Two nanny problems

[Ronipops]

I've got two nanny-related problems that I could really use some objective advice on!

Problem 1 concerns my current nanny. She brings her child to work with her (just over 2 years old). Over the past few months her child started hitting my child (who is a little bit younger). I ignored it at first and put it down to one of those things that happen / her child probably having jealousy issues etc. Anyway, the hitting has recently begun to escalate - the other day it happened at least 5 times (and who knows how many more when no one was looking). It is quite hard and usually on the head. Obviously this upsets my son a lot. It has also begun to bother me a lot more. Even though my nanny disciplines her child, it doesn't seem to have any effect. I just feel increasingly uncomfortable with it, but so far I've not really said anything about it. The other thing is that my nanny is leaving in a few months. Part of me would really like to end the relationship now as I am finding the whole thing stressful and upsetting, but then another part of me thinks that I should just hang on for a few months until she goes.

Problem 2 concerns what to do about childcare going forward. I have two candidates who broadly have the same experience and qualifications. Nanny 1 is via an agency and so comes with a £2k agency fee. She also works out at about £60 pw more expensive than nanny 2. But she would be sole charge. Nanny 2 was sourced privately so no agency fee. But she would come to work with her child (around 2yo). I had sort of decided on Nanny 2 on economic grounds (although my "gut instinct" was in all honesty probably with Nanny 1), however, given the problems with my current nanny's child, I am now not sure whether it is a good idea to get into this arrangement again. Of course, we may not have the same problems again, but it is a risk.

Thanks for reading if you've got this far! I guess what I need advice on is what, if anything, I should do about my current nanny and also whether I should take the current problems into account in deciding between new Nanny 1 or 2. For various reasons I need to make a decision today and so any words of wisdom would be really appreciated.

Lol, I didn't notice either and was about to reply. I hope the OP managed to sort the nanny problem out! :) (Poor baby being hit 5+ times a day :( )

Pomigra yes you can. A nanny is only entitled to return to the job she left with the same conditions. If she wants to bring her child that would be different conditions so you would need to agree to that. But do start a new thread to get more detailed.

sorry all - its my first time on mumsnet and i wasn't sure how to start a new thread...let me try now

In the case of nanny bringing in her own child, what is the salary range for her? Many thanks in advance!

That rather depends on her salary currently (if you employ her before the birth) or what she's been getting in her previous job. In general a 25-30% reduction in what would be expected without the child but there isn't an expected reduction - it depends on individual circumstances - and some nannies won't take a paycut at all, especially if they were in post before getting pregnant.

What is the market rate for nanny bringing in her own child please? Thank you!

Sorry for posting my questions twice, my computer did not re-fresh somehow. Thank you GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh for answering my question.

Basically we are looking for a nanny now, and there is a lady keen on the job but she has a child herself. I was just wondering how much i should offer her. Basically this situation looks to me very similar to nanny-share. So I was going to offer her 50% deduction. Does it sound too bad?

We-ell the thing with a nanny share is that yes, it's split 50-50 BUT the rate is often higher to compensate the nanny for working for 2 families, keeping 2 sets of parents happy etc so a £10/hour nanny might be getting closer to £13/hour, which shared between the two sets of parents makes it £6.50/hour which is more than half the hourly rate.

Then factor in it's not a nanny share - she's going to be your employee, you call the shots which means that she will need to put the needs of your child before her own rather than balance the two equally as is typical in a nanny share.

You can offer 50% but it's highly unlikely she'd accept, and unless she's very experienced or you're in a high paying area 50% of her previous wage may not be NMW. My guy instinct would be 70%.