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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

Providing food for nannies.

55 replies

callaird · 05/02/2009 20:11

I was wondering how many of you provide food for you nanny, live -in or live-out.

If you interviewed a nanny who said that she would bring her own food each day (including tea/coffee/squash and snacks) but she wanted more money, what would your reaction be??

Look forward to hearing your replies.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Blondeshavemorefun · 06/02/2009 08:45

ebb - whatever gave you THAT idea?

i can eat what i like, when i like, mb will ask if i want anything and i write it on the shopping list, or go and buy something from kitty if i need/want it - depending on what i fancy 9and what is in mb freezer) depends on what the children eat that day

parents will NOT pay a nanny more for not eating their food, and bringing their own

i read the other thread and the nanny in question is obv young and hasnt a clue what she is talking about

it is good for the children to sit down and all eat the same thing as the nanny(or the nanny to eat what the children want)

Squiffy · 06/02/2009 08:47

TBH I would not employ a nanny who asked for this on grounds I'd think she was a penny-pinching moron.

But maybe it's just me

I have always not only allowed nannies and AP's to help themselves to my food but they also always have a kitty to go out an get themseleves whatever they want (on proviso that junk food has to be kept out of sight of the kids). Saying that, I am now regretting a conversation I had with my current AP about free range & organic.... I came in the other night to find him grinning from ear to ear agreeing how much nicer organic tasted.....as he polished off a £13 chicken....

Original poster

callaird · 06/02/2009 08:56

Both my employers are fantastic. Easy going, generous, a scream! Love my job, of course the kids are adorable too.

I too think that lisalisa put it well regarding food and I would also love to hear
about the other weird requests she has been asked about!

I am glad some mum's have posted (AtheneNoctua - thanks, how are you? And your adorable children? Nanny working out ok? I do follow your posts!)

I was just surprised that a nanny would think that way. But apparently it is the changing way of nannying - anyone else heard that nannying is changing?!

OP posts:

AtheneNoctua · 06/02/2009 09:00

Tiramissu, I'm happy to accommodate nanny dietary requirements. If I had a veggie nanny I would just expect her to make a veggie meal, and the kids could have some meat/fish added to theirs when it's finished. But they's still basically sit down and eat the same thing together. And if was a veggie meal sometimes that's fine too. Whilst we eat meat, it isn't a requirement at every single meal.

But I absolutely expect the nanny and the kids to sit down and eat a wholesome meal together. If the nanny wants something, it goes on the shopping list and then I buy it. So, there is plenty of opportunity for her get the food she likes into the house.

AtheneNoctua · 06/02/2009 09:04

Hiya, current nanny is lovely. Thanks for asking. DD still remembers you as "the one who ran out of petrol".

She wants to go back to school and I am trying to persuade to get a student visa into the UK and then she can stay with us and do reduced hours when DS goes to school full time next Jan.

Original poster

callaird · 06/02/2009 09:07

Squiffy - he ate an entire chicken to himself??

I have a seperate kitchen for my and the childrens food (don't ask!) and do all the shopping for us but if I fancied something from their kitchen, then I would help myself, unless of course it was a chicken etc., which would more than likely be for their meal in the evening!! If there is something that I fancy and I am not sure, then I will call/text them to find out if it would be ok to eat it, obviously.

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 06/02/2009 09:10

a whole chicken

even I cant manage that!!

Squiffy · 06/02/2009 09:34

Well I confess he didn't eat it all and I was able to snitch myself half a breast.... and he did bring over a whole round of manchego cheese and 8 packs of serrano ham as a present when he came back after Christmas, so I can't really complain!!!!

Ebb · 06/02/2009 11:31

Blondes

I was very polite and reserved in my posts.......now if she'd posted on here...........

mimimaman · 07/02/2009 21:00

I think its absolutely ridiculous that someone would think they would get paid more if they bought their own food!!!

Do school teachers get paid more if they bring in their own food???? I dont think so!!!

Ive always had food provided for me as a nanny and it has never been a question that it wouldnt be provided!!

Like someone else said if I eventhought about it I would be way to embarrassed to put such a suggestion forward.

lisalisa · 07/02/2009 22:45

Too many weird requests to post.....

I too keep a kosher kitchen and tehrefore would not allow a nanny to bring her own food in but ,short of her insiting on a bacon and ham sarnie every day we've never had problems. In fact bend over backards to accomadate nanny's particular requests.....

I have learnt to ask absolutely everything in an interview as some things you take for gratned can come back to bite you on the bum. For e.g. I had one nanny who couldn't do the washing up ( even wiht gloves on ) as her hands were too sensitive ( some kind of dermatic condition). needles to say she ddin't last long as we are a very large family and I couldn't face coming home to sinks of washibng up every day!

I had another nanny who was "scared" of bananas and therfore would not serve them to kids or even have them in house ( not mentioned at interview ). Needless to say she didn't last long either.

AtheneNoctua · 07/02/2009 22:55

So, what is different about a kosher kitchen (in case i ever have a Jewish nanny who migh tlike me to alter my kitchen).. and just because I'm generally curious.

nannyL · 07/02/2009 23:02

lol at nanny scared of bananas

im scared if spiders but have taught all my kiddies that spiders are nice so that if there are any my charges happily pick them up and take them outside for me

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:03

Athene. Hiya

Separate sinks for milk and meat. Separate cutlery/plates etc. All meat is kosher. Fish must have scales and a backbone, so swordfish is not kosher, for example. And anything containing yeast is thrown out for Passover.

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:06

@ scared of bananas.

Job with the elderly or children a definite no no?

lisalisa · 07/02/2009 23:07

Well done Bubble99

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:10

lisa

I must add that I am describing my PILs kitchen

The Bubble boys know that dairy ice cream isn't an option at grandma's house after a meat meal. Although, I must say they have relaxed their rules a lot in recent years.

nbee84 · 07/02/2009 23:12

Kosher kitchen - you use different pots/plates/utensils for any meat. You also have milky pots/plates and parev pots/plates etc.

Milky is anything with dairy in it.

Parev is anything else - mainly fruit and veg.

Jewish people never eat anything dairy with meat.

I've been working with a Jewish family since last June. I don't cook meat for the children as there are other rules to it as well (like not eating anything milky for a certain time after eating meat). Mum has the kitchen labelled up for me. Blue - milky, yellow - parev and red - meat. I mainly use the blue things but sometimes use the yellow too. You just have to remember not to use a yellow knife on a blue chopping board and vice versa. Sounds complicated but I actually got used to it very quickly.

Lisalisa will be able to explain it better if she is around.

AtheneNoctua · 07/02/2009 23:12

Hi Bubble. How the heck are you?

Ah, that seems managable... exept may be installing an extra sink. Don't the pipes join up anyway before it gets to the sewar?

nbee84 · 07/02/2009 23:13

I'm such a slow typer - you all got there before me

ilovemydogandMrObama · 07/02/2009 23:17

I didn't know swordfish wasn't kosher....

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:19

Swordfish doesn't have scales. That one caught me out, too. It is smooth skinned like a shark.

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:21

Athene, It's more to do with washing the plates etc together. Separate cloths/scourers are needed as well.

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:24

Swordfish. I love the name of this site

Bubble99 · 07/02/2009 23:29

Athene. Do you fancy a cheapy pizza night soon?

I never get to talk to you as much as I'd like to at bigger meet-ups.

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