How much should I pay a nanny who brings her own child with her?

[sallyss]

I am considering employing a nanny who will bring her daughter with her to work. How much should I pay her - same as a nannyshare? But what about the tax?
Any advice?
Thanks, Sally

I would not employ a nanny with her own child.

My secretaries are all paid £7k less a year than my nanny and they don't get free accommodation and food and a free car nor could they ever bring their children to work with them.

IMHO nannies get paid what they do because the job can be antisocial hours ; there is no pension and little in terms of careeer structure. Its blooming good money whilst it lasts but for the majority its incompatible with marriage and being a mum.

We have plenty of staff at work who juggle childcare round parents and friends and cheap playschemes. They earn less than the average nanny and we couldnt have a 6 month old in our reception all day long because the receptionist on 15k a year bought her child to work. Nannies shouldnt be any different.

That is why child minders posting on here earn vastly different wages to some of the nannies. Its called flexibilty and sacrifice.

Boyraiser, you say that you couldn't countenance paying someone, say, 8 pounds an hour and then knocking 20% off if you agreed to her bringing her child back to work. You may think that's hardly a living wage but many, many people are earning that kind of money and having to pay out far more than 20% of it for childcare and if the nanny doesn't come back to you, she is hardly going to be able to find any other work with such cheap childcare, is she?

Frannikinpannikin said "I feel it's very different when you're already with a family and go on maternity leave and come back with a child in tow. They can't really cut your wages without looking stingy". No, but they don't have to let you bring your child back with you at all which may effectively render it impossible for you to work or have to send your own child to much more expensive childcare.

I would pay less, definitely, like a nannyshare. I would also take into account the age of the nanny's child in weighing up whether I wanted her or not. E.g. a first-time mum of a 7 month old may be spending more time & energy, understandably so, on her child, than on my 4 and 10 year olds.

happy mum - tht comment suits the rest of my post but wouldnt suit another parent ie i watch children as a job so no point sending my daughter to be watched whereas if i worked in an office then i would be doing something my daughter could not take part in so would be happy to send her to be watched

Athena Noctua..... Must make a point of not working for you!!!
I have been a nanny for over 20 years and have always taken my children to work. I have had fantastic jobs all of which loved the arrangement. At the end of the day you get what you pay for!
I have to say a lot of your comments are ridiculous.
If people feel that fussed don't hire a nanny with a child and start trying to witter about pay. If you love a nanny and feel confident then hire the person who you are happiest with. I have an added interest in making my day fun, active and busy as I want my child to enjoy herself too, I treat families children exactly as my own. If parent didn't like their child having a certain food eg only treats at weekend, it would my child that had to accommodate that rule too and I would explain that it wouldn't be fair on.... so we will have treats another day.
I am responsible for the life of a child while that parent is away nothing changes that, I don't only half keep an eye on them. If thats the case then no one should be allowed to give birth to more then one child in case parents can't keep them as safe as the first!
I would not except a job that paid differently with my exp, The lovely families I have worked for decided they liked the idea of nanny with child because I have full understanding of life as a parent,great refs and loved the idea of a bonus playmate. These are the type of parents nannies with children should work for not the Athena Noctua's in the world!

"You are still getting the same care, the same hours and a better understanding from a nanny that has there own child"

emma - of course a nanny who brings their own child wont be giving the same 100% care and attention to their charges - as their time and attention will be spilt

I am not saying that it is a bad idea for a family to employ a nanny with a child - just that there are negatives as athene said

sure YOU would NEVER have white bread/nutella in your house

there are also positives as well

some familys are happy to have a mummy nanny and others arent

both are quite right to have their opinions/feelings

what i will say is why should a nanny get paid the same if they bring their own child as a childless nanny?

they are lucky to be able to bring their child and not pay for childcare

to give you an idea of possible discount for bringing own child...
a few years ago we were looking to employ a nanny. she cited a wage of 85 pounds net per day without her child or 65 pounds a day if she brought her baby with her.

You're safe. I'm not hiring.

But, out of curiosity, why do you think you should be able to bring your children to work for free? And do you think you are lucky or that this should be the norm for all nannies with children?

Surely you must accept that you would need some business justification that shows the value your children bring to the job outweighs the cost of having them there.

Incidentally, I'm not opposed to ananny with child in principle. But, of course, I would expect the remuneration to reflect the cons as well as the pros. I mena after all you are a professional and not a charity case... aren't you?

Hello Blondes! (Athene waves back)

I, personally, loved the 'witter about pay' comment as well. It's outrageous, isn't it, with nannies costing north of £25k a year, that a parent might 'witter away' about pay? And whether a particular arrangement might be in their interest, or mainly benefit the employee. How dare they.

What's your's is hers but not vice versa. Don't you know?! Wittling HER pay? You should change your name to VictorianRulerofUnderpaidServants.

(I apologise in advance to all the reasonably nannies on here. My sarcasm is not directed at you.)

annh - quite right employers don't have to let a child come with the nanny, but if it were me faced with a decision of keeping the same nanny (with child) or hiring a new one because I won't let the child come along and my hypothetical children were happy with the nanny I would probably want the nanny to come back with child. And it would have to be at the same rate.

It was interesting to see the quote the nanny gave stepaway for with/without own child.

Ultimately it's what the nanny will accept. Most nannies on here seem to appreciate that not having childcare costs is a huge benefit and will take a paycut for the perk of having their own child with them.

sallyss talk to the nanny because it seems there's no consensus, but you may find the nannies you interview will have their own ideas.

I also wondered at the 'children' concept. Would any parent really allow a nanny with more than one child to bring their kids to work? The circumstances in which this would work seem very limited.

only one child at a time, but there have been some jobs where I have had my toddler then collected my older daughter and the parents child after school. I must have been lucky I guess over 20 years! I have obviously worked for some lovely mums.
I think the point is that parents are obviously choosing the childcare and if a nanny with child is un appealing then choose otherwise, they shouldn't feel as though they are getting second best. There maybe some compromise but if the nanny is good I don't see the problem. A crap nanny without child could sit about doing nothing ,on mob to mates, watching daytime telly. Just because you have no child with you dosen't make you a better nanny.

And, to be clear, you're charging the full on £9-10 net p/h are you, which works out at over £35K to the parents per annum assuming a 50 hour week?

I would say you've been lucky for sure. It sounds quite complex to orchestrate particularly around the school pick ups.

I agree that a good nanny with a baby is better than an incompetent one without. Who wouldn't? It's just that I couldn't walk into a situation that is more complicated than it needs to be, especially at that sort of price point. There's no need to.

As a nanny who brings their own child I don't think I've taken a paycut at all with my current position. Looking at pay for my age and experience etc I'm getting at least 90%+ standard wage. I have been offered postions at quite a considerable paycut, sometimes 50% but turned them down because I felt I wouldn't mesh with the family, not because of the money. However, I would take a paycut for the right position, so long as I could still pay my bills.
Saying that, I pay for any outings we go on to playgroups etc since I'd be taking ds anyway, and any travel costs we incur (usually minimal on public transport) and in return ds gets two playmates and free lunch, and my youngest charge still has a playmate when eldest is at school.
It can be difficult at times to split attention appropriately but I think that's the same with any job where you're looking after 3 under 5's!

Is this talking about a fulltime position or part time? I do wonder how many nannies with children of their own are doing jobs of 40 plus hours a week. I expect after-school positions are more likely, is that the case?

harriet - my friend has 2 children of her own - she took both - and looked after 3 1yr, 4 and 7 and her son was 8

and 3 years into job had 2nd baby, had 3mths ml(where a nanny friend covered) then went back

on the days her older one was at school, she paid a cm to have hr before and 2 hrs after school (£3ph) so cost her less than £10 a day for childcare

2nd child came with her all the time and then in holidays olderst child did

worked very well for 6 years

though is very rare to find a job that will allow both

I am also shocked by the horrible comments of some people. I can't believe how negative and aggressive some people are. A prime example of people I would never work for!
I am a nanny/nursery nurse, currently expecting my first baby.
I plan on finding a part time job and taking my child with me. How dare you say that it is selfish to work and get free childcare. I would never leave my child with anyone else - so that is my only option. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. Or maybe I should stay at home and claim benefits!??
I am a very experienced, professional nanny who would only work for someone who appreciated me and my ability to do my job. I have a genuine love of children which most employers don't even think about.
I'd be happy to work for a lower rate in order to have my child with me and not leave them with a stranger while I go to work.
Don't presume that we are all uneducated slaves who are just 'childcare'. A proper nanny is far more than that and if you care about your child, you want the best.

This thread is 2.5 years old.

Mranchovy - I know the thread is old but I had to post a response to Amelia's comments (the last post on here on 27th March 2012) because I am astounded that someone who is a nanny (and therefore looks after children for parents who are at work) can make these comments:

"I would never leave my child with anyone else" - um...if everyone thought like you, you'd be out of a job!

"I'd be happy to work for a lower rate in order to have my child with me and not leave them with a stranger while I go to work"......um...you mean like the the people that are paying you are doing?!

Crazy that a nanny thinks like this and works in the job she does!

If you want to pay 50% then would you also expect to pay only 50% of the fees if a childminder has her own child as well as yours?

The kids are probably almost old enough to get their own jobs, by now.

(Pondering what has happened to the zombie thread warnings)