Post # 1
Member
638 posts
Busy bee
my kids will be starting kindergarten next year, and I’m trying to figure out what we should do for childcare. Right now we have a nanny, and would like to continue having one. However, she would only be needed for a few hours after school and over th summer and school vacations. Would a nanny want to work those kinds of hours? Do people keep a nanny on full time? But then I hate to spend the money when kids will be at school 6 hours a day. Right now they are only in preschool a few hours a week so it’s reasonable to have a nanny full time. Any suggestions?
Post # 2
Member
2466 posts
Buzzing bee
Does your school offer before/after school care? That is what we use with our son and he absolutely loves it because he gets to be with his school friends a few extra hours a day!
Post # 3
Member
638 posts
Busy bee
Im sure they do. I know that’s an option and we may end up going that way. I was just curious if there’s anyone that uses a nanny in this capacity.
Post # 4
Member
1338 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: October 2016 - Painswick Church and the Falcon Hotel
My next door neighbour is a child minder so she takes the kids to school and picks them up and has them until we get home. We only pay for the hours she has them. We’re lucky!
Post # 5
Member
3560 posts
Sugar bee
wonderwedding : Using a nanny for that is pretty common. I think it mostly appeals to college students who want to work for a few hours a day. You shouldn’t have a problem finding someone to pick the kids up and then hang out with them for a few hours.
Post # 6
Member
638 posts
Busy bee
lovelyruby : but what about over the summer?
Post # 7
Member
3560 posts
Sugar bee
wonderwedding : When you’re interviewing nannies, find out if they would potentially be interested in full time over the summer. And if not, then you can hire a summer nanny and a school year nanny.
To make the job slightly more appealing, you could also have them come an hour or two before they pick up the kids just to do the kid’s laundry, pick up toys, etc. Or not. It’s up to you and your nanny.
Post # 8
Member
638 posts
Busy bee
lovelyruby : so what I’m curious about is if this is something nannies commonly do. It’s full time over the summer, but only a few hours a week during the school year. Are there nannies interested in that type of commitment? They’re not getting full time pay but are working odd hours so can’t really take on a second job…
Post # 9
Member
3560 posts
Sugar bee
wonderwedding : Yes, there are. A college student who is available in the afternoons would be perfect, and there are a lot of those. Also, you could hire a different person to be a full time summer nanny, and they may return in the summers to come.
Post # 10
Member
400 posts
Helper bee
Depends on where you are, but generally no. Maybe if you can find a college student for during the school year and employ a full time nanny during the summer.
Post # 11
Member
304 posts
Helper bee
I did exactly this as a college student – during school (for both me and the kids), I picked them up from school and watched them until their parents came home, and during the summer I came over in the morning and stayed all day. It was perfect for me… maybe you can find a college student if your current nanny can’t reduce her hours?
Post # 12
Member
3482 posts
Sugar bee
Not sure where you are but the college student option doesn’t work here. You need to be registered with OFSTED to provide childcare here along with having all sorts of insurances and licences.
have you thought about a nanny share? They are very popular here. You pair up with another family and share the cost of the nanny. You can pair with a family with pre school kids and then the nanny can do pick up for you in term time and full time in holidays. You’d just adjust the percentage you pay for those times
Post # 13
Member
7794 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I used summer day camps and my afternoon nanny during the summer and then a part-time summer nanny once they were too old to care about camps and could spend some time alone during the day.
You can have an afternoon nanny during the school year and a full time nanny over the summer but they may be two different people.
Post # 14
Member
1714 posts
Bumble bee
My daughter has before/after school daycare at her school during the school year. In the summers, she goes to summer camps and we also take time off to be with her and travel.