First baby is due soon - which childcare option is right for me? A nanny?

[PremierBebe]

Hi,

I am new to Mumsnet and I have a lot of questions. My first baby is due soon and I will need someone to help me look after my daughter as soon as possible after she is born. I am studying for a degree and my husband works for an investment bank and has to travel a lot.

Of course I want to spend as much time as possible with my child and therefore want someone who can be flexible with working hours. An au pair is not the right option for us, I want someone who stays at least one year, the longer the better. A childminder wouldn't be flexible enough for us either. A nursery? Not so sure about this option either.

Ideally we would want to have a live-in nanny, so she could do other things while I do not need her but she would be there if I need here etc. Also we could employ someone who speaks another language fluently.

Are there nannies who have experience with newborn babies? Where can I find them? etc.

I have so many questions, so please talk me through.

P.S: We are based in London if that helps.

Everyone is different and this is just my experience but I think you may find that you want to spend all your time with your new baby and having someone else take over won't be a very good option. Is there any way you could have someone come in and help with the cleaning, shopping, cooking, etc. leaving you more free time with your new baby? I would also seriously consider deferring your degree for a semester if not a whole year because, unless you are very lucky, it's tough to get enough sleep with a baby.

How about a Mothers Help initially until things settle down and you know what you have let yourself in for

Childcare itself is a very personal decision so dont listen to people who say what is right or wrong for the baby.

Best of luck . x

I would second a defer. I think you will be shocked at the all consuming nature of a first born. It happens by magic and you can't switch it off. Goodness my baby went to the toilet with me that's how little I left her alone or with someone else.

Booboostoo I don't have much of a choice. I have somebody to help me with the cooking, shopping (Well, Ocado), cleaning, ironing etc. For the first few months I would mainly need somebody who helps me with nursery duties and looking after the baby when I need to go out (Possible even come on some occasions.)

Avantia Too be honest I don't want too many people in the house. I want to employ one person that stays with us for a while.

PremierBebe - based on your comments, I would suggest that you employ a live-in nanny/mothers-help who has lots of newborn experience AND a flexible approach.

You could advertise on Childcare.co.uk, Netmums, etc or you could use an agency to help you.

Good luck :)

You can find nannies with nb experience but you may need to compromise on doing things around the house.

When are you due and how soon after do you need to be back at Uni? If you are going to have more than one person (necessity rather than intentionally) I would have someone for the first 6-8 months and then change. It will give you someone with nb experience, you change before separation anxiety kicks in and plenty more nannies have experience of 6m+ than infants.

I sympathise as we were in a similar situation (stupidly short French mat leave ) and unintentionally changed nannies at 8mo but it has worked.

We are in contact with lots of nannies who have newborn experience and a flexible approach to their duties, so I don't think that PremierBebe would need to employ more than one nanny. It's just a matter of finding the right person whose requirements match PremierBebe?s!

Oh I wasn't suggesting she couldn't find someone just that if she did have to switch it wouldn't be the end if the world and many more nannies have experience with 6m+ than, say, a 2 week old. IF she can't find someone long term at the rstart which is clearly her, and most people's, preferred solution then she could either compromise on extra house duties and get the right long term nanny or have someone suitable for the start willing to do whatever is needed and then switch after 6m which isn't as traumatic as one might think when the poolof experienced candidates will be bigger. It seems the OP will definitely need help soon after the birth but we don't know that the timescale is....

The additional language tends to complicates things IME but again more details needed on whether that's a non negotiable or a specific language etc

Thanks for your replies. My final exams are in May, so I can't stop my degree. I also have an offer for work from September. As I said, it would be only nursery duties and the nanny would have to be flexible at the beginning. Of course I want to spend as much time as possible with my daughter but On the other hand I need to study a lot for my exams etc.

It would be great to have a French speaking nanny, so our daughter could grow up trilingual. My mother tongue is German and my husband's English. But it wouldn't be the end of the world if we wouldn't find one.

Do you really want to be paying someone for June, July and August if your current imperatives are studying and exams over the next 2 months? I do hear what you're saying about not wanting multiple people but in your case it may even be desirable.

The best childcare option for your newborn is you.

Why exactly are you having a baby if you plan to outsource its care from day 1?

puff not helpful

I will just ignore your reply puff

fraktal yes, my husband will be away over the summer so I will def need a pair of hands.

Sorry writing from friends iPad and forgot to login with my name.

In which case I will thoroughly recommend 1 French agency (International Nannies in Paris, Evelyne speaks perfect English) and 1 British who have a branch in Paris - Nannies Inc, Isabelle who runs the Paris branch is super. Assuming you're paying well they'll have no problem finding a French nanny to work in London with one newborn.

Thanks, my friend (borntoshopforcedtowork) is a nanny herself recommended Little Ones? Does anybody have experience with the agency as a parent?

Well they couldn't find me any suitable candidates but they were nice people!

So... I have contacted Nannies Inc, Little Ones, royal nannies (who was rather rude and laughed when she heard my name) and peek a boo nannies. Did anybody use peek a boo? They t and c's seem a bit dodgy to me.