I'm a nanny with my own baby - what should I charge?

[Vizella]

Hi all,

I am a single mother of a 1.5 year old DS whom I've committed to looking after until he's 3 - I believe in prioritising his needs above my career, etc etc. I live with my parents at the moment, that's how I can afford it.

However, I am eating into my savings and would like to make some income as an after-school nanny so that I don't deplete all of my savings. Otherwise, I might have to go back to work and I don't want to do that.

My question is, would parents be okay with me looking after their children while I bring my DS along - he is well-behaved and bright, not the type to run around tearing things down - and also, should I charge slightly less or the same hourly rate?

So, in London, nannies charge about £15 net per hour, should I charge £10-12 per hour?

Thanks for your advice (and sorry if any of this offends some of you - no idea how lol, but you never know).

How could you manage a toddler as well as extra kids?

Homework
Food
Bed/bath time routines

They would need full attention, no?

Have you actually got experience in this profession?

It sounds like you're looking at it from completely the wrong viewpoint and if I'm honest I'm not sure people would be keen to employ you for a few hours to look after school aged children if you were going to be bringing a toddler with you.

Let's be honest there's no way you'd be prioritising their kids over your own and your child would be peak getting into everything age.

I would take on just 1 child who is primary school-aged.

Well you can't just "bring him along". You are specifically looking for a job where you bring your child to work with you.

Why after school nanny? Your child will be significantly younger than school age, the house will have to be child proofed by parents whose kids have outgrown that stage, have small fiddly Lego etc and very different tv and other interests. You will make your job much more difficult to do and have a tired and cranky toddler by dinner time to deal with rather than sorting homework, feeding the older kids and having the whole place spotless by the time the parents walk in.

I've had a nanny with her own child who was marginally older than my own. They did the same activities during the day, napped at the same time and ate the same food. It worked very well and as a previous professional nanny I never had any concerns she was treating them differently.

Latest rates will be on childcare.com or similar site but about 2/3rds the going rate given the family will also be feeding your child in all likelihood.

If you haven't nannied before though you are going to struggle for employment with no references.

I think you would be better off working and advertising as a nanny with child for a younger child.
Parents with own similar age child prefer as it’s a bit cheaper and child has play friend. And you can go out to suitable age parks, museums and groups. Maybe a 2-3 full days of more what parents want.

You would probably price around 30% cheaper as bringing own child.

Actually I think you have the right idea with an older child plus your own Ds as 2 younger dc will be harder work. Pitch your price a little lower as you say and I think it would be fine.

I’ve paid someone with a toddler to look after my dc after school. They were 7-11 and tbh don’t need much looking after, an after school snack and some free play time and they were happy. It’s really having somewhere there in case of an emergency. She did charge £10ph this was a couple of years ago and min wage was less than that. I’d go in at £12 and see what happens if I were you.

Good luck getting someone to employ you if they know your attitude to parents who use childcare. Why would anyone want a nanny who thinks the parents are failing to prioritise their children by using a nanny? Not everyone is lucky enough to be so heavily subsidised by their parents.

As to bringing your child, of course you would have to charge less. Why would someone pay you the same as a nanny who would be solely focused on their children. And you cannot guarantee that your child will be well behaved. He's only 18 months, you have no idea how he will be at 2 or 3.

Probably in the same way any parent of more than 1 dc would manage ?

I think OP meant that is her personal choice and she’s not judging others for their choices.

We had an after school nanny last year for DS (in Reception). I wouldn't really have been happy with this. If I'm paying more to have a nanny, it's because I want someone to engage with my child after school. Otherwise, I'd use the after school provision which is 1/3 of the price.

I can't see many parents happy with this arrangement. Are you qualified?

@ItisObvious

Your own kids in your own home v stranger

As someone upthread pointed out, she would be all about her own kid

She said she is 'prioritising his needs over my career' by barely working. Ergo, parents who work and use childcare are not. Some parents have to prioritise their career because without it the children wouldn't have a roof over their heads.

And here’s how you can offend someone on mumsnet. It’s not hard, but it’s always absurd 🙄

Yes of course there are childminder / nannies who have their own children with them. My ds had an incredible childminder whose own son was there too.

I don't think this would work or that many people would go for it. Your other option is become a childminder where it's much more accepted that your own DC will be there but that's difficult riding on your parents coattails.

Not necessarily I’ve heard of Nannies bringing their own dc with them to work before as long as OP has professionalism and experience and can meet the needs of both children I don’t see why it would be an issue ? No different to a childminder who also has their own dc ?

Yes of course there are childminder / nannies who have their own children with them. My ds had an incredible childminder whose own son was there too.

Childminder is very different to nanny.

I’d pitch towards the lower end, particularly as this is your first try at this sort of arrangement and you actually don’t have any idea how it’s going to work out balancing the needs of the child you’re being paid to focus on and those of your own child. Beyond the money aspect, it’s going to be just as important to really think about how you’re going to answer questions at interview about the above, and have thoughtful examples and responses which demonstrate to parents that you’re still committed to top class care for your charge and aren’t just seeing this as an easy way to make money whilst being with your DS.

But we don’t know what his needs are or OP exact circumstances it sounds to me she’s made a decision for herself that works for her based on things we perhaps aren’t aware of and I don’t think it sounds as if she is judging or criticising anyone who does use childcare ?

I think these sort of arrangements often start naturally because a nanny with an established relationship with a family has a baby and they choose to keep her on.

I think it can work, but you'd have to have a real think about how to treat the dc in your care fairly, you can't possibly openly prioritise your own dc, that would be horrible for the cared for dc.

I think a lot will come down to what demand there is in your area. I suspect it may only work if there aren't preferable options for parents.

I know loads of nannies who do this - they all have their own toddlers and do after school pick up - in London they charge about 20/hr - the ones i know anyway.

No one will want to pay you to care for their child if they know that you intend to prioritise your own dc over theirs.

Jesus! 10-12 pound an hour! Glad I don’t live in London . I live in Northamptonshire and my childminder charges £5 an hour per child, that’s for the child to stay at their house. If your being a nanny in someone else’s house I have no idea but I shouldn’t think they would let you bring your son along unless you find someone random couple who do. If you’re not in London then do not charge a tenner if you’re looking after the child at your own home.

We had an after school nanny with her own child. Her DC was the same age as mine so it worked brilliantly (stopped my DC arguing so much, they basically had an extra better-behaved sibling).

She was an experienced nanny so I was very very lucky. I don’t know what experience you have so can’t comment on pay rates.