Any hidden costs or negatives about having a nanny?

[Layla's Mum]

Hi there all. A bit of advice would be greatly appreciated. I am considering whether it is better to get a nanny or a childminder for my two kids (aged 3 years and 8 months) and I am finding it hard to decide. It seems like it costs about the same to have a nanny as a childminder but I'm wondering whether there might be hidden costs I haven't thought about when employing a nanny. I know I have to deal with tax and NI, but are there any other costs? Also, are there any negatives people have experienced with employing a nanny? I have used a childminder before but never a nanny so I'd appreciate hearing about people's experiences. Many thanks in advance.

[apenn]

In my searching so far, a nanny is significantly more expensive than a childminder. Would love to know where you are finding your nanny quotes!

-A

[Layla's Mum]

When there are two kids involved, you double your costs with a childminder as there is no sibling discount. Basically about ?100 per day for the childminder (or slightly more depending on hours). I've been told nannies are about ?8 per hour net so with tax that adds up to a similar amount (based on a 10 hour day) perhaps slightly more. Is that not your experience?

[bjm]

We have found having a nanny brilliant- we have been lucky in having the same nanny for over two years now and our children adore her.

With two children to look after I think ?8 per hour is quite cheap and you may find most nannies want more like ?10 per hour plus tax/NI though!

[SteveT]

We had a couple straight out of college and it was rather like adopting another child. We found all our nannies through the Lady magazine but this was some years ago.

The best nanny we ever had was in her 30s she was easy to get along with and was extremely capable, nothing ever seemed to be a problem, and she could cook.

We were approached by several europeans who had pidgin english which I thought was inappropriate as our youngest was late learning to talk, and our eldest explained that we had recently been burgled and the Bulgarian girl applying could not grasp what she was talking about and just smiled inanely and nodded at her.

The good ones are like gold dust and you need to keep them as if they are a rare antique, but most are at best average and not trained satisfactorily, nor do they have the maturity to have absorbed sufficient life skills to give you the peace of mind you desire.

Best of luck and get your advert in early.

Steve.

[charlottep]

In my experience, when nannies look after 2 children the hourly rate is normally a little higher - closer to ?9-11 (depending on experience) net per hour so with tax it's probably still more expensive than a childminder - but not significantly so. For the extras you get, i.e. nursery duties (food cooked, ironing, washing, home environment, no drop off/pick up, etc) I think it's worth that little bit extra, plus you're not sharing care between more than your two children, which is a very nice ratio IMO. In terms of additional costs, there's managing the payroll (that costs me about ?100 a year using a local accountant), potentially ofsted registration (if you want to use vouchers) and there's also the 'kitty' that needs to be kept topped up (on average i find that's about ?40 quid a week for food/nappies/playgroups, etc). There is also some start up costs which probably won't apply to you as it's a share between siblings, i'm thinking of double buggies, two high chairs, an additional cot, etc.

My son has been in a nannyshare for well over a year and I am 100% happy with the arrangement. Childcare is so expensive and i think in relative terms nannysharing offers good value for money - I can't think of any negatives as my son still gets plenty of socialisation through his daily attendance at the various playgroups, etc.

C

C

[Fuschia]

A minder is more like ?40/?45 per day than ?50, in my experience.

[Moos]

The only additional complication is agreeing holidays, which can be tricky - but as with anything good communication of your expectations and the expectations of your nanny is the key. Might be the same with childminders for all I know, but I think you don't pay your childminder for their holidays??

I think Steve is talking about au pairs - a qualified nanny is a very different quality of childcare.

It's worth putting together an employment contract which can be in plain English and not legalese, but clearly lays out what you expect and what your nanny should expect. If you use a payroll agency, they will be able to help you with a pro-forma. Should cover hours of work, what they should and shouldn't do, annual holidays paid and the system for arranging, whether holidays can be carried over from one year to the next, salary and date of salary review, etc.

[bumpy]

Have a look at this link/chat to these people, probably other similar sites out there http://www.nannytax.co.uk/

[Smiler]

I would be anxious about all the responsibilities that go with being an employer of a nanny, e.g.sick pay, maternity pay etc. (if the nanny needed to have a lot of time off).

[ljs]

Having worked as a nanny for 10 years ( I'm now a SAHM) the cost in having an experienced,qualified,full time daily nanny would be from ?400-?500 NET a week . Most nannies will always talk in net for their weekly wages and a full day would be from 7.45/8am to 6/6.30 pm.... . With this cost you can sometimes agree 4 babysits a month or one late night if necessary. Most experienced nannies will not clean for you, you don't really have time looking after two children, but I always took responsibility for the children's rooms ,washing and cooking.

Also, would you need to put them on your car insurance,petrol and parking permit if needed for the nannies own car ?? just an extra thought.

I think the advantage of having a nanny works well for families that have two working parents especially in the winter months, no dragging the kids outside in the cold weather to go to the childminders and if the children are sick the nanny will be at home with them and you can have peace of mind that your children are safe in the home.

Hope this helps.

[littleEDfamily]

THey may also expect you to pay for Ofsted registration, insurance and first aid training. Also, don't forget about the monthly fee to the people who manage your payroll for you.

[womanofdulwich]

We have had 3 nannies, all lovely girls, and when one left they kind of passed up to their friends who were nannies who our children knew already. did the same sort of one o clock clubs etc. a good nanny is like gold dust- you do have to trust them though-they hate to feel snooped on. works both ways. Good luck.

[Sanne Panne]

> I think the advantage of having a nanny works

> well for families that have two working parents

> especially in the winter months, no dragging the

> kids outside in the cold weather to go to the

> childminders and if the children are sick the

> nanny will be at home with them and you can have

> peace of mind that your children are safe in the

> home.

Good point, hadn't thought of very bad weather and child sickness yet. If they're really sick you want to be there yourself but if they just need to sit out an antibiotics treatment or if they have a viral rash they're probably just as happy with the nanny. My daughter is with a great childminder now (an expensive one though - two kids there would cost at least the same as a nanny) but when baby 2 is here and big enough for me to go back to work I'll need to choose. My main concern is that I am a bit worried that my eldest would miss out on playing with other kids. Of course there are playgroups but I like the idea of them having some "mates" they know - and with two kids I wouldn't go for a nanny share so they'd probably only have brief encounters with other kids.

[ljs]

In my experience of working as a nanny, the children that you care for are very well socialised. A good nanny is an active nanny, and making friends and setting up playdates with other children is paramount for the care of your charges.

It's so nice for your children to have their friends to play over in their house and to have mini tea parties.

And if you get a nanny who knows the local area then thats even better, they will already have a network of other nanny friends to meet up with.... Sorry, just giving you an insight from a nannies point of view.

[dulwichmum]

I have to say, that in my experience, if you get a nanny who knows the area and has an established network of nanny friends, she can want to socialise with her nanny friends more than she wants to get your kids to meet up with the children they want to play with from nursery or school.

Twice, when I was on maternity leave, local nannies invited me over for tea and then proceeded to invite the visitors to explore the family's home, even trying on the employers shoes. It was all very odd and uncomfortable.

There is no professional register for nannies. Good nannies are like gold dust.

[womanofdulwich]

oh dulwich mum I wish you had not shared that bit about trying on shoes etc. I may have to go for therapy now!!

[curlykaren]

at least it wasn't, 'sniffing the shoes', that would have been really disturbing!

[chantelle]

i really don't care who tries on my ragged shoes - my nanny has her friends and their charges round often and at first I found it odd but now I see it as part of the fun and social life my son has while I'm out at work. If they want to snoop they won't find anything very interesting!

I briefly tried nursery and a childminder before finding a wonderful nanny (share) that means my son is happy in his own home (it's based solely at ours) and has constant care and attention. As long as we can afford it, we would choose a nanny over any other option.

I haven't found a lot of hidden costs - just the things mentioned above - tax, payroll (?100/year but you can do it yourself), kitty (?10-20 a week).

[sb]

.

[dulwichmum]

Dear womanofdulwich and curlykaren,

I have to say that I was more offended by the voyeuristic nature of these tea parties than anything else. The intimate detail that was shared and discussed in front of the little children just made my hair stand on end.

Even superficial chat like;"Look at the banger they expect me to drive, I could kill these children in that" was basically scary for the kids and undermining of the parents. I know what these nannies meant, but the bitching and comparing in front of the children... "look at the cheque in this drawer, she hasn't cashed it for a month but will not give me a pay rise..." Don't even start me off on what they said about the food in the fridge left for their meals.

Some of the most outrageous snobbery I have witnessed in Dulwich has been from some nannies based on their own perceived status because of the family they work for. It is a sad fact that many of us have to work full-time with little children, I really adore my children and my job, but it would be so much easier if we had relatives to help - and believe me, I know that relatives are problematic too. I just don't see relatives as being so selfish and undermining.

I will not leave a nanny in my home to play house while I am at work. Having said that, I know some amazing nannies, just super. You have to be meticulous about who you chose. I suppose that it is just like midwives, you can get a fabulous one or one who makes you want to throw yourself off a bridge!

[ljs]

Haha DULWICHMUM..... I could say the same about things that I have heard parents "gossiping " about as well... In front of me.

Very awkward at times !!!