childcare arrangements - mixture of nanny and cm - would it work?

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we have a nanny - she does cooking for us as well and looks after DC. While she is cooking dinner, I thought to give DD2 ( 19 months) to the CM for 2- mornings just to socialise with other kids. Nanny does take DD2 to the parks but as the weather gets colder, this might be limited now and I thought to give DD2 to CM who has kids to provide a social aspect for DD2 ( or example 3 mornings for 3 hours?). this way, nanny woul have the protected time to cook dinner and do some bits in the house and DD2 would have quality time with other children at CM. WOuld this work? please share your ideas. thank you.

Personally I would just get nanny to socialise with baby at classes/ toddler groups/ etc..

And cook when baby naps

Nanny should be able to do this without help. I cook for the family, and have a child with medical needs too.
Nanny socialises dd2 at groups, and dd2 either naps or plays in same room while nanny is busy. Nanny can also involve dd2 with chores.
Has the nanny asked for help?

As a nanny I would not be impressed for my charge to go to a childminder whilst I cooked dinner.

I can offer a child the same as a childminder through activity groups and playdates with other children - within a nanny circle or wider group of friends.

Sounds really disruptive for a 19 month old - at this age attachment to a caregiver is far more important than time with other kids.

So you would be paying for double childcare while your nanny cooks

Why do this?

Your nanny should be taking your dd out to groups to socialise or meet up with other like minded aged children

Duties in the house depending what they are either get a cleaner or nanny can do them either when dd sleeps - providing she still gets a break/time for lunch or she can do them while dd awake

Cooking a meal shouldn't take longer then 20/30mins unless you want corden bleu meals ...... And again dd should be able to play by herself/watch some ceebeebies etc while nanny does it

It's good for children to entertain theirselves every day rather then mon
Stop entertaining /playing with them

I think it sounds fine, bet nanny would love it! Perfect scenario for her, 3 mornings childfree a week to catch up on chores

A nanny shouldn't have that many chores though, that's the point. Nursery duties yes, cleaning house no.

So I would hire a cleaner instead and leave nanny to do nanny jobs.

A nanny will be perfectly fine to make a risotto/ roast some chicken whilst caring for a child. Most will do either when they nap or include child ie let them mix, use a child's knife to play with a mushroom etc etc

We have a mixture of nanny care and nursery care and for us it works brilliantly, but on different days. Certainly would not want to pay double childcare for the same time here!
If you want your nanny to cook without taking her time away from the kids I'd ask her to do it while you lo naps (rather than walking in buggy for example) and batch cook so she doesn't have to do it every day - also then there's stuff n the freeze for you on non nanny days.
If you want your child to socialise etc then structured playgroups/music sessions/toddler gym classes etc are all great. And / or ask your nanny if she has friends with charges of similar ages.
I don't think sending your child to a cm while your nanny does chores is on tbh.

Combine with pre-school/nursery seems better to me, many morning/afternoon groups will take from age 2.

Now is time to get on waiting list. Meanwhile nanny can go to toddler groups.

I am a CM and would be surprised if a parent asked me to share care in this way. Most nannies are more than capable of providing enough social interaction for a child.

thank you. thank you for sharing your thoughts - you are right. consistency of childcarer is more important than cooking...I now have doubts about my decisions with additional CM... BUT one more factor nanny is not English English speaking toddler groups is a bit too much of a ask??? MY SECOND complication- DD1 is in school far from our house and the plan is that my father ( who lives not too far) would take him to school ( again, involving another person into our routine) and I would pick DD1 from school. just thinking whether coordinating all that is madness or is it what people do ?

Can't your nanny take DD1 to school, surely this is part of the reason you employ a nanny?

Yeah I don't understand either. It's a nannies job to take children to and from school. They just take youngest in pram with them

does your nanny speak any english? and if you want her to take to groups and socialise then tell her

also as others have said, why wont the nanny take dc1 to school? is it walkable? if not does she drive/have use of a car

I think you may be over-complicating things a wee bit
How far is too far?

If your nanny can't do those things, which are well within the range of nanny duties (depending on what bits in the house means), then you need to look at changing your nanny rather than bringing extra people in.

Does your nanny speak her own language to your DC then? Do you communicate with her in her language? Has she lived in the country long? I wouldn't have thought shed he completely helpless so toddler groups shouldn't be a problem. She only needs quite basic English to get by - ice done foreign language toddler groups in a couple of languages, 1 I didn't speak at all, and it's never really been an issue. You don't get the gossip time with other mums that many mums seem to go to the groups for bit that's not why nannies are going IYSWIM.

I'd either do a nursery a couple of days a week so that your LO would have children all their age to play with - and all the activities will be geared towards them.

Alternatively, you could just book your nanny in for classes - if you're in London there are lots of non-English as a first language nannies. Gymboree, monkey music, tumbletots, messy play arts classes are all really good for 19 month old girls.

As an after thought are you worried about your daughter having a lack of exposure to English? If so an English CM may be better for a couple of mornings.

Your nanny should also be doing cooking and school run as part of her duties.

if nanny takes DD1 on the bus - it will cost us 80 pounds extra a wekk for te bus pass... it is about 2 miles away. she does not drive. I will look for classes for nanny to go to with DD2 and perhals give DD2 to CM just 2 mornings a week...see how it goes. eventually, in the future if I decide to stop using nanny, I could get DD2 into CM for 5 mornings and the rest to ask my mum help with wrap around care. this is sort of a long term vision...what do you think? Karoleann, you mentioned that nursery would be better than CM in terms of same age activities?

A nanny who doesn't speak English well enough to go to toddler groups, doesn't drive and yet you live a bus or car journey from school... Are you sure this is good for your DC?

Why did you employ someone who can't speak basic English or drive to look after your two small children?

How on earth does she communicate with them or you? Or do you speak another language?

You know 2 miles is a less than 30 min walk? Youngest in pram, eldest on scooter maybe

I agree with above tbh. If they can't speak English, can't socialise, can't cook and supervise, can't take a child to and from school, then you are probably better getting rid and using childminder full time

What bus pass costs £80 a week?

Tho walking 4miles a day may be a bit too much for a 4/5/6yr and would be 8 miles for the nanny - though tbh calling her a nanny when she can't do the role and duties of a basic nanny ...........

Is she qualified? Is she paid well? I honestly can't work out why you have employed her when she can't fulfil the basic duties you need

Well children over 5 are supposed to do min of 1 hour, ideally 3 hours of walking/ excercise a day.
A half hour walk to and from school is only 1 hour.

True geek :) tho still seems far for little legs

Other option rather then pay a cm 3hrs a day for 3 days so possibly £45/55 9hrs at £5/6ph put that money towards a bus pass though never heard of £80 a week for a 2mile bus ride - if I get a return to town (about 3miles) costs me about £2.30