Advice on nannies please!

[wanlass]

Hi, I have a 20 month old son and 4 month old twin girls. I'm looking for a nanny initially to help me out whilst I'm on maternity leave and that person then to have sole charge of the 3 children when I return to work next year.

I'm a bit unsure as to what sort of nanny to look for - someone with lots of nannying experience, or someone with childcare experience (eg nursery) but not necessarily nannying, or maybe an older person who might not have formal qualifications but loads of experience with kids of all ages?

At first I wasn't too worried as I was really looking for a mother's help, but now as I'm thinking about going back to work and leaving someone in charge of my 3 for the whole day, I want to 'get it right'

What do I need to look for/ask? Does experience count for more than qualifications? (presumably both is preferable!)

Any advice please?

It's one of those things that really depends on you tbh. Some people prefer experience to qualifications, some people need both, some people are happy to have a newly qualified nanny. Some people are happy with any childcare experience, some people want specific nanny experience. Some people prefer someone older, some people think an older person may struggle with the physical demands of 3 very young children. It's just about finding the person that is right for your family. None of us can really tell you what will suit you!

IMO, experience and good references are worth much more than qualifications, simply because you can know how to do something/be trained to do something and not do it! Good qualifications doesn't always mean good practice. Things that are key in a nanny such as patience, love of children, reliability, common sense, danger awareness etc are not things that can be taught in an NVQ.

Having said all that, as you're going to be home for the first few months you may want a newly qualified nanny who you can train up yourself. It will probably be much cheaper than taking on a very experienced nanny.

My biggest piece of advice to you would be; judge each applicant individually and listen to your gut instinct. Don't be blinded by crap like 'she isn't professional she isn't from an agency/Oftsed registered/she asked to be paid net/she wore jeans to the interview'.

in your circumstances i would go for someone highly exp as they will be having to care for 3 under 2yrs - this is demanding and may put some lazy nannies off but many of us nannies myself included would love a job like this

i wouldnt have someone straight out from nursery as very different being with people in a nursery to thinking on your own,esp with 3 small ones

i would go for quals and exp but also trust your gut :)

I have 10 mo twins and I had exactly the same plan as you - to get someone to help me initially and then for her to have sole charge once I return to work. I employed a nanny/housekeeper, she is mature (ie 40s) with DCs of her own (teenage now). She is not qualified but has a few years nannying experience as well as bringing up her own DCs. She has been fab - she does whatever I need her to (ironing, cooking, sortibg out DCs clothes, running errands) and the DTs love her. She has sole charge of them now for a couple of hours 2/3 times a week so I am confident she can cope once I return to work in a few weeks. I was very lucky in that she had another parttime nannying job but has handed her notice in so she can work for me full time.
I found her on gumtree.

Advertise the job and see who you get applying. Whilst your ideal candidate may be someone who has childcare training, loads of experience, has cared for twins before (or even triplets or quads), or has cared for say 3 under 3's before, you may simply not find that ideal person.

As Holy says, some things can't be taught... so whilst a qualification may mean someone knows something about child development, it does not mean they have common sense. I feel you want to avoid having someone who is very reliant on you... instead you want someone who just gets on with things. With 3 under 2's you need someone on the ball from day 1, not someone you need to guide through basics of looking after children and the house.

You want a multi-tasker - someone who can cope with 3 children and doing the washing, cooking, and a bit of a general tidy around, plus deal with household emergencies - be that rats getting in, blocked drains, no electrics, no internet (hey got to add that one these days) - being organised to do outings.

So consider the salary on offer... consider if you need someone who drives and if they need their own car for work purposes (will car seats fit, 3 car seats across rear seats of cars can be a tight fit, or sometimes impossible).

See who you get along with - you need someone who you and your children feel comfortable with.

Blondes I'm one of them lazy nannies , times would have to be really tough for me to take a job with 4 month old twins and another under 2! You must be nuts!

I took a nanny who was straight from a nursery and she's been amazing! We've had her two years now and my kids (now 4 and 6) love her. She s young, (23) and I think that helps her have the energy to be active with them.

It can be hard to judge in an interview - our nanny was very nervous and we didn't realise how lucky we were to have found her for a few months!

Very personal. I had a very set idea of what I wanted before I met my nanny and she didn't match those expectations when i first met her. However there was something about her I liked and so she came and did a trial and we never looked back.

I honestly believe you get a feeling for these things-go with your gut.

nothing wrong with having a nanny come from a nursery and esp as your d were 2 and 4 :) -very different from 3 under 2

and holy my bf had 3 under 2 but other way round, twins then no 3 came along 22mths later, and they are my godchildren so used to close ages iyswim - also 2 jobs ago had 2 under 14mths

sometimes easier to have close together and not the end of the world if not out of the house by 9.30/10am -unlike if have a baby and say 4/5yr as then HAVE to be out of the house by 8 sometimes for school