Nanny going on a 2 month vacation

[Anonymous]

Hi, just found out that our wonderful nanny is going on a 2 month long vacation/trip to visit her family. She has given me sufficient notice so I can find a replacement for that period. Has anyone dealt with this situation? How did you handle it? Did you put ads for a temporary nanny for that 2 month period? I have a toddler who attends half day preschool and a 1 year old at home. I’m nervous because my baby is only used to us and our nanny, and I’m afraid he’s not going to go to a new nanny but I have no choice, since my husband and I both work (from home). Please share any tips!

[Anonymous]

At least she is coming back!

[Anonymous]

Does she have a friend interested? Someone your kids already know that u could maybe double up with? I did this once. As a Nanny a friend went away and I watched her charge 3 days a week with mine for 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Yes, our Au pair went to visit her home country for 2.5 weeks. Fortunately it was over winter break for college kids so I got two college women to fill in here and there. Even with that help, I still needed to take a bit of time off. It was stressful for me to balance my job and insufficient childcare but it’s temporary!

[Anonymous]

Reach out to an agency. Many offer temp care.

[Anonymous]

I would prepare myself for her potentially not coming back.

[Anonymous]

two months is too long. I would not hold the job for her. Find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:two months is too long. I would not hold the job for her. Find a new nanny.

I hate to say it, but +1

I don't get to take a month off at my job! We had to have a temporary nanny for four weeks recently because our nanny had a very serious health issue, and it was a PITA. We had to pay $50 a day to the placement agency (we used White House Nannies, I highly recommend, we had already paid the $350 annual fee to use them), and that's on top of what you pay the temporary nanny, so it was an extra $250 a week for us, plus, they can't send the same nanny every day (though there were a couple we liked that we had several times) so at least once a week, you're spending a half hour showing a new person around, telling them the schedule, introducing them to the kids, etc, etc. And of course they have question during the day, so you're getting texts while you're working. Plus, with a chain of new nannies who are going from house to house, we got several more colds than we usually do. So it was expensive, time consuming, and stressful.

Now, maybe if it's the summer and you have a lot of notice, you can find one person who would take those two months of work. But I would not limit my search to people who wanted a temporary gig, and if I found someone I liked who wanted to be full time, that'd be my new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:two months is too long. I would not hold the job for her. Find a new nanny.

I hate to say it, but +1

I don't get to take a month off at my job! We had to have a temporary nanny for four weeks recently because our nanny had a very serious health issue, and it was a PITA. We had to pay $50 a day to the placement agency (we used White House Nannies, I highly recommend, we had already paid the $350 annual fee to use them), and that's on top of what you pay the temporary nanny, so it was an extra $250 a week for us, plus, they can't send the same nanny every day (though there were a couple we liked that we had several times) so at least once a week, you're spending a half hour showing a new person around, telling them the schedule, introducing them to the kids, etc, etc. And of course they have question during the day, so you're getting texts while you're working. Plus, with a chain of new nannies who are going from house to house, we got several more colds than we usually do. So it was expensive, time consuming, and stressful.

Now, maybe if it's the summer and you have a lot of notice, you can find one person who would take those two months of work. But I would not limit my search to people who wanted a temporary gig, and if I found someone I liked who wanted to be full time, that'd be my new nanny.

PP to add - and I'd be completely honest with the current nanny about this. "We can't commit to holding the position for you. We'll look for people who are interested in a temporary job, but that can be difficult to find. We'll need to be open to a new permanent nanny, and if that's the case, we won't have a job for you when you return, though obviously we'd be happy to serve as a reference as you look for something new."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, just found out that our wonderful nanny is going on a 2 month long vacation/trip to visit her family. She has given me sufficient notice so I can find a replacement for that period. Has anyone dealt with this situation? How did you handle it? Did you put ads for a temporary nanny for that 2 month period? I have a toddler who attends half day preschool and a 1 year old at home. I’m nervous because my baby is only used to us and our nanny, and I’m afraid he’s not going to go to a new nanny but I have no choice, since my husband and I both work (from home). Please share any tips!

Fingers crossed she comes back...

[Anonymous]

Did she mention it during the hiring process? How long has she been with you? If you only hired her a year or less ago, she should have told you about her plans. If she works longer then she probably was taking the job in good faith, not knowing she will be abandoning you for 2 months. To those who think nannies are totally disposable: they are not! good nannies are hard to come by, so if you like her OP, get a temp nanny who may be between the jobs, from you local listserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she mention it during the hiring process? How long has she been with you? If you only hired her a year or less ago, she should have told you about her plans. If she works longer then she probably was taking the job in good faith, not knowing she will be abandoning you for 2 months. To those who think nannies are totally disposable: they are not! good nannies are hard to come by, so if you like her OP, get a temp nanny who may be between the jobs, from you local listserve.

First you say that "good nannies are hard to come by"
and then you make it sound so easy to just get a nanny who is between jobs from a local list serve.

If "good nannies are hard to come by" how easy will it be to find a nanny that not only is "good" but also just happens to be between jobs when OP needs it, AND reads OP's local list serve?

[Anonymous]

That is exactly what I mean, You can only get a good nanny if she is between the jobs as the nannies usually find their next family by word of mouth. Their next job does not necessarily start on the day the previous job ends. Some have weeks between jobs and may be available. Parents post things like that on next door and community forums.

[Anonymous]

The only nannies I know who take a month or more vacation all at once are going to visit family overseas and they group their PTO from 1-3 years into one long time period. It's a PITA, but it works for them and they're clear with the families about how they prefer to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, our Au pair went to visit her home country for 2.5 weeks. Fortunately it was over winter break for college kids so I got two college women to fill in here and there. Even with that help, I still needed to take a bit of time off. It was stressful for me to balance my job and insufficient childcare but it’s temporary!

Ah, so sad that you actually had to take care of your own children.