Nanny v nursery

[TerrifiedMothertobe]

I am due back at work after ds2 at the end of the summer. Nursery is costing around 1600 a month for our two biys and I'm wondering now whether I should consider a nanny.

My husband and I both work from home and travel for business, so flexibility is a bonus.

I'm just about to start looking into a nanny, any advice from anyone in similar situation?

We wouldn't want a live in nanny.

I would say a nanny will cost more but could work longer hours than nursery is open which may be needed.

No need to get your children dressed in the morning, that can be an advantage of having a nanny. You both working from home and having nanny plus children around - will that work? Is there enough space? Noise travels, will you be able to concentrate on your job if your children are near? Have you tried it such as by you working and DH looking after your children?

I've got 3 boys and tried the nursery route for my first one and nanny/childminder for the second one. I preferred the flexibility of the childminder but I did find that my 2nd boy didn't mix as easily when he started school. I'd recommend a childminder/nanny but ensure that she/he takes your little one to play groups to make sure he socialises regularly from a young age.
Sally
www.peacelovepacifiers.com

I had a similar situation to you except that neither DH nor I work from home. We have a nanny for our two boys.
Financially it's no more that we would have paid for a childminder for 2 children (more expensive than nursery though) and we have the added flexibility that our nanny can stay late, swap the days she works if need be (great for accommodating awkward meetings at work) & deal with kids if under the weather. We also leave them in PJs/still eating breakfast in a morning & they're at home with her so I feel it's less stressful for them too.

Eldest goes to pre-school part time and she takes the youngest to groups etc so it's working well for us.

However, I'd second the suggestion above that you do a trial of how you can manage to work at home if the kids are there. I've tried to do this a few times when travelling to work was not an option and it was a nightmare. Once the kids know I'm in they're forever wanting to "visit" and see what I'm doing. I feel it makes our nanny's job 10 times harder and is not fair on her either.

Why don't you want a live-in? I think with two parents who may work away, the advantages of live-in justify the cost of employing a nanny. If you have a live out, how will this be of benefit to the childcare when you both are away? I.e. What will the overnight arrangements be?

Is it five days a week or part time and what sort of "flexibility" do you want? If you want a nanny to do part time but different days some weeks you'll have to pay over the odds in terms of hourly rate so that you're effectively paying a retainer for the rest of the week, or find a rare beast who is happy to get paid part time but be available all week.

A lot of nannies aren't happy with parents in the home - are you around the house or in a self contained office/garden office etc?

A live in nanny would def be more beneficial as could cover if you both needed to leave super early for flights or if your away
Otherwise yes a live out nanny but more expensive. Around. £1000 more a month based on £500 a week net

Thanks all for good input. I travel a lot, but may be able to reduce this when I go back this time. ,y husband and I share an office in the house, the noise is definitely an issue we need to consider.

We would leave nanny to get on with it though. I'm a strong believer in consistency.

The more I think the less appealing a nanny becomes. If we had one, I would like ds1 to go to the village preschool a few days a weeks, which then negates the need for a full time nanny, as she would be looking after baby much of the time.

Maybe we carry on with nursery and see how we get on!

FWIW, I'm in London where nannies are on £10 per hour net. Two days a week, total 21 hours per week sets me back £1300 per month when you take into account tax, NI, mileage (she uses her own car) and expenses. Mileage is about £50 per month out of that.

But, school hasn't gone back yet and I left my 5 year old daughter in her PJs and the baby in his cot this morning rather than having to get them up and out somewhere.....

If I was in your position (which I am not), I'd go for nursery but also try to find a casual babysitter/ad hoc nanny type of person who could do the odd collect from nursery/eve babysit for days when you might need more hours - I realise such a person may not be that easy to find though

Slowcomputer, that is very appealing point. The days we need to get out the door for a meeting or a flight and someone is there to do breakfast etc would be lovely. Weetabix and baby puke isn't a good look.

My eldest will be at school in 1/2 years- depending on where we send him, again another agony as our village primary is pants and we need evening pick up! Ohhhh it never ends.

The best thing ever about live-in childcare in not having to get children ready and out of the house in the morning before I can go to work... ESPECIALLY when the children are sick.

If noise in the house is such an issue, sign the children up for activities outside the house. Encourage (or even arrange) playdates elsewhere.

Oh, and my second favourite thing about live in childcare is not having to do the bedtime routine (unless I want to). I like them fed, bathed, and in their pjs when I get home so I can do the fun stuff like a bed time story.