For context we have had a temp live in nanny in the past this year who was imbetween careers and feel it’s something want to do again for my LO as we are a single parent household and feel LO needs that extra ‘at home/within the home’ person in their life. And I do also if I’m honest, for my sanity.
I tried outside childcare help since we moved to a new area after trying out that said previous live in temp nanny when we lived in our old area.
But have realised due to our small family unit of just LO and I. Have realised LO is regressing just having myself at home as their only caregiver. And I’m struggling to enjoy motherhood and feel I’m drowning with no village so to speak. And so the best solution is to have a live in nanny for LO for the next yr/2yrs or however long is needed to bridge the gap before LO (who’s just reached toddlerhood) will be in school.
Want the best for my LO. And that has clearly shown to be, to have someone else as part of the home environment. Not just in the form of external childcare options. She needs someone more than me at home.
So will be searching for a long term live in type candidate in the New Year (looking independently seems a minefield, so may resort to sourcing the candidate through an agency, still working this part out).
Thing is, in an ideal world, as others in this situation have done, it is no doubt best if the candidate had their own floor of the house, or separate equipped self contained studio or annex.
Unfortunately that’s just not something I can factor into with our new home.
Later on there is potential to build a third floor into the loft (which is huge) to create a nice en-suite large room / studio type layout. But finances won’t allow for that until a good year or few.
So for now, the home layout I have is what I need to make work for us, and a potential live in Nanny.
I’m worried about the impact having a bedroom on the same floor as us, or a non en-suite room, or a room above a living space below. Could have on potential applicants who elsewhere could be offered much more Accomodation / layout wise. But I’ve got to work with what ours is for now.
Is it just best, that I offer the large double room (that has the dressing room area to it, and its own en-suite, all behind one door) (have attached floor plan).. that’s across the top right of the first floor of the house. That’s above the garage (so they wouldn’t be bothered by noise of a child and just family life going on around them) below their room on their non working times and days?
This was scheduled to be my room. But if I had this room for myself. My LO’s room is in effect going to be next to the nanny’s. And the nanny also will only have access to a shared bathroom across the landing. Rather than an en-suite.
I mean I could keep my daughter in my room (we slept in the same room until recently with it just being us/not having a partner). So that’s doable to have LO in my room til she gets older. Resulting in any noise my LO may ever make in the night or on nanny’s days off, is masked by being with me in the right hand side of the top floor layout room.
And the Nanny’s room would be far left double room at the front of the house?
I guess I’m asking, does anyone have or has had a live in nanny where you lived all on the same floor, and couldn’t offer them more?
Also I’m wondering what people would expect to pay for a 40hr a wk live in nanny? Or do pay?
(I know there are huge ends of the spectrum on this subject, but just thinking what I should be looking at for a decent nanny, but let’s say not a nanny that advertises they have worked and work with ‘UHNW / HNW families, and likely not a Norland nanny (not opposed to norland Nannie’s but I think they may not be the best fit for the Accomodation I have to offer. And them having certain expectations).
But I do want to employ a decent nanny.
No throwing too much shade on the temp live in nanny we did have who was great in many ways (for example the great connection she had to my LO. but she was charged and was paid around 500pw net after tax, for 35hrs a wk (her choice of hours per wk). Was live in. Found through an agency. Her nanny tax HMRC, Pention, sick pay, holiday pay, groceries and fuel etc were of course ad on costs.
But although like I said was good in many ways. She lacked in knowledge, updated skill set, and was older and rather less proactive in keeping up with a young child. But she helped during a period we needed help. And was a good introduction into learning about how it can be with a live in nanny, or nanny at all. And what to look for in a long term potential candidate etc
I’m fully aware I should perhaps look to broaden the budget no doubt for our future permanent candidate for a better all round professional nanny. And when agencies have rate categories for diff nanny profiles. I need to go for a higher price bracket of potential candidates to get the positive attributes needed for a growing toddler that needs someone offering a bit more overall.
Many thanks for any advise, I realise that was a lengthy post! X