Birthday presents for nanny

[hatter]

What does anyone do? I've spent £20 on some nice bits and pieces from the Body Shop, but I feel inclined to give her something else too. Is it normal to give something more substantial eg £50 or £100 in vouchers or a cheque? If vouchers where from? I'm at work and need to get something at lunchtime so I'd be kind of limited to Next or M&S? She's 26, has her own 2 year old. She's only been with us for 4 months but has been fab (much better than nanny no 1) so much so that DH wants to give her a pay rise already. Any thoughts?

I usually spend about £60-80 on nanny's birthday, and I have given vouchers before. I would say Next might be better for someone her age!

Blimey! We gave our nanny £25 in Next vouchers, I think.
Could give her a payrise in conjunction with a four month 'how's it been going' talk, and then agree pay rises each year...that's what we did, just above inflationary.

I do cheques as well as presents, and yes quite substantial now but she's been with us for over 3 years. After 4 months I would think £50 in vouchers as well as the Body Shop things would be overdoing it - another £25 in vouchers would be very handsome. Do M&S I think, then she can decide whether it's clothes or food!

By the way I think it's important to do real openable presents as well as vouchers/cheque because it means you've recognised her as a person with own interests if you see what I mean. I stress over it dreadfully, though.

Is your little one giving her something? That (however tiny) means a lot to our nanny.

Vouchers sound like a great idea. I have tended to buy ours pieces of jewellery from the kids and spend about £100 but am not sure this is always successful and might go the voucher plus something to open route in future. What do people give departing nannies? We are about to lose our lovely year-and-a-half nanny as she is going back to university

My nanny's nanny friend (a much loved nanny)has just left her family and she got a digital camera - they asked my nanny what to buy her. On presents I've bought my (much loved nanny)a jacket I knew she loved - we'd both admired it in a shop, a bracelet, beauty therapy vouchers etc.

Thanks everyone. Just wanted to see if I was way wide of the mark. I think I'll go for the Next Vouchers, maybe £30 or £40, which together with the Body Shop stuff should be ok. The girls have made her birthday cards too. While we're on the subject - what do people think about birthday presents for the nanny's kid? (next month)

Yes - that seems reasonable. I should have said that my nanny has been with us for 5 and a bit years so she is more like one of the family and as such I probably do spend a bit more!
With a new nanny I think you are being more than generous!

I give our childminder carefully thought out presents for xmas (usually spend £50-80) and when we go away I generally bring a nice (£20-30) present back. I don't do her birthday as I barely remember when my own is. She is wonderful with my children and I think it's important that I acknowledge that in some other way than her basic wage. I spend £13,000 a year for her fees, £200 extra in gifts is worth it's weight in goodwill and hardly much of an extra stretch for me. She is in her mid 40's with 2 grown children so I get her things for her house. I think that some body shop stuff and a voucher for next or h&m would be great for a 26 year old with a child. I personally think m&s too expensive for children's things and not trendy enough for a 26 year old.