Practicalities of hiring a nanny with children of her own - nanny mums advise please!

[medjool]

I am looking again for after school childcare because my current after school nanny didn't tell me she was also looking for a full time job. I am now thoroughly investigating all new candidates to make sure that they have the rest of the day covered so the same thing doesn't happen.

One of the first responses I have had was from a lovely single mum who lives round the corner from me. She has 2 children, one is doing 15 hours/week at nursery and the other is still at home. She does a little work doing book parties and babysitting but she wants to do something a bit more regular so that she can have a more solid income. The hours away from home are not a problem for the next year as both children will still see their mum lots during the day. There is a mutual benefit for her working for my family - it's local, which suits us both and means she knows the area, plus we're both looking for limited hours. I also k

What I need some advice on is the practical side of what it's like to be a nanny and a mum, ideally a single mum. This lady has friends who can help her with childcare, but what happens when children are sick or when friends aren't around? She doesn't have family nearby - and neither do I, which means I need stable and reliable childcare. I can take time off work if my kids are sick (and can't go to school or childminder) and leave early if my after school nanny is sick, but it's not fair to expect her to find childcare when her kids are sick so she can look after mine even though it increases the number of possible situations in which I would be stuck.

So how do you manage a family and looking after other people's kids? What is your sickness plan? She mentioned that with working tax credits, she could have access to reasonably priced childcare - can anyone explain more? Any other advice as to how to make this work?

If she isn't bringing her children to work with her, then her childcare arrangements aren't really any of your business.

Hi there,

I initially imagined your thread would be about the nanny bringing her children with her to your house..

My experience of having after-school nannies has been that the hours do appeal mainly to nannies who have their own children; otherwise the hours are often not enough (as you found out) so your applicants may be limited; but often the nannies would like to bring their children along.

I guess nobody can say what will or won't happen in someone elses circumstances, but I'd be wary of your possible nanny relying on friends as her childcare plan - that sounds very unreliable and not a long term measure.

I'd also query any possible nanny who has to pay childcare for her own to children to look after yours.. is that really financially viable for her (long term)? Would she earn enough to make it worthwhile?

One option could be her bringing her children to your house? If you like her, that might be a good option for both of you? You can pay a lower rate to her as you are 'sharing', and she doesn't have to pay childcare. Would that work?

If she's not planning on bringing her children with her then surely it's the same as employing any type of childcarer with their own children. What I mean is you will have similar considerations for a childminder who has their own children. If they get sick you wouldn't really be able to send your children to the childminder, same with employing a nanny with children. If her children are ill you have to find alternative childcare.

I do think some of the responsibility lies with you as a parent to find alternative childcare if your nanny or childminder is ill (or has children who are ill). I'm fortunate enough to have my parents living quite close to us and they are well aware that they are my emergency fall back - they insisted on it in fact. However, if they weren't around I would need to find some other arrangement.

I do find it odd your nanny is putting her children in childcare, so she can care for your children. Obviously her choice, but my nanny brings her dd with her to work (she's 2.8 - the same age as my dd). It sounds as though hers are a similar age - ie qualifying for 15 hours childcare a week - so why doesn't she bring at least the one that's at home all the time. Then you can assess if and when her children are ill if you want her bringing them to work with her - sometimes you might feel if her child is just a bit off colour that you dont' mind them being around your children. That's how I work it usually. Our nanny has brought her dd with her when she's been sniffly and full of cold. The only time I've asked her to stay at home was when her dd was actively throwing up.

I read it as the nannies own children would be coming to work with her, it's only if they are ill that the nanny may have to find childcare. I would wonder though how many parents take a sick day from their job or annual leave when their child is ill.

Thanks for your feedback. Rubirosa - it is my business if I am trying to help this mum to get back into the job market, plus my children have had a bad patch of being let down by home carers and I've got to be 100% sure that whatever solution I find will mean stability for them. Not that it's any of your business.