Help - find a Nanny or put both DS's in Nursery?

[bigbird1972]

Please help me someone! This quandry is going round and round in my head making me very confused and so need someone with experience to help me out.

My eldest DS is 3.5, goes to Nursery 4 days a week, spends one day with his Granny. Am currently on maternity leave, just having had another DS 9 weeks ago. (DS1 now only goes to Nursery 2 days a week whilst I am off). DS1 absolutely loves Nursery and always has done.

I go back to work full time in January and am not sure whether to put both DSs in Nursery full time or to employ a Nanny?

How much would a live out Nanny in Kent expect to earn a week? Hours would be 8-6pm, Mon-Frid, use of a car, and no babysitting duties or weekend duties would be expected. No offence to anyone with Au Pairs, but I really would like a British born (mother tongue) nanny, with experience. But I have no idea what the pay expectations would be?

I don't earn bad money, but am the main breadwinner in the family, and so me and DH aren't exactly rolling in it moneywise.

Where do I start?

I would imagine that it would be at least £350 net a week if not more but i am a nanny so you may get parents who disagree. You should phone up some local agencies but they do tend to hike up the salaries a bit. Good luck

I would imagine that it would be at least £350 net a week if not more but i am a nanny so you may get parents who disagree. You should phone up some local agencies but they do tend to hike up the salaries a bit. Good luck

I'm not sure of rates in Kent, if you go onto the nannyjob.co.uk website & search full time nanny jobs in Kent that may give you an idea of the average salary.

You could also call up a local agency & ask the average salary.

Thanks nannyj, quick question - DS1 would go to pre-school 5 mornings a week even if I had a nanny, does this make any difference to the wages? Sorry, I sound really tight, but I have a squillion questions, and no-one I know has a nanny, so can't ask friends for advice. Was a bit wary of asking an agency for advice, but might test them out.

I think that you also need to think ahead a little bit - when will ds1 be starting school? A nanny will give you some continuity possibly and will also let your ds's play together and foster that relationship, whereas in a nursery they would typically be in different rooms with their own ages (though obviously you know your nursery). Also your children may be different - mine have very different personalities and respond to care-givers differently. Ds1 may love nursery, but ds2 might not?

Nannies also have flexibilty in terms of covering when a child is ill. Though you will have to cover her leave. If you opt for a nanny then ds1 can have funding for 5 halfdays at a playgroup/state nursery/school nursery type setting.

I tend to favour nannies or childminders, though I have used nurseries in the past. There is something a lot more relaxed about in-home care and it has suited our family (no rush in the morning to get children dressed or even out of bed!). But each family has a different style. Chidren are more adaptable to change than we sometimes give them creidt for, especially when there is still an element of consistency in the change - ie changing nanny has caused little stress because the dcs still have each other and are at home. You could opt for a nanny and if it didn't suit ds1 would probably still settle back at nursery.

Big bird - no, the wages wouldn't change if ds1 is at nursery.

I was paying £8 per hour gross in the South East if that helps.

Dont want to add to your dilemma but maybe a CM would be good for your situation, you could leave ds in nursery and cm may be able to pick up and also have other ds and then the two of them are together, also maybe cheaper than a nanny, and as ds s get older and start school and nursery you can reduce hours/days needed to suit you, hope I have nt made the situation worse, best of luck to you

if your happy with the nursery, then stick with it, however, the majority of nannies are grest, and its alot less hassle than having to drop off your Ds at nursery every day.

wages vary form area to area and depnde on qualifications and experience. In london at the mo, wages are on a big increase (have you seen the papers!!!) dont forget you have to pay NI and tax on top of what you offer as a net wage, this can be quite costly so you need to weigh up which is better.

A nanny will perform all nursery duties (washing and ironing of childrens clothes, all meals for children, keeping playrooms and bedrooms tidy, clening up after children) so this is a big bonus. After a long day, you can come home knowing your children are well fed, clean and in Pjs ready for quality time. all laundry done and a tidy home.

if you do decide to go ahead with a nanny, you could try using simply childcare to advertise your post.

I'd go for the nanny. She will probably be similar rates to nursery, but she will look after the kids when they are sick, you can choose the activities (gymnastics, music, whatever), you can choose what they eat, she will do their laundry, she will be more flexible with the hourse if your work schedule changes. Basically, you can define the job. And, as has already been said, your boys can spend the day together.

She can also run some errands for you. Like, the other day I noticed DS was looking a bit shaggy so I sent the nanny of to Jacks for a haircut. She can pisk up some food at the store, etc.

If you can possibly sweing a live-in nanny they are cheaper.