Cost of a nanny

[hayesgirl]

I have 3 kiddies having recently had twins. I will be going back to work in jan/feb and think that a nanny would be the most convenient and cost effective childcare option.

I have a few people interested in the position but I am not sure what would be considered a reasonable hourly rate to pay.

Do any of you have a nanny? What do you pay and what (if anything) do you get back through tax credits?

Try posting in childcare - more traffic and more posters that know a lot more than me.

I have a FT nanny (3 DC all in school) and pay £35k - Unless you only do fixed very part time work yourself I'd avoid employing a nanny on an hourly rate as I don't think it makes good sense, financially or otherwise.

Salaries will vary depending on where you are based and precise duties/hours.

I think hourly or daily rate makes sense if you work part time and have a nanny who is flexible to meet your days/ times. We had a 3days a week term time only nanny for over a year and it suited us perfectly (kept the cost down) and suited her well too (lots of holidays!). We paid £135 a day at the max, which involved juggling young twins and school runs for older siblings, with the nanny using her own car. £35k sounds like an awful lot.

Long I think £135 per day pretty much works out at £35k exactly for a FT job

Yes, I guess both daily rates and FT rates are towards the top end of the range, which you'd need to pay for a nanny with the competence to care for a larger family.

On the plus side, now that all of mine are at school, we have an au pair and that works really well. A fair bit cheaper (although you have to provide board and lodgings), an opportunity for closer friendships, and more hours covered.

I can't wait until my youngest is old enough for an au pair

My friends a nanny and was getting £11 an hour if that helps. She was looking after 3 under 4 and doing a lot of house work etc.

I'm a ft nanny at the moment looking after a 4yr old and a 22month old. I take home about £1500 a month. I'm in charge of all boys things but do not do cleaning as boss wants my attention on the children.
My boss did have a childminder for the eldest and although I'm more expensive I give her a lot more freedom and reassurance. I use my own car and they pay 0.40 per mile for my petrol.
To get tax credits or childcare vouchers your nanny needs to be registered which costs about £100. How much you get depends on your wages and not what your paying your nanny.

i have a nanny for my 3. DD1 is 4 and about to start school, dd2 is 2 and DS1 is 1. This is my nanny's first nanny job. Before this she was working in a nursery. She works 50 hours a week for us and i pay her £18k gross which works out at just above £7 per hour gross plus mileage and extra for any babysitting she might do over the month i pay in cash.

We live in Surrey. i know we got her at a good rate but it is not too dissimilar to the rate that friends are paying their nannies who are in similar positions (just come out of working in a nursery). If she was more experienced she would be able to get a higher salary (and i wouldn't have been able to afford her).

Depends where you live but it seems to vary from 8 to 10 per hour unless your in an expensive area.

I considered it for a short time.