New nanny & pregnancy

[Anonymous]

Good morning all,
Seeking advice on how best to proceed.
We hired a nanny relatively recently - on books, contract, paid sick leave etc. we planned for this being long term (kids going to Pre-K)
About a month into employment our nanny advised she is due with a baby in February. We are happy for her but obviously need to now look for care again knowing she will go on leave by January.

We are trying to figure out what best to do - finding care in the dead of winter will be hard.
Should we find someone else now while kids and nannies are still transitioning during school season?
Should we let our nanny stay on until late December January and then try to find a caregiver?
We are trying to balance our needs and also being good employers and caring about our nannies income.

[Anonymous]

Has your nanny stated that she plans to stay home with her baby? You may only have her off about a month.

[Anonymous]

She would like to take 6 weeks off and then wants to bring her infant to work for 2/3 months since she wants to breastfeed. That won’t work for us since our baby is still too young.

[Anonymous]

Your baby is too young for what?

[Anonymous]

Your are not explaining well what is the whole situation. Are you asking when it's a good time to look for someone else to replace it? Only temporary or how? Is she planning to bring her baby only for 3 months or she will be allowed to work along her baby always? How old are your kids? ince you said they are going to Pre-K. So do you still have a baby too? Since you said your baby is still so young?

[Anonymous]

I’m a nanny who’s been hired in January. I really don’t think it matters as people have babies and need nannies year round. A tutor or after school nanny is a different story as those you hire in the summer for September.

[Anonymous]

Do you have just one baby, OP? How old? That would definitely color my response. If you have a very young baby (and no older kids) I would say the baby hasn’t bonded with the nanny yet and it’s No big deal to switch now. The nanny absolutely should have told you that she was pregnant when interviewing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She would like to take 6 weeks off and then wants to bring her infant to work for 2/3 months since she wants to breastfeed. That won’t work for us since our baby is still too young.

if you otherwise like this nanny I would try and make it work. Nannies that do nanny shares can handle 2 babies, you nanny obviously thinks she can do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your are not explaining well what is the whole situation. Are you asking when it's a good time to look for someone else to replace it? Only temporary or how? Is she planning to bring her baby only for 3 months or she will be allowed to work along her baby always? How old are your kids? ince you said they are going to Pre-K. So do you still have a baby too? Since you said your baby is still so young?

I think OP might have meant she wanted a long-term nanny that stayed with them until the kids went to PreK.

Agree that situation is a little unclear. OP are you saying you do not want to employ this nanny past her due date because her bringing a baby doesn't work for you? Tough situation as nanny really shouldn't have to disclose a pregnancy while interviewing any more than the rest of us do, but if she wants to bring her baby to work, that is something that should have been discussed prior to hiring.

[Anonymous]

Oh also want to add: while there's certainly a big transition in the summer, I don't know that finding nannies will necessarily be a huge issue in January. Those who are unhappy with their positions may be sticking around for a December holiday bonus and then looking for a new job. And as long as the nanny can do the job well, it would be kind to let her work until January if she wants, since the thing that doesn't work for you (her bringing a newborn) is not an issue before then.

[Anonymous]

I would find someone new sooner rather than later to give your child time to bond .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would find someone new sooner rather than later to give your child time to bond .

+1. Your nanny was wrong not to disclose her pregnancy and her plans at hire. She should have found a family open to a share and OP should have found a committed nanny. Now both are going to be left scrambling.

[Anonymous]

I’d let her go now so you and nanny can both move on to suitable arrangements. It sucks she didn’t tell you. But don’t let your baby bond with her just to have her ripped away.

[Anonymous]

Everything had been spoke right in the interview. So you mean, your nanny didn't tell you that she was pregnant? She was not honest about it. Since now you are not sure and happy about the idea of her bringing her baby to work bcs maybe you would prefer a nanny who give all the %100 to your baby; and this very is respectful. Also maybe you might think that you agreed to pay a very fair rate to her taking care only for 1 baby. And now the situation with 2 babies it will be totally different. Your nanny should have told you this before get hired and said that she was planning to bring her baby to work. Or look straight for a Nanny-share arrangement with other family.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. Appreciate the input and insight and helpful feedback.

In addition to the above concerns we also have some tardiness and incredibly last minute sick leave or leaving after arriving (about 3/4 last minute events in 6 weeks) to consider. I cobbled together my maternity with employer leave, vacation and sick leave so I have nothing left anymore. So I need someone reliable & our nanny (while loving) isn’t working out to as reliable as needed. At this rate she will have exhausted 3.5 paid sick leave days in about 1.5 months of employment. We fronted the sick leave. I feel for our nanny but obviously can’t lose my job or endanger my job in the process.