Employing a nanny with her own child

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I am having desperate problems finding a part-time nanny in our area to look after my two children. A few applicants have their own child. Is there anything I should be aware of when considering these applicants and what would you consider for an hourly rate, if experienced but bringing along their own child?

Thank you

I used to go to a playgroup with a nanny who had her own child, her (understandable) preference for her own child was very apparent and she was much less tolerant with her charge. Felt very sorry for the child.

That's my only experience but it put me off ever hiring one

Search the threads here as there have
Been a lot of stuff on this - good/bad experiences and things to consider If
You do go for a nanny with own child.

I think nannies bringing their own children can work really well.

For your children they are getting the benefit of being looked after in their own home, but also learning to share their toys. If you get the right match of nanny and child, the additional child could end up being a great playmate.

The nanny will not be worried about her own child in nursery or wherever and will probably be more flexible as she will not be rushing off to collect her child for a particular time. This could work well if you are ever late, stuck in traffic etc.

Reducerecycleregift, it must have been horrible watching that person favour their own child. That person sounds like they should not be working within childcare and would probably always single out and favour one child even if she looked after children who weren't related to her.

You may find what many people do, when a childminder or nanny have their own children at work, their own child's needs often come after the minded children.

In terms of wages, I would pay someone exactly the same whether they brought their own child or not. If you had another child she would probably not expect to be paid any more. I think the benefits of a nanny bringing their one child are substantial and would not think of altering someone's wages due to their personal childcare situation.

Hope this opinion has been helpful, good luck with making a decision.

I think the issue of whether pay for nanny share is same or less is a matter for employee. I don't think it's the same thing as nanny caring for own charge plus other child is same as caring for siblings. Fundamentally the employer is paying for something different - ie it is akin to nanny share or childminder which carries drawbacks (attention split over other kids, what happens when nanny child sick, arrangements over cost of nanny own child).

Being totally honest as an employer I would only employ a nanny with own child on a lower rate for reasons above.

When we did this we paid about 75% of full rate. Maybe 80%, can't quite remember. Bascially, she gave us a discount because, of course, there would be times when she was attending to her child and ours had to wait (e.g. nappies, feeding) and she suggested that a discount was fair.

It worked well for us. I think the biggest thing is the ages of the children. Ours were the same age, which meant there wasn't a conflict about what groups to go to, activities to do, etc. I think it would be much harder, for example, if you had two older children and the nanny had a baby. Or actually even harder the reverse.

You need to think what you expect to happen if her child is sick, or yours is. Obviously this would also apply if your nanny had children who didn't come to work with her - but there it wouldn't really be appropriate to discuss it I don't think because of the risk of discrimination. Where it is part of the work, I think it's ok. We agreed with our nanny that, basically, unless either child was contagious, she would still care for them together (at her house if necessary - this is ok by OFSTED as a one off).

Both my nannies have had their own children and it's worked brilliantly.

I paid them full rate.

My first nanny stayed 6 years - until we no longer needed her full time.

And my 2nd nanny has just started - but I could easily see her staying 6 years :)

Why do they stay so long? Because it's so hard for them to get another job!

My kids totally treat their child like a sibling.

I would recommend hiring a nanny with their own child.

I used to be a nanny when dd was a baby. It worked really well and like another poster said, quite often my dds needs would come after the 2 children i was caring for. My dd was 3 months when i started and the other children were 1 and 3. I did give a reduction because it meant i didnt need to find my own childcare to be able to go to work. And as for the sickness thing, i know this probably seems bad but, If my dd was sick (the parents were happy with this) i just took dd with me and if hers were sick i still took dd. There were occasions that all 3 were ill at the same time but that happens sometimes. DD actually got chicken pox due to coming in contact with the children i nannied but she could have got it anywhere anyway. So speaking from the otherside, you are likely to get a very grateful nanny who will go above and beyond since you have given them the chance to work.

you are likely to get a very grateful nanny who will go above and beyond since you have given them the chance to work. - yes, that is exactly what I have found, and exactly why I recommend it.

Slutty - that sounds ideal to me re illness, not bad! A big worry if you are a parent is the reliability of your childcare. I know you shouldn't, but if your nanny has kids it does cross your mind that they may be absent at short notice because of their child's illness. I always took the view that germs were out there at playgroups etc anyway, so no harm if our nanny's son provided a few extras!

Just one more thought...

I think you both need to be sure that your parenting styles are broadly compatible. Our nanny is broadly OP in her style, as am I. She had worked for families in the past who did Gina Ford and said that was fine at a professional level, but once she was bringing her son I don't think that would have worked. Either her son would have had a confusing mix of parenting depending on day of the week, or both children would have got confused about why they were being treated differently from one another.

Minor differences don't matter, but I think the broad brush approach needs to tally.

Thanks indigo for praising us nannies with children. We so often don't get the chance to prove our worth because some parents refuse to even think about hiring an NWOC, and won't even consider the benefits.

Hi there, i've had two nannies with their own children, and i thoroughly recommend it for all reasons already mentioned!

I have an after school nanny 20 hours a week.. I found that the part time hours really appealed to nannies who had small children of their own and didn't appeal to others because the hours weren't enough.

It works perfectly for us, our nanny is so reliable and responsible and my older children love the little one. We have also been accomodating by buying high chair, stair gates etc to make things as easy as poss.
I highly recommend it!