Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Nanny during lockdown

136 replies

Bananasplease · 23/03/2020 21:23

Ok so I fully expect to get flamed for this and I know that others have bigger problems!
DH and I are classed as key workers (justice) but are able to work from home most of the time. We have 2 children (4 and almost 1) and a part time nanny. Our eldest normally also goes to nursery but we stopped that over a week ago. Our nanny has still been coming to us and only taking the children out for short walks away from others over the last week. Now that a lockdown has been announced what do we do?? Do we cancel her but how on earth do we manage on the occasions when we will both have Court commitments (most likely by video or phone) at the same time. I want to do the right thing but I don't know how on earth we manage Court work with 2 kids in the house?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bananasplease · 23/03/2020 21:56

Anyone?

OP posts:
Stuckforthefourthtime · 23/03/2020 21:59

We have had the same question, though are assuming we need to tell the nanny to stay home (even though we've been providing her with all food etc so she's literally only been walking to our house and back).

Theres a similar thread from someone who was dropping their child to their nanny and they got absolutely flamed...

Stuckforthefourthtime · 23/03/2020 22:00

As key workers, frankly I think that you should keep the nanny at least part time, btw, as it's surely safer than putting the kids in school or nursery - but do be prepared for flaming!

YappityYapYap · 23/03/2020 22:00

What you need to do OP is try and find the advice they were going to put out online, the small print basically so that people know where they stand and what to do. I assume as keyworkers, you don't want to use the system in place for keyworkers and putting their children into nursery still? I know I wouldn't want to. I really don't know what you should do here. Now that there is essentially a lockdown, your nanny will pretty much be isolating? As we all will be. There seems to be more logic in one person coming into your household rather than your children being around 1-10 other children at nursery and several adults

PertEllaTitsahoy · 23/03/2020 22:01

Your nanny cant come to you. It's been made more than clear.

LancashirePeeler · 23/03/2020 22:02

One of you continue to work. The other looks after the children. The rules apply as much to you as they do everybody else.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 23/03/2020 22:03

Don’t engage her services.

Keep paying her as normal and seek advice from either your payroll company or someone like Nannytax who will walk you through what you need to do to reclaim the money.

We are having a bit of a melt about this right now as we both work FT and our nanny has actually had to self isolate but it’s all moot now as unless you are a key worker that cannot wfh I would suggest that for as long as all childcare is suspended across the UK, you follow that lead.

To also be quite frank you don’t know if you are a risk to her and vice versa.

If your bosses are understanding they should let you and DH split the day roughly 6am to midday for one, and midday to 6pm for the other.

If you are MoJ, court service, NOMS or something like that you will be able to do this.

Wheresthebiffer2 · 23/03/2020 22:05

Can Nanny come and stay in your home, with you, for the period of lockdown/social isolation? it would be safest.

EastCoastDamsel · 23/03/2020 22:06

Hmmm... I'm going to be a little controversial.

DH and I are both classed as Key workers (food manufacture). However we are not able to (and have been) WFH since last Tuesday.

There is no way I would be putting us, or others at further risk by interacting with them and have told cleaner/gardener/window cleaners all to stay away - whole still paying. Have also kept kids off school since last Monday.

Every interaction you have with a person is an interaction with EVERYONE ELSE they have interacted with/will interact with. Symptoms of no.

Not worth it IMO

gower4 · 23/03/2020 22:10

Your nanny can't come. You must keep paying her.

LottieBees19 · 23/03/2020 22:13

If you are both key workers eg frontline NHS workers yes then the nanny can work.
Surely court work will stop?
If you dont need her you claim 80 percent of her salary from HMRC

BillieEilish · 23/03/2020 22:14

No. She can't come to your household as she lives elsewhere, it was made very clear.

vegansprinkle · 23/03/2020 22:16

I am a teacher. DH is a civil servant. We are both working full time between preparing material for home, remote working plus homeschooling 4 young children, plus I have to go in on a rota to help out with medical staff's children. We are on day 10 of our country's lockdown. We have suspended our childcare with full pay and will juggle between us. No other alternative, but we cannot expect her to travel to us (on public transport as well). Employers understand that that we are doing what we can under the circumstances.

LottieBees19 · 23/03/2020 22:16

I'm a nanny btw and I dont want to not work. But I dont want to spread the virus. Some of my family are key workers and will be going to work.

pocketem · 23/03/2020 22:16

I don't know how on earth we manage Court work with 2 kids in the house?

All other workers are in the same boat. Just have to make it work somehow

beingarayofsun · 23/03/2020 22:21

It's the nanny's work, she cant work from home. Jeez let her work. You are allowed to work.

LancashirePeeler · 23/03/2020 22:24

Why should the nanny work and risk everyone’s health so that this couple can enjoy a double income?

sociallydistained · 23/03/2020 22:27

Work for two families - happy to work for My key-workers for obvious reasons ... non key worker family on separate days want me in. I've said I can't be mixing between houses!

Where do I stand? I'm so stressed!

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:29

I don’t understand why people can’t follow what Boris Johnson said

He said you could travel if you were unable to work from home and it was essential. If you are key workers then it is essential.

LancashirePeeler · 23/03/2020 22:31

Why are people so thick? You can’t move between households. Join up the dots.

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:32

Why are you so thick? That is not what he said if you have to travel for work

BillieEilish · 23/03/2020 22:32

She won't be able to take them on 'short walks' or go to the park.

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:33

Your not suppose to mix households in a social context.

BBC I player-you can watch it back

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:35

‘From this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work.‘

LancashirePeeler · 23/03/2020 22:35

Essential work is not looking after non key workers kids.

Swipe left for the next trending thread