To ask, if you have a full time nanny, how much is your household income?

[coffeeforone]

Just that really. Currently PG with DC2. DC1 goes to nursery full time, and thinking of the best way to afford full time childcare for two little ones once I'm back to work. I'm interested in the income levels of those who can afford nannies and whether it is completely out of the question for us, and at what income level families can generally afford a nanny?

I doubt this will answer your question as you will have no idea on their outgoings.
Just do your sums, look at how much a nanny in your area will cost then figure out if you can afford it.

We are a relatively high income family (£100k+ joint income) but have 5 children so have a full time, live out nanny (9am-5pm Mon-Fri). We live in the North West where wages are low and in an area of high unemployment and there is an abundance of ex nursery staff to choose from.

I've had 2 nanny's so far, I pay them more than they received in their previous, nursery roles but it still amounts to about 8ph which I know is very low compared to some parts of the UK. All in all, with tax and NI it costs me just under £1,500 per month (plus extra for fuel etc.)

For context, full time nursery fees when I just had 2 in nursery were more than this.

Thanks, I live inside M25 so costs are higher. I'm trying to find out how much a nanny would cost but online agencies seem to show hourly rates of £10-12 which would be £2600 per month (i have no idea if there would be lots of additional costs on top of this).

We currently pay £1,500 for one in FT nursery, but that includes all food, drinks, nappies and no worry about holiday etc.

Inside the M25 its £10/hour minimum but that's NET so gross you're looking at around £12.50/hour depending on how many hours per week etc, on top of that you have national insurance, lunches for the nanny, some kind of kitty for days out etc.

There is a nannies section under childcare - there are a couple of people who are regular posters who will be able to give you more info.

Ours costs about £3k a month all in for 4 days a week (40 hours). Household income over 200k. It’s about the same as 2 nursery places and they are twins and little so better to have a Nanny.

At a 90k full time equivalent and after paying my own tax and pension I had around £6.50 per hour left after paying a nanny

We pay around 33k a year salary plus kitty and expenses (around £100-150 a month). That's coming out of taxed salary. That's for 5 days (8:30-1830).

Thanks all. It sounds like there may not be much in it between 2 x nursery fees and a nanny (i.e. about £36k a year for both).

Yes, when I previously worked it out, 2 children is the tipping point.

The total cost decreases over time with nurseries as the fees drop after the children turn 2 and more as free nursery hours kick in after 3. They don't decrease with nannies and in fact increase over time. But if you want to load on more children, nannies are the way to go.

Our nanny was around 35k for 45 hours a week including taxes.

If you have an older child he/she would be entitled to 15/30hrs free childcare at nursery and there is all year care whilst a nanny you will need to find alternative care for holidays that do not align with yours.

With a nanny the main benefit is that they usually will look after a sick child so you don't need to take time off work and child less likely to get ill from other children at nursery.

maybe consider an au pair if you have room

It wasn’t the right option for us but we had friends who is worked out for

Def look at the age gap and plan long term. I'm the other end of 3DC with the youngest turning 2 next month. It's been a long 7 years of paying for childcare.

If I were you I would look your options together:

1- Both you and your OH doing compressed hours with one of you Monday - Thursday and the other Tuesday - Friday. That way you only need childcare for 3 days a week until you can qualify for free hours.

2- Childminder, which is normally a bit cheaper than a nursery.

3- Nanny but consider one highly qualified and experienced shared with another family with older school aged DC.

I am itching to get an au pair. After years of spending $36k (USD) a year I'm giddy with the prospect of 'only' paying $26k a year for an au pair. Plus they can do light household tasks. If all they did was put away the kids folded laundry I'd be as happy as a pig in shit.

For me I realized that to have the family size we wanted and for me to continue working I needed to make a whole lot more income. I've applied myself at work, getting qualified and seeking promotions that pay more. On my own I make more than £100k a year these days. When DD was born 7 years ago I was making £30k a year. A nanny isn't for everyone. I prefer not having the stress of a nanny. I don't need the stress of managing another employee. We use daycare, an afterschool program for the eldest and have a PT nanny for 3:30pm onwards for the younger two.

Wanttobe when my dcs were younger, I used nursery with wraparound aupair care, which worked generally well.

I hate to break it to you, aupairs are much more hard work to manage and require lots of handholding and change far more frequently than nannies. They cost a lot less than US$26,000 a year, maybe more like £5,500 a year in the UK.

This is a genuine question but why does a nanny get paid so well when childminders and nursery staff get minimum wage ? £33k is a great salary considering you don't have any housing costs .

My nanny works part time to cover my part time hours. She has only my littlest during the day but my other two for wrap around. It's fantastic as she does school run, after school clubs, puts away children's clothes etc, does homework and gets them ready for bed. I would never get that service from a childminder or nursery, I pay for the privilege of having that care.

Out of my net wage she gets paid more than me.

This is a genuine question but why does a nanny get paid so well when childminders and nursery staff get minimum wage ? £33k is a great salary considering you don't have any housing costs

A nanny is looking after one child on his/her own. A childminder has several at once so will of course be cheaper, and childminders don't come to the parents house. Ditto nursery staff - it isn't a 1:1 ratio, for which you obviously have to pay more.

And I think the quoted £33k was for live out, so housing costs are as normal. you pay a bit less for live-in.

But surely 1:1 is easier for the childcare worker? So the skill set of a childminder/ nursery worker managing several children should warrant the higher salary?

My neighbour has au pairs because she can't afford a nanny and maybe she has been unlucky but they are cheap for a reason, their priority is not your kids....she has been through sometimes two a year, some have been woefully neglectful and the ones she liked did not wish to hang around for very long - they have other ambitions.

But your child would get less attention in a nursery, one to one is going to be more focused, plus the nanny does extra jobs too

I think posters are saying it costs them £33k so that’s Emoloyers NI and pension and payroll costs too. Not all going to the nanny.

If you have enough room (decent size spare bedroom ideally with own bathroom) then think about a live in nanny. Quite a lot cheaper than live out.

One advantage of nanny is if kids are sick she can stay at home with them but nursery are very strict re. sickness- including conjunctivitis, 24/48 hours after d&v etc. When I had 2 in nursery I had to take so much time off work, ended up switching to Manny.

Don't use an au pair to care for small children. They're usually completely unqualified teens. Should only be used for older kids for after school / holiday care really.

London live in nannies can be paid between 300-500 net a week depending on experience

A live out Nanny can ask for 10-14 pounds an hour net.