Why are you a Nanny?

[Maursh]

Hi,

For reasons that aren't particularly interesting, DP and I have decided that it would be best to hire a nanny for DD when I return to work. This has got us wondering how we can attract a good nanny since we are not going to be able to pay more than average.

So I was wondering whether any private nannies out there would mind answering:
what made you decide to become a private nanny (as opposed to working in a nursery or as a childminder). What is the advantage to being a nanny, I suppose is what I am really asking.
What circumstances have made you select a position and what have put you off / made you leave a job?

TIA

I just love children, did not want to do childminding or work in a nursery as there is so much paperwork. All children are different and it is a really rewarding job, i love it. What would put me off is not having sole charge. Been really lucky and always had nice families.

I love it...absolutely love it...I always wanted to work with children and have worked in nurseries and schools but I found them to be far to rigid and frankly boring...as a nanny it's far more relaxed and fun...oh we have fun!

I'm the same as the others, love ripening with kids but found the paperwork and rigidity in nurseries suffocating!

In terms of what can you do to attract nannies... Can you offer any perks? Gym membership, seperate accom for a live in, extra paid holiday a year (over the standard 5.6 weeks), even something like an early finish once a month out something...? Don't stress if not though, plenty of nannies out there looking for a standard many position

Aaaaargh ripening = working!!!

I do it because I love playing with kids but mine are older now.

It makes sense to me if they are local and know the area, are are older or have had children themselves.

Decide exactly what you want them to do before you advertise.

If you want someone to play with them but don't care if the house isn't kept perfectly, think about that first - or if you want both, you need to say so. Decide about all the 'what ifs' now - discipline - who's on call in an emergency, etc. Be realistic about what they can do in the time it needs to be done.

I have worked as a nanny and in nurseries and nannying wins hands down.

In a nursery you can have 28 children with one other colleague, it used to break my heart to see them forced to play outside for 45 minutes even though they were cold, "encouraged" to eat food they didn't like.

Nurseries are rigid and often have a small amount of money to buy paints and resources- with nannying I can give ALL my energy to two children, I have more freedom to take them to a variety of activities, when they're under the weather we can go with how they feel rather than the nursery dictating what they will do, I feel so much more job satisfaction comes from nannying and happier children are the result.
Good luck with your search

I've worked in a nursery, I have been a childminder and am working as a nanny.

I prefer to be a nanny though being a childminder came a close second before Ofsted and all their forms, permission slips and paperwork! I disliked the nursery work as it is always so busy, quite regimented and I prefer to look after just 2 or 3 children and form a close bond with them. I also disliked a lot of the 'bitchiness' between colleagues in the nursery and that the pay is so low.

I love my job as no two days are the same. I love watching children develop and to see the world through their eyes. I love teaching them new things and exploring new places with them. I like to work for parents that have the same childcare ethos as myself - I would always work to parents rules but it makes things so much easier when we both have the same ideals.

On a practical side I like that I can work 3 long days and have a 4 day weekend rather than doing a 9-5 job that would mean I have to work 5 days to earn the same money

nbeee84 so very true about the bitchiness between colleagues in nurseries (it is awful) and the wages in nurseries are a joke.

I agree too that it's great when you have the same ethos as the parents I've worked for a couple who were millionaire's and they were really lovely but VERY different to me, it still worked because I adapted to the mothers OCD thorough neurosis regarding tidiness and academic achievement.

But the family I nanny for now are very in line with how I am naturally and it definitely helps.

I love children and allthough I have done the odd stint in a nursery I don't like them or feel they are best for the child. Too much Paperwork and interference in childminding; So nanny is the job for me. you can give all your attention to your charges and enjoy looking after the same children from baby to school. I have grown up children who keep in touch with me and yes! we do have FUN

Sorry, you also asked "What circumstances have made you select a position and what have put you off / made you leave a job?"

I choose my jobs on how I feel I will get on with the parents (presuming money, hours etc are what I am looking for), I can tell from the interviews whether we have 'clicked' or not. I tend not to be swayed by things like gym membership, extra holiday or nanny car - probably because I've worked with a variety of parents over the last 25 years and know that a good working relationship is more important. Though I suppose if I was offered 2 jobs and felt that I could work well with either set of parents then I may look at things like that.

All my positions have come to a natural end due to children starting school or a change in the parents need for childcare, but things that have put me off in interviews are parents that think nanny's are cleaners, those that want to micro manage your days and I have been to an interview with very unruly children where the parents didn't even attempt to discipline them (but I suppose that comes under choosing parents with the same childcare ethos)

Wow, thank you for all the responses. You all sound lovely and I hope that we can find a nanny with half as much enthusiasm.

I hadn't realized that there was so much paperwork involved in the childminding game. It just seemed far more lucrative than nannying and that you would have control than dealing with individual parents quims.

Lol at ripening children :)

I would agree with many PPs that it's because I love being around children, watching then grow and develop - learning to walk, listening to them starting talk, recognising words when reading etc (and knowing that I have had a hand in them reaching those goals)

When I am looking for a job the most important thing is how I gel with the parents and the children. Most of my longterm jobs the children have been around at the initial interview stage - giving me a chance to see how the parents themselves interact with the children and their parenting style giving me the chance to assess if we're compatible.

I like my job because there is variety in the week - toddler groups, tumbletots, swimming, park etc am happy to go along with what the parents want but liked to be left to get on with - hate the feeling of having someone over my shoulder. I have worked for families were a parent has worked from home - it's been great to have adult conversation but if you are working from home you need to think about the effect that MAY have on your child - where you are going to work and how you are going to structure your working day.

I once went for an interview in the evening (mum was still on mat leave but going back to work soon) I went into the kitchen with her and it was a mess - plates, dishes and mugs all over kitchen work surfaces, supermarket shopping not put away even though she'd been in morning - did make me wander would the parents be leaving the house like this every morning? and if they did who would be clearing it away? I have no problem with emptying dishwasher and refilling it with breakfast pots at start of working day but I'm not there to just generally clear up after parents. (I rejected job)

Good luck with your nanny search

Oh yes, working from home is a big one. This can change everything and if you decide to work from home suddenly you should make sure you have very clear boundaries with the nanny.

I worked in both a nursery and I'm now a Nanny, and i've vowed never to go back into nursery work again!! i love being a nanny, you can do activities the children enjoy, go on exciting trips, zoo etc and you can arrange playdates with other nannies!

A good working relationship with the parents is very important, I'm currently working in a nannyshare with two girls of 11m and get on great with both sets of parents often get early finishes etc and paid days off if one of the mums is home :D

...dealing with individual parents quims.

Bugger, that's another keyboard ruined with a mouthful of coffee.

I used to work in a nursery as well, but am now a nanny. I do it because you really get to see the kids grow, and you actually have a proper relationship with them.....it's you who they come to when they have bumped their heads, or grazed their knees. It's lovely. Plus you have the freedom to be able to have your own programme really, no paperwork, and the salary is far better than nursery work :P

And yes, forgot to put on.....how I get on with parents is pretty much the deal breaker when it comes to taking a job. My first job was a nightmare, and parents treated me like cr@p, and I felt like a slave, rather than a nanny, but the job I have now, parents are lovely, respectful, I feel like I'm needed, they are flexible (so I am) and if they can give me time off, they will. I am staying in this job (even though the pay is not quite as good as I could get) simply because I get on with both parents like a house on fire! :D

I love children but disagree with the educational system in this country so therefore would not work in it and would not work in a nursery as I feel nurseries haven't got the 'freedoms' they should have to help children develop holistically as opposed to being able to tick boxes and have too much paperwork. I'm not a childminder as I live as a lodger But it's something I'll consider when I have my own children and home!

Being a nanny means I get to control what activities I organise, experiment a little (exploding volcanoes!) and do things spontaneously (like go to the beach) if it's asked by the children without hours of planning and explanations as to why an activity would benefit a child.

It's also really rewarding and you really get to know the children and see their development (even over short periods) which is fascinating.

Bitchiness of colleagues is also a factor that puts me off of nurseries, and the wage (slave labour anyone?!)

I actually prefer working with older children which I think is a bit uncommon with nannies but it's given me the chance to feel like I have influenced them in some way, especially when they contact you a year or two later for advice or information :) Though I do love little ones as well, I couldn't work full time with a baby alone and arranging my work myself means that I can plan for this!

I haven't been nannying for very long but it's already given me opportunities I would not have had in a childcare setting, ones I'll always be grateful for and chances to improve. I've recently started with two part-time families and both are lovely and we're all on the same wave length, it's great and I'm really looking forward to seeing my little 11mo charge from family 1 learn to talk and walk and also to seeing my 3 older charges from family 2 progress through school, learn to write and read and form their opinions about the world :)

Sorry for the essay. I can never keep my feelings on the subject minimal in writing!