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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Night nannies

8 replies

poppy34 · 18/06/2010 12:20

Hi inspired by another thread on maternity nurses getting
booked early I wondered if anyone knows of night nanny who works in sw London area and would
be Interested in work next Jan/feb when dc2 arrives?

Was given name of an agency (night nannies) but not sure what they are like. Tips on how to find/ when to book and what to ask(presumably similar to finding a nanny need to look at their approach to childcare and feeding being similar to your own).

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eastmidlandsnightnanny · 18/06/2010 12:51

Some night nannies will be booked up early especially good ones in london. Where I am there is not a huge call for night nannies so I tend to get one longish job a year then lots of ad-hoc nights where parents just want a nights sleep or couple nights sleep with some routine advice they can follow.

If you use night nannies the agency you will pay an agency fee then the nanny £8-£9 an hr.

Privately you would be looking at paying £10-£15 an hr depending on experience and qualifications.

The experience you want from a night nanny depends on whether you literally just want the sleep so nanny comes in and basically takes over for the night - therefore you could use someone who has lots baby experience looking for first night nanny job and maybe pay around £8 an hr for this.

or if you want someone who can advise and implement routines not just overnight but give you routine advice for the daytime then you want an experienced night nanny and would be looking to pay £12-£15 an hr.

You want someone you warm to immediatly you meet them so you feel relaxed enough to actually sleep when they are there.

Make sure you get references 2-3 recent ones would be recommended. crb checked, personally would want non-smoker around a newborn baby.

Are you going to breastfeed if so what are you going to do at night, express? nanny bring baby into you? Personally I suggest the mum does the 10pm (ish) feed as a breast feed then expresses for the 2am (ish) feed and then at 6-7am nanny takes baby into mum for feed.

Nanny will take care of all babies needs changing, feeding, winding etc. If using bottles I will wash them out and pop in steriliser if enough bottle to put it on and obv if I have time as baby comes first. Some night nannies will do some baby ironing when they arrive til baby needs dream feed I personally dont as I hate ironing with a passion but will fold clothes, get out of washer if needed.

Most night nannies work 9pm-7am and will do 1-7 nights a week. I tend to only do 2-3 nights a week split over mon-fri - always doing a fri then parents tend to like sat/sun to themselves as a family.

Hope this helps.

I would suggest www.netmums.co.uk for finding a private night nanny. Could try www.gumtree.com but be prepared to filter out all the unsuitables (rubbish!!)

poppy34 · 18/06/2010 13:30

Eastmidlandnanny that is really helpful- I am planning on mixed feeding so that should hopefully allow nanny bit more free rein.

some advice/help on routines would be good but I think I would be relaxed on how much experience they had providing I liked them and refs good.
Also you have made me think I am not being neurotic to look so early given area.

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eastmidlandsnightnanny · 18/06/2010 16:29

No def not neurotic booking early maybe start looking and book september time as I said in an area like London excellent night nannies will get booked up.

Mixed feeding is great when you have a night nanny as you can express and use formula, some twins I night nannied for last year were solely breast feed for 4wks with cup feeding expressed milk for their 2am feed. Then we introduced formula at 6pm in a bottle and expressed bottle feed at 10pm and 2am and then mum breast fed again at 6am (they had a 6-6 routine as it suited family life). Then mum breast fed in day or day nanny gave expressed bottle and then at night I gave whatever was in fridge expressed or formula.

Good luck with search and hope you find someone really lovely. Remember just because someone charges a high rate doesnt mean they are experienced or great and likewise a low rate doesnt mean unexperienced. Ask for CV's via email I send mine to people after an initial email discussion about their needs etc and also send a detailed 2 side of a4 of my experience and give details of my rates.

poppy34 · 18/06/2010 17:29

Thanks for all tips-I didn't hire one last time but think it would just Make things easier all round to use one or first few months. And agree that rate doesn't equal aptitude as definitely found that looking for nannies.

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eastmidlandsnightnanny · 18/06/2010 18:47

Everyone I have night nannied for it has been second baby or has been first babies but twins think when you have first baby you can catch up on some rest during the day and just plod your way through (this is what I am telling myself as due end august myself with first!!) but with a second and subsequent babies you have older child/ren to entertain.

Good luck - you never know someone on here maybe able to help as there are a few night nannies/maternity nurses who come on here.

poppy34 · 18/06/2010 18:53

That's exactly my reasoning eastmidlandnanny (and good luck with your first) as figured night nanny well worth it for dh and me (and dc) to have one nights sleep a week .

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poppy34 · 18/06/2010 18:53

That's exactly my reasoning eastmidlandnanny (and good luck with your first) as figured night nanny well worth it for dh and me (and dc) to have one nights sleep a week .

OP posts:
swlondonnanny · 21/06/2010 18:52

Hi poppy34,
I would be happy to help you.
Please email me at swlondonnanny at yahoo.com for CV, references etc.
Thank you

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