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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

3 Kids - nanny or wonderful childminder

17 replies

Kif · 23/09/2008 15:01

I'm going back to work - and I'm really torn on this one.

Lovely childminder who already knows and loves them? Or a nanny who could have them bathed and teeth brushed by the time I get home, without that horrible dark end of the day bringing them home...

I have two preschoolers and one in primary school.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

beforesunrise · 23/09/2008 15:04

can you tempt your cm into coming to work as your nanny?

Original poster

Kif · 23/09/2008 15:06

Not really - her other mindees are her grandchildren.

OP posts:

beforesunrise · 23/09/2008 15:10

i think i would probably go for a nanny then....

Original poster

Kif · 23/09/2008 16:38

that feels suspiciously like putting my convenience above the Dcs emotional security..

OP posts:

Romy7 · 23/09/2008 16:42

because having a wonderful nanny looking after them in their own home would be not providing emotional security?

i have 3 dcs - they have had 2 nannies and none of them have ever had 'emotional security issues' lol... fwiw, now that they are (just) all at school, i'm using a combination of cm and after-school club. i think the nanny wins every time tbh!

Turniphead1 · 23/09/2008 16:57

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster

Kif · 23/09/2008 16:59

Obviously the quality of the nanny would be a factor, but I was under the impression that nannies generally only stayed in a job for a year/18m.

The cm would give me a surrogate grandmother type of experience - we've known her for years, and there's no reason why she couldn't still be picking up the kids when they're in secondary school.

My dilemma isn't about nannies being bad - it's just that the cm is very good.

OP posts:

AtheneNoctua · 23/09/2008 17:07

Why don't you get an au pair to to the childcare run and laundry/tidying and a bit of babysitting and keep the childminder. Best of both worlds. And if one is sick the other can probably step in (depending on the au pair -- some could, some couldn't).

And you wouldn't have to pay any taxes and could keep your continuity of care. (although it might cost more than just having a full time live in nanny)

Turniphead1 · 23/09/2008 17:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

mogs0 · 23/09/2008 17:39

Could the cm bath the children at her house? Not sure if there are any ofsted rules on this (there probably are but I'm not aware of them). I used to do this if parents were running late or if the children had got particularly dirty!!

beforesunrise · 23/09/2008 18:28

kif- first of all your convenience is a huge factor in your children emotional security... if you are tired and stressed at the end of a day, they will pick up on that- not nice for anyone involved. secondly, they will probably love staying at home rather than at someone else's. third, it'll probably work out cheaper than CM...

BUT i hear the surrogate gp argument... i have no family nearby and i really want my dds to have as many people to love them in their lives. so perhaps you could alternate, have a nanny 3 days a week and CM two days a week?

nannynick · 23/09/2008 19:06

Kif, it's going to be a hard choice, so I feel you need to consider all the pros/cons of each type of care.

Nannies can stay working for a family for various lengths of time. I've known a nanny who worked for a family for 10 years. Personally I was worked for my last family for 3 years.
By the sounds of it you prefer someone to be older, so I would expect that if you were to choose a nanny, they would be an older person and thus I feel more likely to stay for many years.

Your childminder may decide to stop childminding - they don't need to be registered to care for their grand children, and with changes in regulations they may not be wanting to do all the EYFS stuff.

You just don't know what will happen in x years time. You can't be sure your childminder will still be caring for children, in the same way you can't be sure a nanny won't stay very long.

Try listing out all the pros and cons.
One pro of a nanny I suspect may be cost... with 3 children the cost of a nanny can be less than having a childminder.
Convenience is also a major factor, though as your children get older, they will be staying up later... so think about that.
If you need a nanny who works till quite late in the evening, you may find that hard to recruit.

imananny · 23/09/2008 19:39

kif - most nannies i know like to stay with their family for quite a few years, depending if they are good bosses

with 3 children the cost of a nanny might be less than a cm, and def much easier having a nanny come to your house and get children ready, rsther than you get all 3 ready and yourself

nowwearefour · 23/09/2008 19:44

definitely a nanny. we have one for our 2 dds and they love it. i love it too!!! is really nice having everything in our own home and i get home from work with no extra ferrying around to do. lovely.

navyeyelasH · 23/09/2008 22:10

A nanny seems to make more sense for you logistically but it comes across that you really really love the CM and wont mind the extra hassle having a CM involves such as bathing etc.

There are pros and cons to each so really it's up to you and no-one can say what is best for you & your DC I'm afraid.

How man GC does the CM have and how old are they? Could she bring them along if she were your nanny? Good luck though whatever you do x

dianafoliveira · 24/09/2008 12:13

Hi!
I saw your add looking for a babysitter in london.
I'm a 26 years old portuguese girl with a degree (5 years course) in Pedagogy. I absolutly love children and I know how to explore their skills! I'm very outgoing, friendly and organized! During university I've studied special needs like autism
I'm going to live in London in 2nd December. If you need me or if you know someone who needs please let me know. My mother is a children doctor in Portugal and I've worked with children in Portugal too so I can give you some people who can recomend me.
I'm avaiable for a personal interview because I think that's the best way for us to know each other.
But I think we can find other ways, I would love to help your family!
You can contact me to [email protected]

With my best regards,

--
Diana Oliveira

ramonaquimby · 17/11/2008 23:11

kif - what did you decide in the end?

I also have 3 children, 1 at school, and 2 preschoolers. currently have childminder (no problems there) It's the getting home at the end of the day that I loathe, and then dealing with tired, hungry children.

I'm interviewing nannies over the next few weeks, hopefully to start in January

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