Try a nanny instead! (Childcare in general)

Member Name: frannyfortune

Product:	Childcare in general
Date:	10/05/01 (220 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: in your own home, only cares for your kids, flexible

Disadvantages: can be more expensive

Did everybody forget about nannies? There are so many useful opinions here about childminders and nurseries, so I thought it was time to put the case for employing a nanny to care for your children.

First of all I must admit a strong bias. I have worked as a nanny myself for several years and loved it! But personal feelings aside, I hope the following provides anyone interested with some useful information.

~~~~What is a nanny?~~~~

Most people's idea of a nanny is either some starchy, Mary Poppins-type old lady, or a 17-year-old from Sweden over here for a year to improve her English. This does not have to be the reality. Nannies are usually trained or experienced people who happen to love working with children.

A nanny is a person you employ in your own home to care solely for your children. Someone who can live in your home, or simply turn up for work every morning, ready and willing.

~~~~Why use a nanny?~~~~

Some advantages are pretty obvious from the above description. The nanny has chosen to work with children as a career. It is not someone who has decided that childminding would fit in nicely with caring for their own children. She (or perhaps he, although there is a severe lack of men in this profession, partly due to the bias against male childcare and education workers) is committed to the work and is often thoroughly trained in child development.

Nannies care solely for your child(ren). They will be given 100% attention. With the best will in the world, a childminder is unlikely to be able to do this as other children, maybe their own, will be in the house. A nanny can and will plan the whole day around your kid(s) to suit their (and your) needs.

You make the rules. Don't want your child to watch TV? Fine. An older child needs to practice the piano, or help with homework? No problem. If the children attend clubs, Brownies, dance lessons or want friends round to pla
y, the nanny will take care of it.

The nanny works in your home. Your children are cared for in the place that they know best, where they feel safest, surrounded by their own toys and familiar reminders of you. This also means, of course, that you don't have to worry about transporting your kids across town to their childcare every morning. The nanny arrives, you leave for work - simple. Some nannies will also do small household jobs such as ironing or shopping too. No dirty dishes when you get home!

~~~~There must be a drawback~~~~

Well, yes. Money. A nanny will sometimes (but not always), cost you a little bit more. However, nannies can charge as little as £3.50 an hour depending on their experience and the number of hours you need them. Sky-high rates of £7.50 an hour plus perks that I've read about in the media are just not the norm (unless you go through an agency - more on that later!). £5 would be a good rate for an experienced nanny looking after 2 kids. I've personally worked for between £3 and £8 an hour depending on the situation.

Now think of your average childminding or nursery fees (and double or triple them if you have more than one child). Isn't it worth a bit more for all the advantages? If you have 2 or more children you could easily end up saving money.

~~~~But I want my child to learn to fit
in with other children~~~~

Children at a childminder or nursery certainly gain valuable social skills. However, a good nanny will take your child to coffee mornings or toddler groups regularly, and probably knows a network of people with young children in your area. Anyway, isn't it nice for your child not to have to share *all* the time?

~~~~The best of all worlds~~~~

Employing a good nanny can be a great experience for you and your children. Of course, finding the right person is vital. If you have to advertise for someone, check references tho
roughly. Don't go through an agency - they will charge you the earth and often don't carry out as thorough a check as you would assume.

I would strongly recommend word-of-mouth s the best way to find a suitable, trustworthy, experienced nanny. So ask your friends, colleagues, local nursery or toddler group if they know of anyone. And when you've found the right one for you, relax knowing your children are in safe hands, being cared for by a dedicated professional person while you get on with your life.

In writing this opinion I in no way wish to criticise childminders or nurseries. There are many skilled people working in these areas who do the best possible job within the particular setting. It's just that I feel a nanny is the best of all worlds for working families.

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