Pros and Cons of Shared Care Nanny?

[justlookatthatbooty]

I'm currently weighing them up. But being fairly inexperienced I'm at a bit of a loss.

From families or from nannies/mum's helps...

What should I think of?

I'm thinking anywhere from 2 short days a week to four half days a week with one evening a week...

My favourite so far is a young Fillipa, 22 years old...

Childcare (for mostly one of my two DC's at a time)/Shopping/Cooking/Light Housework.

Anyone?

By shared care nanny, what exactly do you mean?

Do you mean a nanny who works at your home but also cares for children at your home who are from another family you know?

Or do you mean a nanny who has other work on other days?

Or do you mean something else?

Is Fillipa her name? Or do you mean someone from the Philippines? If the latter, then do check immigration rules and the persons current VISA status/right to work in the UK (assuming you are in the UK).

Maybe you mean that you will be at home as well?

Would the nanny be live-in, or live-out?

Oh gawd I really should proof read...

I did mean a lady from the Phillipines, visa situation is fine.

And I meant that I will be coming in and going out as I'm self employed and have a local-ish workplace. Currently work silly hours at crack of dawn in order to be home before DP goes to work at 0930. Then I'm home with both DC all day before seeing a client or two in the eves. It's way too much. Hence having nanny/mum's help around will mean I can work a few of those clients during the day and do cool activities with the kids. Currently they don't swim, cause I can't go with both but if nanny is around, both of them can swim, as I will take them one at a time.
Am thinking three or four days a week, 6-8 hours a day. She's willing to cook, light cleaning/housework, laundry, childcare etc. Or is that too many hours?
I don't want to overdo it and feel that she's around too much but I want to offer her enough that she doesn't feel that need to keep looking.
It will be a live out position.

Done a bit of research and I think you are in Holland (it would be really useful if you created a Mumsnet Profile and put your country info on it, then people wouldn't have to ask or assume). Therefore, immigration and work rules I can't help with - so will just say that you need to check that whoever you employ is entitled to stay/live and work in the country. You will also need to check how taxation, social security, pension, medical care that sort of thing applies to employing a nanny.

I will assume that you are meaning that you will be at home at the same time as the nanny:

Pro: you get to spend more 1:1 time with each child, as nanny can spend 1:1 time with the other child.

Pro: you can have someone else cook lunch, whilst you spend time with your children.

Pro: you can go out and leave your children at home.

Con: you have someone else in your home making it messy, getting in the way.

Con: children don't know who is in charge, may play each adult off against each other. This can be overcome by having it clear as to who is in charge at what point... and adults backing each other up (even if they don't agree at the time).

Con: Things get moved by nanny, may not put things back in the same place as you would. Nice to have someone else do the washing up, not so nice when you spend time hunting out your favourite mug.

Con: You can't walk around the house in your PJ's (or worse). Well you can I suppose but you need to not worry about what your nanny might think.

So it's not a nanny share then? It's a nanny who will be just employed by your family?

x-post there a bit, as you replied whilst I was typing.

If you are coming and going a fair bit at the crack of dawn, then having a nanny sounds a good idea as they can get children ready in the morning. It may also mean you are less rushed as don't have to get back in time for DP going to work.

Not sure about the evenings, as nanny may not want to be working late. Depends on the individual nanny and also on your budget - as if nanny starts early and works till late, they will be working a lot of hours.

Pro: "I can work a few of those clients during the day and do cool activities with the kids."
Another pro: you can offer your clients more flexibility on when they can use your service.

Not sure why you can't take two children swimming (maybe there are different adult:child ratio rules in Holland). Though having a nanny would enable you to spend 1:1 time with a child, so you could take that child swimming.

6-8 hour sounds fine. Surprised you don't need more. I work two 12 hour days, two 8 hour days.

How much she earns may be more important to her than how many hours she works. As she is needing to provide herself with accommodation, she will have bills to pay. So how much you pay will need to cover her expenses, after tax (and that sort of thing) deductions.

Thanks for the pros and cons. Will indeed go to profile, thanks for the tip!

All the work/employer stuff is covered, thanks!

Not worried about being in Pyjamas, but on the same note am concerned that the times I have enjoyed with us being a spontaneous threesome will change and that I'll lose something of the connection with the kids in the process. I guess one of my reasons for wanting nanny for a shorter day, so that we have at least some of the day together just being silly and going nowhere, totally free time. But any of the four whole days I do with both kids is way too much for me, so I'm imagining that a six hour day will be good?

BecauseI'mWorth.... that's right, it's not a nanny share.

It's a nanny who would not have Sole Charge. More of a Mum's help actually is what it boils down to. Max of 1.5/2 hours with both kids at once.