Having two nannies for three children

[Anonymous]

My DH is gone all week and only comes home on weekends. I am pregnant with my third child and have a two and 4.5 year old. It is becoming increasingly difficult to handle two little boys in the evenings and will only get worse. My two year old doesn't start school until September and I am due in May. After my maternity leave, I will be going back to work 9 to 5.

Has anyone had two nannies? I feel that I should let our current, much beloved nanny, sit in on the interviews since she will be working with the second nanny the most. Also, our current nanny is from a French-speaking country. If in my position, would you hire another french speaker as the second nanny? Our housekeeper speaks Spanish and I don't want her to feel like she is the odd man out but I would like the baby to speak French as well as my older kids.

[Anonymous]

Why can’t the current nanny continue with all three?

Just hire a mother’s helper for weeknights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t the current nanny continue with all three?

Just hire a mother’s helper for weeknights.

OP here. I think it is too much work for one nanny to do properly especially with doing pick up for the older boys and extending the hour in the evening. I am very lucky to be able to afford extra help.

[Anonymous]

How does your current nanny feel about this? I know I would feel hurt and offended if you wanted to bring in another nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t the current nanny continue with all three?

Just hire a mother’s helper for weeknights.

OP here. I think it is too much work for one nanny to do properly especially with doing pick up for the older boys and extending the hour in the evening. I am very lucky to be able to afford extra help.

Ask the nanny. Some of us like 3+, others don’t. If she doesn’t, give her the choice of working with the older two or the baby, hire someone for whichever position she doesn’t want. If she does, either fire her and hire two others so that she doesn’t become resentful or let her continue with all three.

There are tons of nannies who work with three under five. It’s not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does your current nanny feel about this? I know I would feel hurt and offended if you wanted to bring in another nanny.

OP here. Our current nanny is happy and relieved. She wants to stay the boys nanny.

[Anonymous]

When my husband was deployed, and I had 4: 6months, 2, 3.5, and 5, I had our ft nanny 8:30-5 (her regular hours), our housekeeper, who also watched the baby when the nanny was out with the older kids 7am-noon, and someone who came 3-7 (kids go to bed by 7).

It worked beautifully. My nanny likes having other people to talk to, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does your current nanny feel about this? I know I would feel hurt and offended if you wanted to bring in another nanny.

OP here. Our current nanny is happy and relieved. She wants to stay the boys nanny.

Perfect! Then hire someone to be the baby’s nanny. If they’re not going to be working together very much, there’s no reason for her to get the new nanny, but you may want to look for someone who speaks at least a little Spanish if she’ll be at home with the housekeeper so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does your current nanny feel about this? I know I would feel hurt and offended if you wanted to bring in another nanny.

OP here. Our current nanny is happy and relieved. She wants to stay the boys nanny.

Perfect! Then hire someone to be the baby’s nanny. If they’re not going to be working together very much, there’s no reason for her to get the new nanny, but you may want to look for someone who speaks at least a little Spanish if she’ll be at home with the housekeeper so much.

I think she's looking for someone to cover evenings, so overlap with the current nanny for part of the day, yes?

If not, that's what I think she should do!

If she works 9-5, she could have one nanny full time, 8-4 and a second nanny part time, 4-8 or 3-8 or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does your current nanny feel about this? I know I would feel hurt and offended if you wanted to bring in another nanny.

OP here. Our current nanny is happy and relieved. She wants to stay the boys nanny.

Perfect! Then hire someone to be the baby’s nanny. If they’re not going to be working together very much, there’s no reason for her to get the new nanny, but you may want to look for someone who speaks at least a little Spanish if she’ll be at home with the housekeeper so much.

I think she's looking for someone to cover evenings, so overlap with the current nanny for part of the day, yes?

If not, that's what I think she should do!

If she works 9-5, she could have one nanny full time, 8-4 and a second nanny part time, 4-8 or 3-8 or something.

Both are full time. Infant’s nanny works normal hours. Boys’ nanny works from pick up til the evening is done, available for school cancellation and sick days. Boys’ nanny gets dinner around for them and mom while mom feeds baby and gets baby ready for bed. Then boys’ turn to get ready while mom puts baby to bed. Then mom takes younger boy to bed while nanny reads to older boy. Then mom finishes with older boy. Easy peasy lemon squeezey as my current charges say. Nanny might be more hands on with bedtime for boys during baby’s first month or two, but then it should level out.

[Anonymous]

Sounds good. If she wants to be in on the hiring, sure, but if there's only a couple hours overlap, and they're working separately, probably not necessary.

If you really want the kids to speak French, and old nanny will only be there evenings, then new nanny needs to speak French, too.

[Anonymous]

God why do some of you have kids. Or continue to after struggling with the first 2? When my husband was in the navy for the first 6 years of our marriage we actively decided to wait until he got out so we wouldn’t deal with our kids playing musical caregivers

[Anonymous]

You can only afford 2?

[Anonymous]

Wow! Such bitter, jealous posters on this thread!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Such bitter, jealous posters on this thread!!

Nope. News flash: Most of us had kids because we want to spend time with them. No one is jealous of your uninvolved parenting style. Look into the effects neglect has on a child.