How much do you pay for your London live-out nanny?

[mellow2]

I'm starting a new job next week and I'm looking for a nanny for my dd who's 3. We're based in West London.

It'll be a 5-day a week sole charge position. Would it make any difference to the rate if dd goes to pre school 3 mornings a week as nanny would have free time for 3 mornings?

Any advice and info gratefully received.

Hi Mellow. Do you mean nanny would start later (i.e. when she picks up DD from pre-school) or would she show up and do the pre-school run and then go back to get her. If the latter, I think you might be hard pressed to find someone to show up first thing in the morning but then not be paid for a full day... but of course you could try.

If those morning hours are paid hours then of course you could direct nanny to other duties (child related) whil DD is at preschool.

Hi Athena,

No, nanny would do school run. I was just wondering if nannies are paid a different rate if they have charges who go to pre-school/school.

I can't think of any child-related duties she'll have while dd is at pre school. What does yours do when your 2 are at school?

While your dd is at pre school she could;

do dd's wahing/ironing
clean/tidy/hoover dd's bedroom/playroom
batch cook
prepare activities ready for the afternoon
put her feet up for half an hour with a cuppa and a book

DD laundry
cook and freeze meals for DD
organise birthday presents (and wrap them!)
clean out closets and drawers of clothes that are now too small for DD
Arrange play dates and other social activities for DD

She might also be willing to do cooking for you in this time so you can just come home and pop something in the microwave and not have to cook after work. This is technically not normally a nanny dutie but she might be happy to do this in exchange for the 3 hours or so she has free every day.

Any child related arrands would be fair game. For example my DD takes dance classes, tennis, likes to go swimming, and takes Kumon. Any errand related to any of these activities is fair game. Last week I sent them off to Kingston to go bathing suit shopping. I also have nanny pick up new school clothes when we need them. Oh that reminds me DS will need a uniform soon -- sob sob but he was a baby only yesterday I swear .

Hi Athene - do you remember the thread we had a while ago with the Mum wanting the nanny to do a bit of meal prep (for the adults) whilst the children slept? The general consensus from that was that chopping a few carrots/potatoes would be okay but definitely nothing more.

Depends I think on whether it is negotiated before the job. If it wasn't, then I wouldn't ask anyone to chop my carrots. However, if it is negotiated before nanny accepts the job as something she would be willing to do then I think it is. And a nanny job with one 3 year old who goes to preschool in the mornings is actually going to leave the nanny with quite a lot of free time.

You will not get a nanny to be paid less just because your dd is at school - and, tbh, why should she? She'll need to be "on-call" if your dd is ill at nursery or off sick and what about school holidays? She'll presumably have to be there all day then.

Btw if you're starting a new job next week aren't you leaving it a bit late to find a nanny?

mellow have you managed to find a nanny? I have one I can recommend if not.

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Incidentally, Mellow, DS is now in nursery (attached to the same primary which DD attends and where he will be in reception next year) every afternoon. So we have a similar arrangement. I don't deduct the hours from wages. But all this free time and the accompanying gym membership are part of the package on offer when we negotiated the salary. So, I would suggest you market this as a perk of the job rather than taking these hours out of the equation.

Settle down, Squeaver. Mellow is just asking questions in an effort to find what is fair. Also, perhaps she just got the job?

Hmm I just read that post back and I do sound a bit narky, don't I?

Sorry mellow, hope you find someone good.

However, Squeaver, did make a good point about nanny being on call during pre school hours. If you want her to deal with any hiccups at the nursery you will need to include those hours in her normal working hours. For example, if DD is sick, do you want nanny to be available to look after DD since whe won't be able to attend preschool?

Athene - You're right. I would need the nanny to be available to pick up dd if she were ill. No, it would be incredible for nanny to be able to sort out dd's laundry while she's at pre-school. She insists on getting changed at least twice a day so it makes for a mountain of laundry.

nbee84 - Thanks for your suggestions of what nanny can do too.

No worries squeaver. I just accepted the job offer yesterday and they want to start next week so dh and MIL will have to cover for me until we find a nanny.

Cottage Chicken - I've emailed you.

Have e-mailed you back Mellow.

Good luck with the nanny search

have you considered a nanny with own child maybe younger or similar age to your child, you would prob pay 25% less than a nanny without child.

For live out for a 50hr week you are prob looking to pay £300-£500 a week depending on nannies experience, qualifications and the above.

Lindseyfox - thanks for the info. Yes, I would consider a nanny with own child. I think dd would love the company. The only problem might be if nanny's child goes to pre-school as dd's pre school is a 20 min drive from us.

Our nannies have always done our ironing on top of the childrens, IF they have time during the week (this has been negotiated at job interview stage). Hugely helpful. Past nanny has also done local chores like dropping off/copllecting dry cleaning, some grocery shopping, going to the post office etc. She will be busy during holiday time when there is no nursery/school for your child to go to....

(Hi orangina - I was alexh/peterjones - how is life with 2? I am having no3 in September, lucky me back in the Lindo Wing).

I have a full time live out nanny in west london who does a 55 hour week. I pay something north of £9 an hour net and she has been with us for nearly 4 years. she is now moving on and I expect to pay a replacement the same. She DOESNt do extra housjkeeping as she is frankly terrible at it but she is brilliant at the errands/dry cleaning/buying the childrens clothes etc

Hi Alexh/peterjones/victorvictoria (I so can't keep up with your multiple personalities!). Life with 2 is.... busy! They are gorgeous though, and it keeps on getting easier....

Congrats on having #3! You are a brave woman (I will not be taking on that particular challenge...!) What joy to be back at the Lindo.... Good luck with that, I will look out for your birth announcement.....

Lucky you having had the same nanny for 4 years. We seem to end up changing every year-18 months. I find the search for someone new v stressful and time consuming.

It was (almost literally) a moment of madness, particularly since DH doesnt have a job and I have a 3.10 year old DS who wails when I leave for work EVERY morning (although he is strangely fine about 2 mins after I have gone and then happy for the rest of the day.hmmmm). Luckily DH's redundancy was pretty generous so we are not too strapped ATM.

Yes lucky as same nanny. We have been VVVV generous to her and I think that helped and she is actually giving up nannying not going on somewhere else and says she wants to come back and look after them if we ever go away etc. Which is nice. she is going to be jolly hard to replicate tho.........

Hi Alexh/peterjones/victorvictoria (I so can't keep up with your multiple personalities!). Life with 2 is.... busy! They are gorgeous though, and it keeps on getting easier....

Congrats on having #3! You are a brave woman (I will not be taking on that particular challenge...!) What joy to be back at the Lindo.... Good luck with that, I will look out for your birth announcement.....

Lucky you having had the same nanny for 4 years. We seem to end up changing every year-18 months. I find the search for someone new v stressful and time consuming.

(oops, sorry)

Sounds busy for you too then.... know what you mean re: wailing children. Dd's (age 4) favourite phrase just now is "I want you all the time Mummy....", which now ds (age2) has taken up as his mantra. Guilty sigh. On a bad day I have to peel both of them off me when I leave in the morning. Not easy, and you don't exactly head out with a spring in your step, do you?!

I find it quite comforting to hear that actually. I was beginning to think it was just my son! It is all VERY wearing. And of course I have the unenviable trioka of new school (nothing to do with his current nursery), new nanny and new baby to deal with. Oh joy.