Do you think I should reconsider this nanny - phone calls and smoking

[oranges]

I;m going back to work next year, and ds;s old nursery nurse asked if she could be our nanny. SHe's babysat for us before and I like her - she seems cheerful and competent. But this week, I asked her to do childcare for a day. My MIL popped in and said she found the backdoor open, and the baby seemed cold. I asked the nanny later, who said she'd opened the back door, to have a cigarette. I didn't know she smoked and feel a bit uncomfortable at her holding baby outside while having a cigarette. I don't think the baby was napping at the time, and even if she was, dh has asthma and I really don;t want smokers in the house.Is it normal for nannies to smoke, even outside their charges house?

I also found she's made about five phone calls to mobiles.
We haven't signed a contract yet and I'm a bit alarmed that she did all that on what was effectively the first time she'd worked for us properly. But then again, they are issues that can be dealt with. She is a nice girl. WWYD?

ooh, saying we are advertising the job and asking her to apply is a brilliant solution. thanks. oh dear, I was feeling so pleased with myself too that we had got the nanny situation sorted.

It's a shame that it's not actually sorted, but at the end of the day, it's better to have a great person with a bit more work now, than a not-so-great person already sorted!

Use the 'advance search' function and you will find lots of threads to help you find/choose a great nanny.

I would suggest you advertise on Gumtree - it's no less risky getting a nanny yourself than it is using an agency. You can do anything they can do, all they do is short list for you.

childcare.co.uk is good too

Bluntly, the smoking and the thoughtlessness of the cold would be dealbreakers for me this early in. I mean, you don't trust her already and things have hardly started, and to keep her on in that situation is to put her/your own embarrassment ahead of what your instincts are telling you is right for your baby.

A nanny who thinks smoking and exposing a small child to sub-zero temp.s, plus yammering on someone else's phone, in their time? Not ideal. Really it's probably lucky you found out now, and not once you were in a contract.

I was a nanny at 19 btw. I'd never have done any of those things. Common sense.

Just seen page 2 (sorry, still half asleep) and good to know you've reached a decision.

Yes I would have thought that being anursery nurse would have meant she realised smoking is a no-no. You are right - I dont trust her already, so I can hardly proceed now. Thank you for being so clear. I'll start looking around for someone else.

Being friendly is not the only requirement of a good nanny and it's true that nursery staff do not always make good nannies.

I would certainly interveiw more potential nannies before deciding on this girl. and see everyone who answers your add if they have a decent CV. that way you wont miss out on the perfect nanny for you just because she didn't get as far as an interveiew.

Don't hire anyone you have doubts about, your baby is far too important

Totally unacceptable in my book. Nobody working professionally with babies should be smoking around them. I imagine she will find it very hard to find a job where that is considered OK.

I would tell her there are too many things you don't like about her personally and end it there and then.