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New Nanny - Teething Worries

(71 Posts)

By Fri 16-Oct-09 23:45:23 Add message | Report | Contact poster

Hi there
I am returning to work on Monday, leaving my 7 month old DS with a live in nanny, who arrived two weeks ago. I have some niggling concerns, and since I am new to this, wondered if anyone could help me consolidate them? wink

1. Upon arrival, I gave our nanny a "manual" for DS, giving info about food, routine, washing etc. She is not doing some of the things in the prescribed way. The important stuff that she has ignored, I have addressed. Am I petty to insist that she does DS's laundry in the way I have asked (and not to mix colours/whites, not to tumble dry everything instead of air drying)?

2. I have a couple of pre-planned (and paid for) activities lined up for DS during the week and the nanny is free to do what she likes for the rest of the time. There's a kitty of cash at her disposal. How much is reasonable to leave her with, on a weekly basis with a 7 month old, not including transport? I pay her mileage separately and have paid for her car insurance.

3. Also, how much is reasonable for a nanny to spend on lunch out for herself, with a seven month old - if there is loads of food at home and she has the run of the fridge/larder (and she has taken a packed lunch for DS)?

I guess we are just bedding in together but I want to strike the balance between not micro managing and not being taken for a ride!

Thanks for reading and sorry for the long questions.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 10:32:15

sorry for the hi jack -all my fault - well actually my ex mb as she gave them the chocolate spread!!! grin

SPIKESMUM - what have you decied to do?

i didnt relise your nanny lived in, so she prob doesnt have rent/mortgage/many other bills so what on earth did she borrow steal the £50 for?

saying that, even if she did live out.she still shouldnt steal the kitty

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 20:41:21

thenewnanny - btw i have noticed that generally people in the uk eat less than we are used to /i am czech/ and i think /dont know any statistics/ we have less obese people too.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 20:18:04

OMG I love gouter

my favourite meal of the day LOL

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 20:16:52

Sadly the UK childhood obesity rate would indicate so.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 20:13:02

Your forgot gouter thenewbornnanny - that's practically a meal in itself, usually composed of pain au chocolate/brioche with chocolate/other sugary goodness and sometimes a fruit compote if you're lucky!

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 19:54:53

aha, get your point ;)
whereas many children in the uk eat crap all day long ;)

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 18:41:09

Absolutely nothing catepilarr, my point was that the French children in my parents town eat a lot of food, including the dreaded (LOL) Nutella, and none of them are overweight. I think the reason they are so healthy is that they eat a wide variety of foods, and even though Nutella isn't a hugely healthy food it doesn't do any harm at all in a wide and varied diet.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 17:34:29

thenewbornnanny - what's wrong with two cooked meals a day?

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 13:19:28

Athene, I couldn't believe how in France so many kids eat french bread and Nutella and chocolate milk for breakfast! Then their school lunches are INCREDIBLE. Things like grilled salmon with a rucola salad and cous cous, apricot tarte tatin, yoghurt and fruit, bread and cheese... then they eat another decent dinner at home. No overweight children in the town my parents live in. I guess it's a case of everything in moderation! I have to say though it is crazy cute seeing 24 fabulously dressed 4 year olds all sat round little tables eating a 4 course meal with no fuss, drinking out of little glasses, chatting nicely. What a difference to the zoo that my old charges in London went to LOL

Sorry for the hijack blush

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 11:15:13

I have in my contract that extra insurance expenses are covered by the employer (ie to have business insurance) but it's the same price with my insurer anyway so never had to use that clause!

I'm with athene here, theft is taking something without permission. It's also just giving into temptation - the money is there, it's not doing anything, no-one will notice if I 'borrow' some so why should I give it back....and they don't need this or that so I'll just use it....

Slippery slope really. OP did your nanny voluntarily own up to the borrowing and did she have any cause to believe you would check her expenditure? Because if she was only telling you because she might have been caught out then I would seriously worry. What did she need the money for anyway?! She's live-in, so has no rent or bills, apart from possibly mobile, and presumably you feed her as well so what's the wage you're paying her weekly going on that she needs your kitty money as well? Either she's in severe financial difficulties (which would worry me as she's live in and presumably traceable to your address and could ruin your credit rating) or she's just acquisitive. I don't know which is worse.

And yes, I probably am being harsher than necessary, but a short, sharp lesson is needed here I feel.

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New Nanny - Teething Worries