Nanny is pg - what next?

[Puddlet]

Our lovely nanny is expecting her first child early next year. We have discussed a potential return to work after a few months but not whether her child would come too. Does anyone have experience of how this might work? I have one child at school and a 9 month old at home who would be closer to 18 months by the time this might happen. I suppose I'm concerned about the potential for it all to be too exhausting (we are a 40 minute commute away from her home) and whether it would work to have both children together all day... Has anyone had experience of this? I would really appreciate advice on what to watch out for in terms of clarifying expectations. Thanks!

We had a nanny who became pregnant after our job offer but prior to starting work with us. We had to do risk assessments for the working environment and minimise risks, in her case noteabley lifting our toddlers was an issue. We have three toddlers who were not yet at preschool so the day was very busy! The hours for us were full time three day week of 0700-2030 so where pos we had to let her go home early as long hours was considered a risk to her pregnancy. Additionally, we had to provide time off for maternity appointments which was usually accomplished by juggling her working days so the appointments were on days off. This was done as she wanted a whole day off for a single appointment mid morning (I don't think so!). Be aware that where possible they can be given time off but if you cannot accomodate then your nanny can re-book appointments. Our nanny decided from the outset that she wanted to take 4 months off and return to work with a 4 month old baby aswell. Logistically, there were considerations such as who will provide a buggy (Our three used a double with buggy board so you cannot use a sling for baby etc). Her car could take our three carseats but not a fourth so she wanted to use our car instead. She would need a highchair but we were using booster seats at the table so that needed to be sorted out. Our haouse is no longer 'baby-proofed' ie stairgates etc as we have removed these for our toddlers. On her working days we would have to provide these but our toddlers can open them but not shut them!!! Her baby would need naps and where this would happen was an issue as our tots are all in beds now. She hadn't really considered how she would bf with three toddlers running about although she suggested that she would have to put them in front of the TV. Additionally, getting out to groups was going to be difficult until she had got her baby routine organised so I felt ours would lose out, thus fitting in with her baby. We also have a dog who would not like an extra baby and didn't approve of her being shut in the kitchen/garden all day for the sake of another child.

There will be lots of things to consider about how it would work in your family. It is a perk to be able to take your child to work and not have to pay childcare etc. If she wants to bring her baby back to work she will need your agreement and the contract revised from sole-charge to shared. With this you can drop her salary by 1/4-1/3 as she is not solely looking after your children. You will also need to work out how sickness of the children will affect her coming to work, maybe some ground rules prior to this starting. You state that she will return after a few months but be aware that she can take up to a year! She may decide after a year not to come back at all. During mat leave she will accrue AL so you might wish to discuss how she will take this ie add onto ML or take it prior to ML. For the ML period we had to advertise for another nanny to fill the time which makes things more complicated so make sure it is advertised as a maternity cover post.

In the end we didn't agree to accept our nanny back to work with her baby due to all of the above considerations and the fact we employed a sole charge nanny for three toddlers. Three toddlers are very time consuming and adding a baby would take away too much attention from our three. She therefore gave notice to leave just prior to ML. Our appointed maternity cover nanny has now taken up the permanant position.

Good luck with your nanny!

Thanks - that does give me lots to think about in terms of the logistics of it all.

2plus1 wow - - sounds like you had a bit of a lucky escape there.

pudlet.. as 2plus1 has said, there are things you have to take in to account.
Sounds like you have a nice nanny, so you need to weigh up the pro's and cons, because "nanny with own child" can work out for some, and not for others.

You don't HAVE to alter the terms of her contract to allow her to come back with her baby; that's entirely up to you. You do HAVE to hold her job open (obviously and rightly), but if you decided that it's not suitable to bring her baby, then she'll have to decide whether to find her own childcare to return, or to not return.

Re: Maternity Leave: maternity pay is reclaimable, so although it does initially come out of your pocket, you get it back. Holidays accrued / paid through maternity leave is NOT reclaimable though, so you pay for that. If your nanny tells you before she goes on Maternity Leave that she is not returning, then she gives you written notice, so you do not have to pay accrued holiday pay. If she doesn't decide till the end of Maternity Leave that she's not returning (her choice), then you do have to pay it.

If she's your original nanny, you have to decide:

a: do you wish to alter terms so she can bring her baby
b: if so, are you going to reduce pay accordingly or leave it the same (tricky - differing opinions on this).
c: how you are going to cover her maternity leave (temp nanny, childminder, nursery, parents?).

If you have a payroll company, they will work out her holiday accrual and apply to HMRC for Maternity Pay cheque - this is not usually at least until the nanny has her MAT1B (around 20/23 weeks) and until she has decided when she's going on leave (if I remember correctly)..

I worked as a nanny for six years, taking my 6 month with me from the outset. It all worked pretty well but their house was big so not really an issue as regards high chair etc....they allocated the large cupboard under the stairs for all my baby stuff so I ensured that by the time they came home from work everything was put away out if sight, no big issue. I suppose it all depends on if your nanny fits well into your family life, if everything is going well there is no reaon why a new addition should change the dynamics too much, your youngest would have a play mate in the making! I suppose I'm looking at it from the view of a nanny which gives a different perspective than that of an employee.

i feel the need to reply - i returned to work when my son was 12 weeks old - 3 days to a 7-5:30 job with 6yo and 3yo AND a new job i obtained after my son was born with a 2 yo and a baby 3 months older than my son.

Both have worked brilliantly for me and them, my salary didn't change, no did my hours while pregnant in my existing job. I had time of for 2 scans but made sure they were as late as they could be and offered to arrange cover with nanny friends.

I left work at 38w and my return date was pencilled in but kinda left 'open' but I soon decided the 12w was ready to go back, quicker I got back the easier it would be!

I take everything i need to work every day and I work 20miles from home. My salary hasn't changed. My charges LOVE my son, really miss him when he's at home with daddy (who works shifts) but 12/15 days he's with me.

I have bought a double buggy as the one at my new job is really heavy, I take a portable highchair with me and I make sure (well try) that all my stuff is in my car each night and tidy, no evidence of us around. There are odd times I've left a toy there but I do try and ensure that it is still there house - if that makes sense. They've taken their stairgates down, they don't have a cot - totally respect this its their house - I just make do, be vigilant - and for sleeps he'll sleep on the youngest bed or now he's getting a bit more mobile i've a travel cot in my car.

I bought a bigger car a month after returning to work! (7 seater) so I can get my 2 charges and son and buggy/scooter/bikes in my car, I was driving a micra, which was OK and useable but the new car just makes life easier

Having my son with me doesn't stop me/us doing anything that I didn't do previously - I am a LOT busier and have to be more organised. I have a great team of nanny friends who have been brilliant esp in the early days - they are very hands on with my son and take him off me to feed him n stuff so I could get on with giving my charge time n attention.

My son just fits in with work, he sleeps on/after the school run and after lunch now - but IF we are out and he doesn't sleep he (and I) have to cope- there have been days when he's had 20min sleep since 6am (when I have to wake him to leave for work)!!

its all been really smooth if I'm honest. Some things i need to think about - like swimming or cinema in school holidays - be it doesn't stop us - I drag along a nanny friend of palm my son off to someone for a few hours or plan it for a day he's at home with daddy.

The new job is a little more chaotic but there are only 3 months between them, and being new to the job anyway. Still I've just got on with it.

I guess i'm just trying to say it can work, it does work and my charges get a lot from it - they learn to share, they have learnt to be aware of where he is (esp now he's on the move) and what's around and more importantly they love him. they get the consistency of me coming back, I get a great job (with no pay cut) that I love and truly appreciate - and my bosses get someone back who know them, the family and we work well as a team.

My maternity leave was short, one of the reasons I decided this was to get back quick and incentive to keep me - they covered it with a mix of parents and nanny friends covering.

She's even considering keeping me when they're both at school and when (if) I have another baby which i think is a great salute to how well it has worked.

Hope that helps