Nanny with own baby?

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

My lovely nanny (she is Mary Poppins in jeans ) is leaving us in September to do primary teacher training. She has been with us for nearly 3 years, and replacing her will be v hard - we really fell on our feet when she turned up for the interview all that time ago, and we know it.

I have been dreading trying to find a replacement. It now turns out that a nanny friend of hers, who had her own baby at the same time (just 2 days earlier!) as I had DS2, is interested in the job, as it is only part-time (3 days) and she would be able to bring her baby with her.

I think I am fine with this - she is a lovely nanny, very experienced, and has looked after 2 sets of twins in her career, so would be fine with her DD and DS2. Also, DS1 will be in pre-school for quite a bit of the time - probably 1 whole day and 2 half days, because I want him with me on the days I don't work, so am happy to be effectively "doubling up" on childcare on my work days.

I suppose I'm just interested in hearing from anyone who's had a nanny who brought her own baby with her to work, and hoping to hear that it all worked out fine!

One last thing - I have met this woman socially on a few occasions since we had the babies, and feel we've become friends (although not really close friends - we see each other only once every couple of months or so, for coffee). I think we are all mature enough to make it work, and I am friendly with my current nanny - but does anyone think that this sounds like a bad idea? Just canvassing opinions.

Thanks!

I think it would be fine that you are friendly - but I would set everything out very formally/professionally at the beginning in terms of contracts, expectations on both sides.

Def have a contract in place so you both know where you stand inc things like

who will pay for outings and activities for her child, esp if they are ones you want your child to go to?

food for her child will you provide this and be inc as part of salary package?

is her salary slightly reduced to normal rates because bringing child?

do you now need a double buggy or do both children walk? who will pay for it?

and what if her child is sick?

I know lots of people this works well for.

Think about things like will you be happy for double sets of equipment to be kept at your house, don't know how old the children in question are, but two highchairs, for example. Plus who pays for the extra one. Buggies and car seats as well.

Also things like naps, if either child still has a nap, what if their nap times conflict, and where will the nanny's child nap?

Do a search for threads on this, there are loads, with the various things that can be a problem. Doesn't mean it won't work well, but you need to be well aware of all the potential issues, and make sure the nanny has thought of them as well.

Thanks for these points - v useful.

Am going to meet up with her soon and go through everything. Her DD and DS2 will be c.19 months when she starts, and DS1 will be 3.7 - so he won't need a buggy, and she can use our double for the babies.

Embarrassingly, I am sure that we have enough equipment for 2 babies in the house, even though we have only ever had one baby at a time . Will just have to deprive the local Freecyclers of it for a while longer.

I have thought about this quite a bit recently for various reasons.

I'd expect to pay a nanny less if she was bringing her own child. I also think it would only work if the nanny's child was the same age as mine and not less than one year old. I had two kids under 18 mths and it really is hard to do toddler groups etc with a baby who can't even sit up and a toddler intent of wrecking the place!

So in your case I'd say it could work very nicely!