Business Idea

[lizzie83]

Hi, I am a nanny with 10 years experience and have a small child of my own. I have had a business idea for a while and would appreciate any feed back. I want to start doing nanny consultancy as in helping parents temporarily with behaviour issues eg sleeping, feeding, anti social behaviour but not sure how willing parents would be willing to pay for this service?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

As long as the price was reasonable I think many parents would pay for some practical and positive advice I know I would!!!!

Not sure really. That's what health visitors are for surely

HVs are usually wrong or unhelpful, though...

I would say so, yes.

Look at current sleep consultancy agencies for ideas and amounts that can be charged (although sleep is a desperate issue, so people much more willing to stump up for that) - you might want to focus more on daytime behaviour etc? Or maybe approach existing sleep problem agencies and offer a service that dovetails with theirs, so you're not in competition + access a ready made client bank + low start up costs?

I would also say that you need to be able to demonstrate the line where you would refer on to a specialist for real problem or SNs behaviour. Maybe focus more on establishing daytime routines, minor issues? For real problems, then I would want a paed or psych eval, not a nanny.

Also, depends where you are. If you're out in the sticks, then you will need to be prepared to travel a wide area to get the clients. If in London etc, should be much easier.

Thanks for all your input it means a lot to hear other people's (particularly parent's) opinions.

I have worked with families who have turned to Health Visitors for advice and in my experience they are good at giving the theory but that doesn't always work for the individual child but that's only in my brief experience.

I am based in the North East so I imagine travelling would be essential but not such an issue as I have done it quite a bit for jobs anyway.

As for where to draw the line that is one of my concerned as obviously I am not medically trained so yes was planning on sticking to more day to day issues.

Thank you again for your input.

i would never go to a health visitor for these kinds of issues, i don't think they know that much really...but its definitely a good idea because there are lots of businesses like this already so obviously a market for it. good luck!

I think this is a brilliant idea and I'd definitely pay for this service. I agree that HVs, while sometimes helpful, are a bit patronising at times. Plus they're very 'by the book' and their advice often differs from anecdotal experience/advice from real mums/nannies.

There are loads of people/agencies like this in London - it's really big business!! Some will come and live with you for a period of time to get a problem solved.

I agree that HVs are generally useless.

Maybe add potty training to your list of specialities?

Hi lizzie83 - go for it! There is most certainly a market for 'supernanny' services... we're always busy helping families in London and the south east!

Well you could do two better instead by getting a childcare centre and kumon franchise on board as well. That way you've a ready market coming into the door every day and you can pickout the ones that need "tailored" help.

For the childcare you could joint venture with an existing establishment. Kumon are quite a good setup and growing rapidly too.

I think that getting support from the health visitor these days is like a moon on a stick. Health visitors are desperately busy with child protection families. Also health visitors do not assist families once the youngest is over 5.

I imagine that having a nanny who is prepared to "live in" to help with sleep routines would be a boon. I think you would have to do a councelling course as its often the parents who are the problem rather than the children.

Go for it! You only live once!

I must have been very lucky with my HV then - the whole team, inc nursery nurses have been so helpful with things like sleep issues, weaning, behaviour, etc, in a non-judgemental way. Good luck OP, it sounds like there is potential!

I think many HVs are so over worked, that they can really only focus on more serious problems, such as babies not gaining weight, obvious neglect etc.

I think there would be a definite market for your services, I would certainly have paid for someone to sort out dd's colic.

Absolutely! I remember when DD was a couple of weeks old thinking I wish someone could just come 'round and give me a bit of guidance - tell me what to do, what not to do, what I'm doing right etc. OK, in theory this is the job of the HV, but you're lucky if you get a good one. Mine could barely speak English.

For sure - good luck to you!

Bit gutted you're the opposite end of the country to me tbh!

Thank you so much for all your responses you have given me the confidence to go ahead and research the idea. I am lucky enough that my partner runs his own pr and marketing company and can design websites so fingers crossed.