Am I likely to find a nanny who is willing to work noon-8 pm regularly?

[Anonymous]

We are having DS#2 in the spring. I work very part-time, but DH works 80-90 hours a week with a lot of travel, so we feel like we need another pair of hands for longer than just my work hours. The time I am most worried about is the 5-8pm window (8 pm is bedtime for the older DS) since I do this by myself now and I think it will be a hard window with a newborn in the mix. My older son will being going to preschool three mornings a week 9-12. Do you think I will be able to find a nanny willing to work 40 hours a week, but shift the workday to start at noon and end at 8 pm? It would be two kids, but I would be home most of the time and it would be a tag team situation. Compensation and benefits would be generous and in line with the norms for our neighborhood (Capitol Hill).

[Anonymous]

Sure. That schedule isn't all that unusual.

I'm sure you will find many good candidates.

Try posting on MOTH and other list servs for your best options.

[Anonymous]

Sure. There is nothing wrong with the hours and it's a full time position.

Honestly, I'd pass it up due to the fact that you, the mother, were going to be home the whole time. It's hard to establish a routine and authority as a nanny if the mother is present especially during the "tantrum years".

[Anonymous]

Op here. Great. That's good to know that I will likely find someone interested.

DS#2 isn't due until July, so I was thinking of starting to look in the Spring. Are there more candidates available as school is ending, or am I more likely to find someone able to start in September when former charges start school? I would love to have someone start in May so that DS#1 doesn't feel like the change is because of the new baby, but I could manage until the Fall if necessary. I will definitely post on MOTH when the time gets closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure. There is nothing wrong with the hours and it's a full time position.

Honestly, I'd pass it up due to the fact that you, the mother, were going to be home the whole time. It's hard to establish a routine and authority as a nanny if the mother is present especially during the "tantrum years".

OP here again. I am a little worried about this, but I hope I can find someone willing to try.

[Anonymous]

Its definitely possible.
Good nannies are available year round.

Find a nanny experienced working with siblings and families going from 1 to 2 children.

Some nannies do work with parents at home, it has its challenges but can be done. You just need to be honest what you are looking for more an extra set of hands vs someone you can pass the reigns to.

[Anonymous]

I work at home very part time and have had a full time nanny for about two years. We moved states recently, so I have hired for this position twice, and the prior part time position twice. I have always had lots of good candidates, and we've gotten into a good routine.

My suggestions are to let the nanny do her thing, tell the kids that when the nanny is there, she's in charge, and plan way in advance if you will all be doing something together. For example, we're taking the kids to get haircuts on Thursday morning, which is almost impossible with just one person because of the ages of the children. I wouldn't spring that on her on Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Great. That's good to know that I will likely find someone interested.

DS#2 isn't due until July, so I was thinking of starting to look in the Spring. Are there more candidates available as school is ending, or am I more likely to find someone able to start in September when former charges start school? I would love to have someone start in May so that DS#1 doesn't feel like the change is because of the new baby, but I could manage until the Fall if necessary. I will definitely post on MOTH when the time gets closer.

Look in the Spring for a nanny to start when you need her to in May. Give the candidates a good deal of lead time to give their current employer several weeks notice if applicable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. There is nothing wrong with the hours and it's a full time position.

Honestly, I'd pass it up due to the fact that you, the mother, were going to be home the whole time. It's hard to establish a routine and authority as a nanny if the mother is present especially during the "tantrum years".

OP here again. I am a little worried about this, but I hope I can find someone willing to try.

I'm sure you can find the perfect nanny, OP, you sound like a good and reasonable woman.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny who has always worked a shift like this. We are definitely out there.

[Anonymous]

I think if you pay well, plenty of quality applicants will apply. Having mornings off will be appealing to a number of people - perhaps those who are preschool teachers at a community cooperative preschool and only work two mornings a week and need another job on top of that. Part time students with morning classes. People who aren't morning people but still love working with kids - most jobs with kids have an early morning start. Some one who has to get her own kids ready & to school in the morning but DH is home to care for them in the evenings. I think it could work for a lot of different kinds of people.

[Anonymous]

I would start looking in March and be clear in your ad that you will be home and what is expected of the nanny. Also as pp's stated make sure your older child knows when nanny is there she is in charge. It might take you time to get used to having someone else there with you but do the best you can to stay out of the way and not run in every time you hear the children crying or having a tantrum it will be hard but it's crucial for structure.

[Anonymous]

Its great that you are offering full time hours, that will ace you a quality nanny.

I work for two work at home parents. The reason it works out is because they treat their day as though they were at the office. So they come out for meals or a glass of water but not much else. They smile as they pass through the house but do not stop to play. It took time for the kids to accept but not that we have a routine everything runs smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure. There is nothing wrong with the hours and it's a full time position.

Honestly, I'd pass it up due to the fact that you, the mother, were going to be home the whole time. It's hard to establish a routine and authority as a nanny if the mother is present especially during the "tantrum years".

That's a lie. You'd pass it up because you'd actually have to work if the mom was around to see that you're always on your phone and watching TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. There is nothing wrong with the hours and it's a full time position.

Honestly, I'd pass it up due to the fact that you, the mother, were going to be home the whole time. It's hard to establish a routine and authority as a nanny if the mother is present especially during the "tantrum years".

That's a lie. You'd pass it up because you'd actually have to work if the mom was around to see that you're always on your phone and watching TV.

You're clearly not a nanny.