totally put off or find them attractive!

I have never wanted to sleep with any of them so far. But I have to say some of them have great genes and are genuinely good looking so I do enjoy the view, sometimes, but couldn’t imagine risking my career and an affair totally goes against everything I stand for anyway so wouldn’t do if I could.

I have yet to work for a single billionaire so… will have to keep my nanny status for a bit longer!

@Iloveyourbracelet depends on the family.

Currently I have my own separated house for my time off but because I do nights with the baby I also have a bedroom in their house that I share with the baby and that’s where I spend most of my time.

In other families it’s also been similar with my own separate apartment for my time off and shared room for work hours.

Have you ever been approached by any tabloids sniffing around for a story?

As you specialise in babies, how long do you typically work for each family?

When u say a celebrity are we talking reality, wag or proper a lister? They do differ in my
Opinion

Gosh this is interesting!

Such an odd thought to have a nanny at night for a newborn. I’m guessing the mums don’t breastfeed or are you the one bringing the baby to them in bed? do you have to do sleep training? I would find that so tough!