FT Nanny + Regular Babysitting

[Cathyrina]

Hi there,

I'v been thinking about this for a long time and would like some opinions from other Nannies and parents.

I'm looking for a new position at the moment and have come across so many ad's where parents are asking for a full-time nanny, 50-60 hours a week plus sometimes staying longer in the evening PLUS regular babysitting once or twice a week, mostly weekends. I was wondering if there are any nannies out there who are actually happy to do this..? I'm really lucky with my current employers, they hardly ever go out, maybe once in a few months. I'd of course be happy to be flexible and support my family where I can i.e. sometimes stay longer or occasional weekend babysitting and I would, of course, be at their doorstep in a second if they'd ever need me for an emergency...but a regular 60 hours a week plus several hours a weekend? I mean yeah it's extra money and stuff but really?? You wouldn't ask someone who works in an office for those hours to come back at the weekend and work more hours, wouldn't you.

And parents, what would you think about a nanny mentioning this in an interview and asking to cut down babysitting hours to only emergencies and very occasional (let's say no more than 1-2 weekend nights and 4-6 nights during the week in a month or so)? Would this be a big issue and maybe a reason not to employ her even though you may like her a lot?

Thanks

Regular babysitting as part of a live-out nanny job... no, I would not like that. Sure I may be able to stay late but committing to doing a 60 hour week, plus then another 10 hours perhaps on top is a bit much. If the babysitting was optional then that's different.

Maybe I'm just getting old! When I was younger I certainly would do 70+ hours a week.

i will not commit to regular bs win a job, but often will do it, but if i cant then have many friends who are nannies who are happy to earn extra pounds

tbh rare for a live out nanny to have this in her (sorry nick) their job description -more live in nannies

working 10/12 hours a day is tiring and we need our 'rest' time and time to have a social life

Like blondes I won't commit to regular babysitting. It's quite usual for a live-in to have babysitting in their contract but definitely not for a live-out.

I've not applied or interviewed for any jobs that have had babysitting in their description but when I have been asked at interviews about whether I will babysit I state that I don't do regular babysitting but am happy to help out occasionally. The odd late night on a working day is fine too, but not a regular thing.

I don't do babysitting because I'm in my 40's, don't particularly need the extra money, my own children are past the age of needing a babysitter and I want to be able to go out as and when and our arrangements with friends are very often last minute - I don't want to have to turn down impromptu invites because I am babysitting.

I personally wouldn't employ a nanny that wouldn't babysit. One of the perks of having a nanny for me is being able to go out in the evening with reliable childcare and not having to worry about coming home to sort a sitter out.

However, I don't think what you are suggesting in terms of days/ when you will babysit, is unreasonable at all. I fact I wouldn't call it very occasional either, its probably about how much we go out together, and compared to alot of our friends, we go out quite a lot.

Maybe i was unusal then but when i was nannying i liked settngs like this one. Me and all my nanny frends wanted to do babysittings and it s easer to babysit for your regular family rather an agency and children you dont know. At least if you nanny for the children all week then it should be easy peasy to comfort them.
However if you dont need the money and you have a busy social life then is not good for you.
We used to do what Blondes said, we passed babysittng jobs to each other.

I imagine that if the family put this into the ad then it is important to them.
Or perhaps is it put as a 'plus point'=opportunity to earn more if you want?

I feel it's not that the nanny would not babysit if asked to do so, it's more not being tied into doing it as and when their employer decides they want an evening out. If it is in the contract then an employer may decide late notice to go out and the nanny may have already made other plans.

Babysitting by mutual agreement = fine.
Contracting 2 nights a week babysitting with no clauses with regard to how much advance notice is given, how long, what happens if not used is it carried over = not fine.

I doubt any nanny would refuse to ever babysit for their employer, it is more that it needs to be at a convenient time.

nick puts it so much better :)

yes its easy to bs after work esp if there anyway, i used to finish 6.30/45 if i bs then kids went to bed 7pm so next 4/5hrs sitting on sofa - worked mon, tue and wed

but if i had to bs on a thur/fri/weekend etc then its more hassle for me and 'my' time

we work hard 10/12hrs a day so why should we have to bs/give up our weekend/evening

but its the fact i dont mind/want to - i dont want to have to commit to it

but as i said i know tons of nannies and if i cant bs then can always find a friend who can :)

saying that i have my ex dc and woofa next saturday and cant wait to see them all :)

Live ins it's normally included. Tbh I would be put out if babysitting was not paid extra - after 12 hrs in a day I normally go straight to bed! I lost so much weight in one job because I was literally too tired to eat and too poor
Live out jobs definitely shouldn't be compulsory babysitting though and 2 nights a week seems like a lot of going out

Live in or out is a big distinction here for babysitting during the week. When I was speaking to agencies when looking to hire I was told 2 times per week Monday to Friday was standard to be included in the rate. Live out not.

I can totally get though why either sort of nanny may not want to commit to regular weekend babysitting. How big a deal this will I suppose boil down to how key it is to the employer (if say they both have to work Sat nights) and how much good competition there is for a role. If jobs are being advertised like this through an agency they you'd be best asking if there is any flex in the point as there might not be.

Actually worth adding when we use our nanny to babysit mid week it is generally due to our working late rather than socialising.

I wouldn't ever commit to a job working saturday nights. Not because I'm a bad nanny or that I like to go out - but I always go home on weekends (to leicestershire from London).
I always say that I would be happy to stay if prearranged but working on a weekend would limit me completely.

I have a full time live out nanny

In her contract it is up to 2 nights per week babysitting

This is because of late nights at work mainly and I can go for weeks and not ever have to do this

Weekends are separate and not part of her contract as are over nighters

We talked through her contract before she came to work for us and we review yearly