nursery v nanny dilemma for 2 kids islington

[Maisiemouse]

I have a 2 yo daughter who has been relatively happy at nursery for the last year. With a 6 month old baby, I am due to return to work in a few months and am considering changing to a nanny...main reasons being cost, my long days and that 2 yo now more unsettled than previously (have kept up part-time place for her knowing I will have to go back to work). I have reservations about nursery (who doesn't?!) but am realistic and know that we may have a whole bunch of different problems with a nanny. any thoughts on this? (Any perfect nannies out there-great girls!)

[DominiConnor]

We've had nannies, and it's worked well for us.
Started when we both worked "city" hours so nursery was never an option.
I'd start looking now, since you will learn a lot about what you want by meeting candidates.

We found agencies to be quite poor, and ended up doing it ourselves by advertising on some sites.
We got a number of truly weird applications, but a better spread, and it was cheaper.

Are you going for live in or live out ?

[Maisiemouse]

definitely live-out...hard enough having relatives to stay and not really an option anyway

what sort of sites did you advertise on?

you're right that I have no real idea what I'm looking for yet but think it feels'right'to be changing and feel a bit relieved (nursery is v good but strangely feel less happy with it now than did to begin with)

[Maisiemouse]

definitely live-out...hard enough having relatives to stay and not really an option anyway

what sort of sites did you advertise on?

you're right that I have no real idea what I'm looking for yet but think it feels'right'to be changing and feel a bit relieved (nursery is v good but strangely feel less happy with it now than did to begin with)

[DominiConnor]

We used
TNT
and
The Gum Tree

We were very keen that the first language of our nanny was English since the kids were learning to speak, though we were relaxed about what flavour.
(hence they eat yoh-gert and have tiddy bears

Our currenty nanny has a degree in creative therapy, and is wise in the ways of using dolphins to help children develop. (yes, really).

[Maisiemouse]

thanks for that-I'm new to mn and have been looking through all the talks-getting addicted-wish I'd known about this before!
do you have any idea about the cost I'm looking at?-probably 40 hour week over 3 and half days in n london?

[jomorgan]

I am a qualified nanny alhough havent worked as yet as one because I went straight to university to become a teacher although am taking a yr out at the moment and will be looking for a nanny job from january til either until september (if i return to uni) or indefinately. You have the right ages I was looking for as well although i would have prefered livein.

Anyway I think if its going to work out cheaper to have a nanny look after both children instead of sending them to nursery then i definately would as having someone in your house devoted to just them is much more ideal for their ages...espec the little one. And it is most similar to if you were caring for them...with the nanny able to take them out and about to groups, friends etc.. However, u must make sure its the right person...look at the gumtree, and maybe advertise on nannyjob.co.uk but or real piece of mind an agency may be the best bet (although there are fees). Go with your gut instinct with anyone u meet...good luck

[Judy1234]

We always used live out nannies and it was much better, particularly when we had 3 under 4 years and also later with twins. If you don't want 5 days a week you may need to nanny share. Most nannies need the income from 5 days.

[DominiConnor]

Xenia is right about most nannies, it may be the case that you can find one who is doing some part time course.

One odd thing about the nanny market is that salaries are quoted in terms of what she actually gets in her hand, leaving you to pay all the tax.
We use NannyTax, they make it less hassle.

I guess you'll be paying out around 400 per week, but there is quite a variation, and do not believe the crap about nanny wages you see in the media which is about as accurate as BBC Science coverage.
Horizon


We also let DS "interview" them. He asked penetrating questions like "what is your favourite colour", and "do you want obe our nanny",m and measured them a la Mary Poppins
What was interesting was that several failed this test...
When confronted with a bright, polite yet pushy child they clearly felt awkward, a couple just when "ummm errr".
One turned up on our door visibly suffering since the walk up our hill "nearly killed her". Fitness/weight issues do seem to afflict nannies more than the average person as far as we can see.

Some agencies were very sniffy about the fact that we didn't live in Kensington, and we did pick up the idea that because we live in Essex they felt we'd be pathetically grateful for anything they sent. We found that it helped to mention our job titles, even though of course it is largely irrelevant to the job.

Part of our spec was an "educated" nanny, we didn't demand a degree, though we've ended up with 2 graduates and that's worked well for us.