Would you, as a nanny, be prepared to do a job like this?

[Murtette]

My mat leave will be ending in a few months and so I'm beginning to think about childcare. I think that a nanny will be the only realistic option but I'm not sure how flexible they are willing to be - and don't have any RL friends I can ask as they all either use nurseries or are SAHM.

When I return to work, I'm hoping to have two mornings off a week and will then work from home on those afternoons and be in the office for the other three days of the week. However, its likely that at least once a fortnight I would have to do a call during my morning off and that that call may last 30 mins or it may last 3 hours or I might have to go into the office for meetings. Obviously DD (who will be 10 mths when I go back to work) will need looking after if that happens so I thought the simplest solution (although possibly an expensive one!) would be to have a full time nanny who would probably have a couple of relaxed mornings most weeks. As a nannny, would this be acceptable to you or would you find the uncertainty frustrating?

Also, every few months there will be a couple of weeks when DP (who would usually take over on the evenings when I'm working in the office) has to work later than usual meaning handover would be around 8.30pm rather than 6/6.30pm. We normally have a few weeks of notice of when this will be and so could give the nanny the same amount of notice. Again, would this be acceptable?

Thanks!

when i was a nanny i had jobs where flexibility was needed,so this would have not put me off. a bit of give and take is good for employer/employee relationship.

sounds fine to me

Yeah, fine for me. Be warned that what your nanny may resent is if you ban her from making plans for the mornings you're at home, especially if there's a monthly local nanny meet it something one of those mornings. But if you have regular days and wanted her to stay in and say that's time for her to catch up on nursery duties if at all possible then that would be fine. What I would find irritating is changing days AND having to stay home because I quite lke to have a good weekly routine which involves getting out and about to toddler groups, music classes, swimming etc. and if I had to stat in every time s parent worked from home we'd miss out on things.

For your mornings off, have the nanny work. That way you can be doing things whilst at home... for example, nanny could take DD out whilst you have a relaxing bath, or get your hair cut, or meet a friend for coffee, or just catch up on sleep after a disturbed night.
It is a more costly option but by agreeing a annual salary rather than strictly an hourly one, then you will know the costs involved and your nanny will know how much pay they will get.
With regard to the later finishes, as you know in advance when they would be, you could agree with your nanny that they come in later on a morning, or on both mornings that week when you are not working.
Working from home can be rather tricky, can be hard to switch off from what is happening in the rest of the home, particularly if the home is small. Shut yourself away and avoid popping down to see your DD... as once your DD sees you, she won't be very happy for you to disappear again.

if you dont interfere and let nanny go out when you are off in am/working in pm then i dont see the problem

i have had my mb working from home last 7weeks and she leaves me to it

easier to have same days at home so nanny could arrange to do nursery duties if you want to have your lo in am

yes i am happy to work later once in a while

nannys are generally more flexibale then cm/s as have one family to care for