Do you pay less if a nanny brings her own child/children to work with her?

[BoffinMum]

There's something I'm really puzzled about. If you organise a nanny share, usually both families seem to pay something like half each if the children have similar needs and are looked after for similar hours.

A lot of nannies around here seem to have babies or toddlers of their own that they want to bring to work, and I am wondering whether this counts as a kind of nanny share, halving the cost? If so, wouldn't that take them below the minimum wage? How would it all work? What happens where their children get ill, for example?

I can't think of any other jobs where you can take your children to work and not shell out for childcare yourself, so it's hard to benchmark this against anything else.

you should expect to pay less-but not 5o% of the going rate. You would need to be clear as to what would happen if her child became ill during any interview.

Then if that is the case, why would somebody hire a nanny with a child when you could just do a normal nanny share and get 50% off what you would normally have to pay?

I wouldn't choose a nanny based primarily on price.

I don't know.

I wouldn't chooses a nanny who was intending to bring her own child-unless she was brilliant. Just complicates things.

I would expect to earn more for a nanny share than working for one family - if a nanny wage is £10 an hour, in a share I would expect each family to pay maybe £6.50 each.

doing a nanny share can be complicated - 1st you have to find another family to share with, then you have to decide which house, days, who pays for food, whose car they use etc

a nanny bringing her own child may earn slightly less, but not always and tends to be easier to organise

Maybe your own much-loved nanny coming back after maternity leave? Nannies tend not to earn enough to pay for childcare.

You might look at a new nanny with her own child if there was something a bit "odd" about the job you were offering - kids at school for example. Qualified nannies seem to like babies to play with all day, not doing the school run and making packed lunches. Or if you thought your DC would be an only child (IVF, anyone?) and wanted company for the child on a day to day basis. But yes, you would pay her less.

I agree it's more complicated. I wouldn't rule it out.

Note: bit of over-generalisation going on here about nanny activity/preferences!

Nannyshare is not half price of the going rate.

If nanny gets for exaple £9 ph , then in nannyshare she will get around £12. So each family pays £6ph and not £4.5.That way all parties gain something. Do you think that any good nanny would do nannyshare for the same rate as if she worked for one family? It is very simple, you just have to see both sides and not only one.

As for nanny bringing her own child to work, yes she will probably offer a bit lower rate, or much flexibility, or she was allready working for the family before and they adore her.

'What happens if her children are ill?'
Now, if a man had asked this question we would start calling him sexist. Funny how these comments usually come from women simply because we are our worst enemy.
Maybe if her children get ill her DH will take time off!! How would you feel if your employer said that he/she would prefer not to employ you because 'what if your children get ill?'

Sorry OP, am not having a go at you but it seems to me that there are few threads on this lately. But can i ask why bothers you enough to start a thread? Or are you about to employ a nanny with own child and you are sceptical?

I did some temp nannying when my DD was very young (from 2 weeks old) and I did get paid less, but would never have done it for less than say £6-7 an hour. It isn't worth it otherwise. But yes you do pay less. I don't think there is anything wrong with a nanny bringing their own child, depending on the situation and it often benefits the children. The 2 families I worked for it worked out really well.

First family had a DS who was a few months older than my DD. It helped both our babies learn that they sometimes need to share the adult attention and they grew to love each other and we still meet up now.

Second family had 2 DSs, 2 and 5. The 2 year old was very young for his age if that makes sence? He loved having my DD to play with and as he had speach delay, didn't talk but my DDs name was one of his first words which I thought was really sweet. He couldn't say it properly as it is a hard name but he adored her and again, we still see them now.

But it is all down to personal preference and finding the right Nanny. Price isn't everything

Tiramissu, I only asked that because there has been mention on other threads about nannies taking a lot of unpaid time off at no notice for family reasons, and I wondered how common this was. I think I would have asked the same question about another family wanting a nanny share, or anyone bringing their children into my office on a daily basis in order to be able to do the work, for example, so I think it's legitimate. Obviously it's different if it's totally coincidental to the role that someone has children. Here it would effectively be part of the business arrangement.

I am planning to recruit someone in September, on quite a tight budget as I am not that well paid myself, and I just wondered what normally happens when people bring their kids to work like this - it is quite an unusual situation and I want to have it all straight in my mind before someone asks me if it is alright. I don't want to say the wrong thing and put my foot in it, nor do I want to end up paying someone an unfairly low wage. I think it's quite thoughtful of me to do my homework and ask advice from the nanny world, rather than muddle through in an interview situation, so please don't have a go at me!!

I am a nanny with my own child and currently looking for a job. I knew when I got pregnant that the jobs would be limited due to the fact that I want to bring my son. I am prepared to take a wage cut. When I registered with an agency they were actually quite positive about nanny mums returning to work and said they had seen a rise in parents, especially first time mums, who were happy to accept a nanny with own child. I think they saw the nanny having experienced the mother/baby bond, breast feeding, sleep deprivation etc as a positive thing. I have certainly changed my views on certain aspects of nannying that, before having my son, I always considered to be 'black and white'.

Obviously everybody has their own opinion and it also depends on the ages of the employers children, the nannies children, etc. It can be an ideal situation if you want an experienced nanny but perhaps cannot afford to pay top wack to get one. I think things have to be discussed at the interview stage in detail and a fairly comprehensive contract drawn up so that everyone knows where they stand. The agency did say that parents are realising that if you want a nanny with 10+ years experience then they are quite likely to have children or want them in the near future and alot of nannies won't get paid enough to pay for a nursery or childminder or then end up working longer hours than say a nursery would be open.

I am well aware that my son will limit my job supply but I'm an experienced nanny and have alot to offer another family. I am also aware that being allowed to take my son to work is a huge bonus and I would hate to think anyone would ever think I would take advantage of that.

BoffinMum,
ok, now i see why you asked the question and you ve got my apology.

Yes if you are on a low bugdet i think it could be a good idea.There are pros and cons of course. I agree with ebb about changing some views after you have your own children.

Can i mention some points to you?
If you interview a nanny with own child or you go for nannyshare, it will be good idea to discuss whether or not you have similar attidute to certain issues i.e. food. I remember doing nannyshare once and one family was very laid back regarding food and the other wasnt. So, one mum brought chocolate and juice every day for me to feed her dd, when the other mum wouldnt even give it as a treat. One of them wanted her dd to have routine and sleep in the cot, the other wanted us to be all day out..
So i think you should talk these points with your nanny.

And in the case of nannyshare bear in mind that holidays might be a bit tricky.

That's OK, Tiramissu.
Good tips on the sharing arrangements there. I will bear them in mind.

Boffin, I had a nanny for Ds who brought her own child. I didn't recruit her 'cold' as it were -- she'd previously worked at the nursery my older dd attended, and then left to have her own child. She'd done some after-school care for dd1, and then started working for me on a more full-time basis when ds was born.

In terms of the logistics (child sickness etc) it's not much different from having a childminder. As long as you talk all the possibilities through beforehand then it's fine. Do bear in mind that if you have the nanny working in your house, then you have to shoulder the additional costs in terms of lighting, heating, toys, art materials etc etc which you would get as part of the package with a childminder. But obviuosly you also get childcare that is geared to your needs rather than several families'. Horses for courses.

Yes, it was cheaper than having a nanny with no child, but not half as much iyswim. I paid her what she asked for -- can't remember now how much, but it was maybe 2/3 of the going rate for a sole charge nanny? Might have been in the region of £5 per hour instead of £8, but it was a good few years ago anyway, so rates would have changed. I've tended to err on the side of generous with childcarers anyway, I like them to be happy.

Other things to watch out for are: it's easier imo if the nanny's child is not too close to your own in age more like a normal family setup, and less obvious competition. Talk through potential clashes naptimes of one dc vs toddler group of another. But again that's not too different from a childminder situation.

You also need to sort out who's paying for the food etc consumed by the nanny's dc, and who's providing and storing any extra equipment (double buggy, toys for a different age group etc.) You want someone who's pretty scrupulous in terms of tidiness and organisation as well otherwise it has the potential to be deeply irritating.

It was a great arrangement for us, all things told, until it came to a natural end a few years on -- nanny moved away and her dc started school.

Thanks frogs, that's really helpful.