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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Nanny and internet access

30 replies

webminx · 05/11/2013 20:11

We have a new nanny. She's great. We'd like to keep her. However, I'm not sure if this is a normal request or not - she asked today if she could have our WIFI key as she'd like to access the internet on her ipad during her lunchbreak - her mobile phone is out of range at our house.

In the contract, it expressly prohibits accessing the internet during work time. She has signed the contract. However, I don't want to be unreasonable. My gut feeling is to say no, but really not sure how to say so without sounding like a nit-picky, miserable employer. Any thoughts?

OP posts:

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grobagsforever · 05/11/2013 20:12

YABU. What if she needs the Internet to look up stuff, like DC activity times? Or recipes? It's a resource!

Sam100 · 05/11/2013 20:22

I would allow it - but I would probably also mention that we monitor wifi usage to make sure that we stay within the limits of the plan. That way hopefully she won't spend all day on it but will have access if she needs it for looking stuff up. Am sure there is some sort of reporting tool that you could get to monitor usage if you are worried.

bigTillyMint · 05/11/2013 20:25

I have to say that you should feel you can trust your nanny to give your children proper attention. And if you feel you can't, then there's an issue.

However, we have settings on our TalkTalk whereby we can restrict access to social media and the like between certain hours (we have teens). Would this be helpful?

oranges · 05/11/2013 20:26

Could you put some sort of timer on it so it only clicks on in her lunch hour? Tough I agree I need the Internet all the time to look up kids stuff.

Parietal · 05/11/2013 20:28

i'd let her have it. these days, wifi is an essential, not an optional.

SteamWisher · 05/11/2013 20:29

I let ours. Honestly why do you restrict internet access? My nanny uses for looking up stuff for the kids.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/11/2013 20:30

Yes, but you should restrict access to adult sites and I recommend you instead have a list of sites that are allowed.

If she accessed something dodgy you would be liable - or rather it would take a lot of faffing to prove you weren't.

FannyBazaar · 05/11/2013 20:36

If I worked somewhere where my mobile phone had no signal and I wasn't allowed internet access in my lunch break to even check facebook to arrange a night out I'd be furious and wouldn't stay. I'm assuming she works a full day as is entitled to a lunch break so expecting her to be incommunicado all day is a bit much.

kiriwAnyFuckerwa · 05/11/2013 20:45

TBH I think you sound like a nit-picky miserable employer anyway :o

Why on earth have you banned the internet anyway? You're basically saying that you don't trust her to spend her entire day surfing and ignoring your child. If you don't trust her, get a different nanny

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/11/2013 20:49

personally i wouldnt have signed that contract with that clause .....

wifi is essential i feel in todays working life - everyone has access to it, sure you do at work webmix

those who say put it on timer - wtf

its handy for emails for a start - i email my mb/db lots and send pics of our day/etc

recipes,you tube how to do something/ceebeebies games /songs/printing off info/colouring sheets for older children as a bare minimum

yes its likely she will go on fb/nm etc but im assuming you trust her enough to not go on phone all day

i started a temp job today and have zero signal in the house, middle of nowhere lol - and db said would i like their code, and then gave me both,as large house so have bt in living room/hall etc and another one in kitchen/playroom and said they will switch depending on best signal

trust goes a long way :)

Repeatedlydoingthetwist · 05/11/2013 20:52

I let anyone who comes to our house have ours! It's only for a short time and it doesn't really make a dent in our allowance. It really does sound like you don't trust her I'm afraid OP.

TheDoctrineOfWho · 05/11/2013 20:56

What is the source of your worry? That will help determine your response.

SauvignonBlanche · 05/11/2013 21:00

It sounds like you don't trust her, yet you say you want to keep her?

GoldiChops · 05/11/2013 21:36

Good grief. You trust her with your kids, but not to have access to the internet? Seems she's only asking as she can't access it herself- if she could, you'd never even know. I'm a nanny, I have the wifi code at work of course I do. I take my laptop. Today, I used it to find two recipes, the toddler watched a minute youtube clip of a motorbike as he loves them (we then made a motorbike from boxes), to check Google maps to see the address to pick up the eldest from a playdate she went strait from school too. That's just work related. I also checked my FB and came on here, in the 15 min break I try and take when the older 3 are in term-time and if the toddler sleeps. While I was eating. Oh and later on I streamed a youtube vid of Startrekkin so the kids could have a dance after bath time.

If trust is a big issue, why employ her? Why trust her with your precious children if you can't trust she isn't what...... looking at porn on her break or something? Why else would you restrict it?

Lottiedoubtie · 05/11/2013 21:42

Totally unreasonable OP.

nannynick · 05/11/2013 21:53

Lunch break - do nannies get those?

UABU unless you are already providing suitable access to the internet for purposes such as finding places to go, activity suggestions & craft ideas, local traffic information etc.

These days the internet is used so much for a lot of things and it can be a great way of find new places to take children on outings, food recipes, video of a meteor entering the atmosphere (we looked at that one on Monday as doing a project about space).

If you want to place restrictions on it, then do so at the router level or have a computer system setup for general usage with restrictions on that.

Original poster

webminx · 05/11/2013 22:02

Ooh interesting! Thanks for all the feedback. The clause prohibiting Internet usage was in the standard contract provided by the agency that we used. The intention behind it, I had assumed, is to limit the opportunity for distraction/help ensure a nanny doesn't spend working time browsing the Internet as part of personal use. My own contract with my employer prohibits Internet access for personal use.

TBH I hadn't thought of it as a trust issue - my concerns centred mainly around the potential for the older child to see lots of online activity and then constantly be demanding screen time etc. as we try to limit online and TV time in general. I hadn't really thought about it in terms of porn/bandwidth usage/etc.
I hadn't given the upsides much thought either TBH - i.e. using it as a resource for the kids etc.

Very helpful to hear other views! Thanks!

OP posts:

GoldiChops · 05/11/2013 22:25

Well if the nanny is professional, she won't be on any device long enough for an older child to notice. My 6 yo charge does see me using my laptop as I used it today at tea time while I was cooking, to follow the recipe. I've never allowed any charge to actually use any of my devices, phone or laptop, not even touch them. The parents have an iPad that they let the children use when I'm not there.

I've never come across any nanny job that would include that particular clause- its not like we are in an office working on project to a deadline and can't afford distractions. I show them short youtube clips to reinforce topics and stuff- I found a short clip aimed at 5 yo about scooter safety by roads, for example. I never use anything not aimed at the kids, whilst with the kids. My own use of non-work sites is if the toddler sleeps, while I'm eating, usually with the washing machine on and food cooking too so I feel I earn that short non-work time! Not a break of course, if toddler is awake or its the hols or one of the older 3 is ill I do nothing personal like that.

I also use the wifi when I babysit, which is fairly often. I babysit for several families locally and most have offered wifi code before I even ask. I've never had anyone refuse, or be cross or unsure about giving it. One family has a dodgy signal which drops too often so I don't take my laptop anymore.

Original poster

webminx · 05/11/2013 22:28

She is very professional and has been very accommodating on little things since she started so I don't want to appear difficult at all. Really helpful to hear about your experiences - thanks. Feel like a bit of an idiot now - had just assumed the standard contract from the agency was some sort of gold standard (!) and was keen to make sure I got it right as it'sour first time employing anyone! Gah!

OP posts:

TheDoctrineOfWho · 05/11/2013 22:34

Aw, don't worry OP, you've been very reasonable checking :)

GoldiChops · 05/11/2013 22:35

Its all a learning curve isn't it! I've never come across restricting web access in all my years of nannying so I got het up, no reason to though! I've just come across so many FAR less accommodating than you- a live-in job with a completely separate flat provided that had a standard no visitors whatsoever in the flat- not even my sister, also a qualified nanny, not even for a cup of tea, for example. There was a post on here a while back about someone wanting to employ a nanny and asking how best to lock the main bedroom so the nanny wouldn't snoop! Ew. No way I want to snoop my boss's stuff, I don't want to know any private details! So I tend to get irked on behalf of nannies! Sorry!

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/11/2013 23:43

Bless you op. You asked and have been told

Some contracts forbid use of Fb/twitter and putting pics up of kids

I NEVER put up pics of kiddiwinks I look after - tho have an album of woofa :) - tho a few friends do add pics of their charges and I think that wrong

I never even mention their names on Fb - either initials or when doing nights like now - just call bubs :)

Give your nanny your wifi code :)

GoldiChops · 06/11/2013 07:34

Oh yes blondes, good point. I do see nannies putting pics of their charges up, or referring by name on fb and stuff. I hate it, its all to do with confidentiality. Perhaps just mentioning that when you give her the code, no pics of the children or mentions of their name online. I tend to say 'the 1yo' if I need to refer to them, or tell another nanny about their antics!

valiumredhead · 06/11/2013 08:27

What blondes said. You either trust her or you don't.

Karoleann · 06/11/2013 13:39

I'd probably get that clause changed on the contract, its not workable.
My nanny contract states...
Mobile phone and internet usage should be kept to a minimum during working hours and personal phone calls only made in an emergency.

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