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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

Oh bugger, I need a new nanny. Current one just resigned.

150 replies

AtheneNoctua · 30/03/2009 23:37

Come feel sorry for me.

Then, send me a nice new nanny who wants ti live in Sunbury.

Actually, I am sort of contemplating an au pair and a childminder. DD is 6 and DS will be 4 in May. Am I mad? Probably. I think work is going to send me away 2-3 nights per week so probably au pair won't cut it, actually.

Damn! Back to the drawing board...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

frannikin · 31/03/2009 13:42

I stand corrected. Maybe it's just not that common where I am - most I know do nothing until school pick up time and then work until bedtime. I certainly don't know any that start at 6.30am.

I'm suggesting:
A MH presents exactly the same problems as a nanny, or a CM, or any childcare that's not a group setting. In fact a CM is slightly more problematic because of the inflexibility and the fact they won't take ill children so a nanny (or combination of nanny and MH) is a safer bet is AN has to go to work a plane ride away.

A MH probably (and I know there are exceptions) going to be appropriate for the kind of schedule AN need but obviously AN accepts that her schedule is pretty tough. So she needs to consider whether she's happy with a MH doing the bits around a nanny or CM and whether she's better having a FT nanny like she does now and maybe considers ways to lighten nanny's load a little eg. the childcare swaps CN has set up for a couple of mornings a week.

I'm merely pointing out that there are pros and cons to both sides, the job is pretty full-on and presumably AN has nannies for a reason (that reason being the hours and responsibility).

frannikin · 31/03/2009 13:43

probably isn't

ScottishThistle · 31/03/2009 13:57

Frannikin, I agree with you that a childminder/mothers help or Au pair could be more problematic.

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 14:42

Hey AN waves . Sorry to hear your news.

there are simply loads of nannies out there looking for jobs at the moment. I had nearly 40 CV's for my job and Im not in London as you know.

I can pass some on to you if you want. Lots of teachers who just want out and lots of youngsters looking for their first nannying post out of nursery..

In the end I am delighted to announce the engagement of MP with someone on here..........leave her to post and confirm in due course!

Im in London on 14th May. Can do lunch ????

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/03/2009 14:50

athene - you have said on another thread that you prefer nanies to leave after a year or 2 so that children dont get so atttached to them and/or pay them redundancy - so you cant blame the nannies for moving on (hence why you didnt register them)

agree cms are already done, so makes life easier - maybe you need to think about employing an already registered nanny?

agree that cm's dont want or take ill children so a nanny is a better option in that sense - my eldest is off school ill and contagious for 5 days, mb very relieved she has me and not a cm

if a nanny is ill (it happens) then often one of their friends will try and help

agree it would help to know what salary you are paying to what childcare options we can find for you

the hours are long, so you dont want to really have an ap/mh who isnt capable of coping in an emergency, as SOME of the younger/foreign ones might be

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 14:53

Yes please mummy P! I want younsters with nursery experience (assuming the youngsters are all older than my children of course).

Would love to do lunch, but I work in Staines now so no way I could get to the city... Unless of coure you are coming to Staines, then count me in.

athenenoctua at live co uk

OP posts:

ScottishThistle · 31/03/2009 14:57

Blondeshavemorefun, you are very familiar!

It's a shame this position isn't in the UAE, I'd be applying!

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 15:01

Blondes,

"athene - you have said on another thread that you prefer nanies to leave after a year or 2 so that children dont get so atttached to them and/or pay them redundancy - so you cant blame the nannies for moving on (hence why you didnt register them)"

That's not really what I said. I said that it was more traumatic for child to have to say good bye to a nanny he/she has known for 8 years. I don't specifically send them out the door just to prevent them sticking around. I post ads and talk to anyone who has a right to work here. I don't require the Holiday Maker visa. As it happens I have had a few Canadians, and a few EU workers. I like Canadians, but it probably has more to do with their language, mannerisms, and other cultural traits being more similar to my own (American). And yes thank goodness I've never ben hit with a redundancy bill. That is a benfit of having had a turnover every year or two. But, again, I didn't really specifically organise that. However, looking back, I'm glad about it.

That thread got a bit ugly, and would prefer if it wasn't brought into this one, if you don't mind.

OP posts:

MuffinToptheMule · 31/03/2009 15:04

Hello Athene, not sure if you remember me? I was on the thread you started about moving to Aberdeen. I am/was an AP/Mothers help here (Gosh, that sentence was confusing).

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/03/2009 15:08

no probs - i only brought it up as wondered why you didnt use vouchers - and then you explained why

so back to your problem

which childcare do you think you will use?

ap/nanny

ap/cm

nanny and different person bs for odd evening

when do you need to find someone?

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 15:20

Ok An will go through them for you. Lots through agencies though which I guess you will want to avoid ??

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 15:20

Ok An will go through them for you. Lots through agencies though which I guess you will want to avoid ??

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 15:20

OOOps!

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 15:47

You can send the agency CV's but you are right that I am not going to pay agency CV's. But if you send the CV I might be able to spot them elsewhere.

Why are you not accepting CATs?!?!?!?!

OP posts:

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 16:26

Done

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 16:38

Blondes, I think I'm going to look for a new nanny and see what she thinks and then fill in with a day or two of childminder if we need to lighten her load. I can not get an AP/MH and a nanny because I need live-in in both cases and only have one bedroom on offer. I suppose I could tell DH to fork over his office, but that might cause a divorce so best not to go down that route.

I'm also going to organise a swap with another mum so she takes my boy one morning and new nanny takes hers one morning. That gives me one day of a free place for DS. And it gives nanny two days where she's the bulk of the day child free.

OP posts:

Page62 · 31/03/2009 16:40

Hi AN!
Sorry to hear about your nanny situation! this is the girl we met at the meet up right?
Well, at least there are a lot of girls looking for a job so hopefully one will come along soon.
Not really sure about CM/AP combo -- though i can see how you can now be a bit more flexible given ages of DC. This is assuming of course, there are no further additions

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 16:40

mummyp, I don't have any mail.

OP posts:

Original poster

AtheneNoctua · 31/03/2009 16:41

There will be no further additions for sure!

OP posts:

ScottishThistle · 31/03/2009 17:30

AN, Nanny/CM may be a better combination. Only if you're sure you can't kick your husband out of his office (tell him it's just for a year!)

I personally wouldn't want my charges spending a couple of days with another carer outwith the home but that's just me. Take no notice!

Wishing you the best of luck!

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/03/2009 17:36

could the ap live in and nanny be daily and do 8-7? wonder why you need both to live in?

but ues souns that a nanny is your best bet, and then flexible care with a cm

ha ha @ no additions

theoriginalmummypoppins · 31/03/2009 18:16

Hi AN. Have to be later I am afraid. Sorry the ' done ' was in relation to CAT.

CottageChicken · 31/03/2009 18:51

Athene, a nanny we used temporarily is looking for work I think until the summer but possibly longer, I don't have cat so you can either e-mail me on [email protected] or I can e-mail you perhaps?

Sorry to hear yours can't cope with the start. Ours was live-out and had a 7.30am start, she had about a 40-minute commute so she would have had to get up I'd say at LEAST at 6.20.

willowthewispa · 31/03/2009 19:34

I'm sorry to hear this Athene.

My job is looking a bit dodgy at the moment due to a possible redundancy. I wouldn't have a problem with 6.30am starts so long as there was time during the day when children were at school.

willowthewispa · 31/03/2009 19:46

Looks like I'm a couple of years too old for you anyway!

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