Is this a reasonable request of a nanny?

[solomam]

Ok so... please hear me out as I have never before had a nanny or considered one - I will openly admit I know nothing about the services they are willing to offer.

Can anyone who has either been a nanny or had one, tell me whether it's a reasonable ask to pay someone to come to my home for literally 1 hour every morning to help with the morning routine? That's all I need. Nothing more.

Or would they all laugh at me for being ridiculous?

I'm actually looking for something like this to compliment my current work.

I don’t know why you’ve had such a hard time. That morning period can be quite challenging to arrange childcare for so if you can find someone and it helps your day go more smoothly then why not. That said… I think you’ll struggle to get one teen that early for 4 days. That’s quite hard going if you don’t like early mornings which so many teens do genuinely struggle with.

I’d love to do a job like that for someone local. I’m not a nanny, but have children who have now left home. I have an Etsy business so I could fit it in. I miss the frantic mornings. I definitely think you’ll get applicants

When I was a sixth former I absolutely would have done it for £20 an hour. It would be equivalent to working a part time job on minimum wage, and more enjoyable. The money would make up for the early start.

It’s for £80 a week
its as attractive as any other job that nets £80 a week, be that a shift in a pub, a paper round or a couple of hours in the stables

No, not necessarily. It's one hour a day and the person will have to be up before 6am four days a week depending on where they live. That is generally less desirable than a four hour shift earning the same amount.

@Echobelly Someone who is on a zero hours contract doesn't have to accept any shift. That's the whole point of them.

Our local school does a Health and Social Care qualification, I bet there's someone doing that would be happy to help for the money and experience.

I would ask at nursery as well. My friend is a nursery worker but runs her own babysitting agency on the side using the girls she works with. They charge £20 an hour which is way more than earn working in the nursery. She does babysitting for events and everything, usually fully booked a month in advance so there is a market for these kinds of things. I’m NW based if that helps.

I think it's a brilliant idea in principle OP. However I think there would be issues re reliability for students/older teenagers and as you are so rural, I am guessing they would need their own transport. I also don't think your location is particularly viable for the au-pair route.

Might it help to look at other supportive measures you could put in place? A cleaner once a week to take the strain in other areas? Shower and do hair at bedtime - I can get away with a wet wipe, quick brush if I do that. Saves 5-10 minutes. Let the baby have their bottle/snack in the car - let them fratch in the cot while you do what you need?

I am sorry things are so tough.

I think you’d find it easier to recruit if you withdraw them from nursery and advertise for a full-time nanny.

You might get a nursery staff or TA to do this if they work/ live locally and it fits with their times. Ask in your child’s nursery or school

Certainly advertise the post but I think you'll have trouble recruiting someone for 1 hour a day. Round me most cleaners or carer working privately will only work in at least a 2 hour block.
It does depend where n the country you are though. In my area there are loads of job vacancies so people looking for jobs have the pick of the crop.

I work as a Nanny on my days off from nursery and do morning and after school care.

I pay tax and the family employs me so they have to sort my NI, tax and pension out.

Do you want this or do you just want someone on a casual basis, cash in hand? My hourly rate as a Nanny is £17.50 per hour from 6am till 9am then 3pm till 7pm

Casual basis cash in hand may mean they aren't always reliable.

Please dont confuse an unqualified person and a Nanny, two separate things entirely.

Teenagers mainly aren't going to have £20/hour jobs.

If you're in Cheshire, pm me. That's exactly the kind

Whoops!!! ...kind of thing I do. Evening works much better for me. I wouldn't do a 6am start any more!!

S@ZenNudist have you considered reading the OP's posts?

she has more than one child, but only needs help with the 1 yo.

she has her reasons for needing help, which she doesn't want to disclose, but illness, disability, recovery from an accidents, loads of reasons someone might need help!

FGS.

Did you miss the part where this job is for 4 hours a week..?

someone working 4 hours per week and earning £80 won’t need to have their employer pay tax, NI or pension contributions 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I think if you offer decent money you will find someone. But I might advertise first on local facebook groups. If someone in my street or close by wanted this I would do this. I would not travel far though, not worth it for an hour a day. So you are realistically looking for someone in the immediate streets where you live. Either a high school student, a retired person, or someone like me working but who could do with the extra money.
You could find someone cash in hand easily. And it is not true that this means they are less reliable.

6am start works perfectly for someone like me who already has a job.

My neighbour (mum of three to older children) used do this. I often saw her walking home as i was heading off on the school run.
She did it for about six months I think. A local person would be your best bet I think. Maybe advertise in the local shops/coffee house/Facebook page?

I couldn't afford a full time nanny.

@AbreathofFrenchair there's a high horse you need to climb down off. Someone that has brought up their own children, looked after others or been a sibling to younger children is every bit as qualified to do what the OP needs as a ' qualified nanny'.

@solomam I hope you can find someone. My first try would be the nursery staff, then neighbours. My Mum is in her 70's she up before the birds & would love to come and look after the baby for an hour in the mornings. (Sadly she doesn't live in England anymore, but don't overlook your older neighbours)

Helpful suggestions, thank you. There may well be ways I can further tweak my routine to take the pressure off.

I have a friend who early retired who would also do this, she is struggling with rising costs. The hour a day will not suit anyone who is a qualified nanny or nursery worker, they can get a full-time job and extra hours easily.
It suits people wanting to make a bit extra. So for someone retired young, an hour early means they still have the rest of the day to do what they want, but get a bit extra to help with rising bills.
So don't look on childcare sites. Advertise locally. You will be there so you just need someone who is reasonable and has experience of kids.