Using a nanny/child minder at a wedding ?

[Mandy21]

Wondering what the general consensus is about using this type of service? Going to a family wedding soon and they are going to provide a nanny - won't have met the nanny beforehand, she won't have met children. My 18mth old does go to nursery but we have never left her with anyone other than family apart from a couple of occasions when a very good friend that she knew well babysat. She's likely to wake up (between going to bed at say 8pm and us going to bed at say midnight) so she'd need settling. We'd be downstairs. Feeling really uncomfortable about using the service, but bride is expecting a child free evening with my husband and I both at reception. It's also about 200 miles away so don't really have the option of meeting nanny beforehand. Anyone used a nanny / sitter?

I offer this service and I would be happy to speak to you before the wedding, email a photo of myself, find out about the child I was caring for etc.I always swap mobile numbers and also have the hotel numbers ready to call down to reception, its never been a problem.
Ask for the childminders details so you can contact her to put your mind at rest.

Danthe4th If I can hijack for a moment, do you cover the Bristol area at all? Or does anyone here know of a service like this that does? Have a wedding to go to there later in the year.

Mandy - more and more people are using this service so dont think you are doing anything wrong/weird

if you are travelling down the night before, it may be worth trying to meet the nanny then for an hour or to get her to come an hour early on day of wedding

is the nanny just looking after your dd or several others?

if so you need to make sure about sleeping arrangements in evening - as in the nanny either needs to be in room with dd

Ditto Danthe4th - i do this a lot [bsmile]

if the bride/groom are providing the nanny then speak to them and find out what agency she is from/who she is/ask to see ref/crb/1st aid

Dan - my nanny friend lives in/near Bristol and offers the same service as i do (im in kent but will travel an hour or so if travel expenses are paid)

Find out more about the nanny, they may be someone who has worked for a relative of the bride for many years. The more you know about them the happier you will be leaving your DD in their care.

You are saying She when referring to the nanny - yet haven't met them yet. Not all nannies are female.

thanks everyone, will ask for more details

I did this when we got married had 2 babysitters for the daytime for my 8mth old niece and nephew so their parents could enjoy ceremony and meal without babies in tow my sister was a little worried as she hadnt meet them before but I had so she knew I would have done all checks etc and they were fine - they did 12-6 and my sister collected them from her hotel room at 6pm and had checked on them couple times beforehand and were fine. I didnt mind them being at the eve bit.

I also do babysits/nannying at weddings although usually booked by one individual family so not done multiple families at a wedding - although on occasions had people come and find me and say oh i hear you are the nanny for the children where shall I leave x - I then explained I was booked by x family and not the bride and groom etc etc

yes i have that east, they ask to leave their children with me and then they get stroppy that i say no

My brother had this for his wedding. There were two nannies for the evening part of the reception. The children were welcome to be part of the wedding, but if/when they got too tired/bored there was somewhere for them to play with other children and have a nap. People were always milling around so there was always someone available to pass on a message if ine of the children needed their parent. My children were older than yours, but as a single parent it was great to feel free to spend adult time with my family without worrying.

EightiesChick - I do this sort of work (on top of working as a childminder). Have a nose at my website if you like. www.hayleyevans.co.uk. It's a bit outdated as I don't need to advertise much anymore.

Otherwise there are loads of nanny agencies that do this sort of thing in Bristol. Alphabet childcare are the most "known" I guess.

Good luck.

PD> I'm sure if you contacted the nanny she would be more than happy to reassure you. It's oompletely normal to have doubts about leaving your child with a total stranger so don't worry about coming across as PFB ish.

Hi eighties I sometimes do a bit of work in hotels through www.thecotswoldnannynetwork.co.uk/
They might do Bristol but I am in Stroud, any good?

www.thecotswoldnannynetwork.co.uk/

Thanks navyeyelasH and aceandskill - will have a look at the sites. Ace, Stroud may work - would have to check a map!