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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

what do you feed your nanny?

48 replies

HeadFairy · 13/09/2010 16:39

I know nannies usually eat with the children they're caring for, but presumably they make themselves something different to eat if they're looking after a baby (or do they eat mush? ;o) Do you just tell them to help themselves or do you ask them in advance what they'd like, ie any sandwich fillings, would they like a hot meal etc?

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wrinklyraisin · 13/09/2010 16:44

I get in whatever I like within reason (ie no steak or caviar lol) although my charge now eats what I eat. When she was little I would get in salads and cold cuts, pasta and sauces, etc. Often I cook a dinner for the child and parents, then eat leftovers for my lunch. My bosses aren't at all fussed what I eat as long as their essentials are always stocked in the fridge and cupboards.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/09/2010 16:52

and do your employers give some cash in advance for that or do you go shopping and give them a receipt?

OP posts:

nannynick · 13/09/2010 16:52

I had beans, toast and omelette for lunch - as did the toddler for whom I care.
We then made a banana cake... had a slice of that later on.

Don't think I've been lucky enough to just look after one baby and no older siblings.

I guess in that situation it would not be reasonable to ask nanny to eat the same as the baby... though it could actually be quite similar, especially as baby gets older and is eating mashed food. For example, nanny could make a large shepherds pie (designed such that baby can have it, so very low salt/salt free) then baby can have that mashed, while nanny has it not mashed.

Label any special food you don't want nanny to use... then let them just use anything else. Leave out some cook books and perhaps you will have some nice dinners pre-prepared for you.

nannynick · 13/09/2010 16:55

If I need to get some supplies, due to getting low and still several days before the regular order arrives... then I would use the weekly kitty money. Buying a couple of carrots, a cucumber and a couple of onions doesn't cost that much.
If you find it becomes a regular thing... then increase the kitty money by say £5 a week to cover additional food supplies.

rubyslippers · 13/09/2010 17:08

My nanny either has what the kids have or she can make a sandwich or salad

She has breakfast and lunch - i have got cereal she likes for example and she can help herself to drinks, snacks and fruit throughout the day

If she takes the children out to eat then she can obviously get herself something

She has a weekly kitty as well

HowsTheSerenity · 13/09/2010 17:11

I eat whatever I make Ok so my charges are all older but I don't eat the treats or special food. Jsut buy what you would noramlly in the week.

wrinklyraisin · 13/09/2010 17:32

I do the grocery shopping so include whatever I like in with the twice weekly shop. I live in too, so generally include breakfast and dinner things. I don't get outrageous things but if I want chicken breast I get enough for 3 adults and a child and will bake them all, and cook 2-3 sides to go with it. Or I will make a curry or a lasagne with enoug to go around. For lunch I tend to makes simpler dishes like omelette or pasta or toasted sandwiches for just me and the bubs. Our weekly shop is quite expensive (we live in Amsterdam and it costs a lot to live here) but I don't think my share of the food is too bad as we all eat the same things as a rule.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/09/2010 17:47

thanks everyone... what sort of size kitty is usually given, obviously it depends on activities and number of children etc - but as a rule....?

OP posts:

wrinklyraisin · 13/09/2010 17:55

I have a large kitty as it includes a lot of things. But if I narrowed it down to just our grocery shopping and activities its about 200 a week. This is a lot I know! But at least 3/4 of that is groceries. So about 50 a week to do swimming twice a week, music class, lunch out once a week, coffee morning, creche at my gym once or twice a week (I work 24/5.5 so am allowed to do this or I would have no outside the home down time lol). And other incidentals like topping up my travel pass or getting a birthday gift or new toy/book.

nannynick · 13/09/2010 18:01

I get £5 per day to cover activities. Was for 2 children... now one (2 during school holidays).

A part of a nannies job is to budget for activities... so I take advantage of annual pass cards (I pay the cost usually and then reclaim a little bit weekly from the kitty) and special offers, so we make the most of the money. I added a child to my gym membership... so he can come swimming in the nice usually quiet pool at the gym.

MisSalLaneous · 13/09/2010 18:13

Interesting OP, marking my place as I'd like to see replies.

Oh, and btw, nannynick, if you have a twin brother, I need him to move to Greenwich and look after ds! One of the things that has stopped me from getting a nanny is how expectations vary so much, and I've seen a couple of nannies (when researching earlier) assume parents employing nannies have unlimited funds, which is most definitely not the case with us. I would be seriously impressed if a nanny budget costs carefully, as we obviously have to do ourselves too.

wrinklyraisin · 13/09/2010 18:26

MisSal my employers are in the uber-wealthy realm, but they are probably the tightest lol. They don't scimp where their child is concerned but they often find ways not to pay for things or to get refunds! I am constantly amazed at their cheek! For example, they will buy a $5k tv then complain that it does not conect swiftly enough to their Apple TV system... three weeks later, full refund and they get to keep the TV. No bloody idea how they did it. Or they will be flying Business Class with the baby and just get upgraded to First every time. Meanwhile the poor nanny is stuck in economy with someone dribbling on my shoulder and the guy in front has his seat so far back he is resting on my ample bosom...

They are some what VIP but still...

Anyhoo point being I still have to budget, more so infact as I have full household responsibility ie bills etc... I deal with large sums of money but have to account for it and make sure everything runs smoothly often from worldwide locations. Sometimes I wish I had a simpler job lol.

MisSalLaneous · 13/09/2010 18:37

wrinklyraisin, that made me laugh! I guess if we ever go down the nanny route (which we prob will do if we have another child), I'll just need to interview really well to assure we're all clear on expectations. Either that or win the lotto, but the latter strangely doesn't want to work out just yet.

rubyslippers · 13/09/2010 18:42

I start my nanny off with £20 but she doesn't have to buy food shopping as I do it online

She has an oyster card which I top up too

If she needs more, she asks for it

During the holidays she deffo spent more money

rubyslippers · 13/09/2010 18:43

That's £20 per week btw

Karoleann · 13/09/2010 18:57

My nanny just helps herself to food from the fridge, I get some extra bits she likes in the ocado delivery (she likes wheat free bread and rice milk!). I just leave a bit of cash in a drawer and she helps herself - it probably comes to less than £5 a day.
If she's babysitting late, I just tend to get her a pizza - I usually just ask what she wants.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/09/2010 20:59

i either eat whatever is in the fridge or mb tells me to put what i want on the shopping list or i go and buy it and put it on works credit card

generally i eat

cereal/toast for breakie

pasta/veg/pesto/omelette/sandwich/jacket for lunch - whatever i cook for the kids

i dont eat tea but welcome to and if bs/working late i will and eat whatever the kids have

i have had friends i jobs not allowed to eat at work and they have worked a 12hr day

i dont expect/want caviar but i do want feeding

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/09/2010 21:20

blimey blondes, isn't that illegal? (the not feeding part that is?) Wouldn't dream of not letting our nanny eat, how can she do her job properly if she's hungry?

OP posts:

lobsters · 13/09/2010 21:51

I do the weekly shop and my nanny leaves me a list, plus she tends to do top up shops. Sometimes she eats the same as DD, other times she just makes a sarnie. I also get her a box of Special K when she asks, which she has for breaksfast. Breakfast isn't in the contract, but it keeps her happy.

MisSalLaneous · 13/09/2010 21:51

That's shocking, Blondes. Not that it makes it much better, but did they refuse to give her food / money for food, or actually say she's not allowed to eat at all??

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/09/2010 21:55

she wasnt allowed to eat THEIR food but was welcome to bring a sandwich for lunch - she did 7-7

nbee84 · 13/09/2010 22:00

Some people (not many and often those that have not employed a nanny before) expect their nannies to bring their own food and usually cite that it's what they have to do in an office job. But a nanny doesn't get a lunch break to pop out and buy a sandwich, generally works a long day (and who would be wanting to make their lunchtime sandwich at 6am), and it's also good for the children for the nanny to be eating the same food with them most days.

I know one nanny who was asked what sort of lunches she liked and she said she was partial to beans on toast - when she started she was shown her loaf of bread in the freezer and a shelf in the cupboard with lots of tins of beans. I don't think she wanted to eat them every day!

MisSalLaneous · 13/09/2010 22:12

That's bad - there's budgeting and then there's cruelty! How much could ingredients and the odd meal when out really cost? I think nbee's right about the argument they probably use. Not that it's right, mind you.

I have seen some nannies say that they buy a meal out every day, which is fair enough if you earn millions, but £10 - £15 a day in addition to all other expenses would add up for a normal family though. I take it from here that is the exception, and as Blondes' story above shows, you get extremes on both sides.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/09/2010 22:14

blondes... I thought you meant she wasn't allowed to eat at all!

Nbee... :o she must have had the most shocking bowels eating beans every day!

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/09/2010 07:21

at the interview they discussed food and going out and mb was happy for her to have breakie and lunch there (ie eat their food) and for the nanny to go out and see people/have people round for lunch etc

within a few weeks the nanny wasnt allowed to eat their food,i was going round there so said i would bring some jackets/pasta to feed them all (my mb wouldnt mind) and then the stingy mb said no one was allowed to go round or was the nanny allowed to go out apart from school runs and to the local park

so we used to arrange to meet bump into her at the park

my friend stayed for maybe 4 mths till she found another job,but was miserable and stressed for 60hrs a week,she had 3 under 5 in a small house and if it rained as did ofetn over the summer,it was a very bad long day

so yes nannys expect to be allowed to eat food in the house and no we dont get a lunch break to go and buy a sandwich etc

moral of this story - feed your nanny or she will leave :)

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