I hate to tell you OP, but this sounds like you've been scammed.
The nanny seemed great, asked for a week pay and then is suddenly terribly ill on the first two days of work in a way that may not allow her to work, ever? You are now out a week's pay.

That is pretty low to take advantage of a new mom, but you need to fire the nanny and get your things back from her daughter. If the daughter doesn't give you your items back I'd report her to the police. Either way, report this case to care.com so this doesn't happen to anyone else.

For your baby, I agree with the previous suggestions to get a temporary nanny (try "Parents in a Pinch" as an example) until you can find someone permanent.

For your next nanny search I might suggest that you get a second opinion from your husband, mom, or a friend to reduce the probability of this happening again. That or if you can afford it use an agency so the candidates have accountability. Take your time and find someone with no red flags like this who you and your second opinion both trust. They are out there. I have a great nanny and there are clearly a lot great nannies who post to this site.

Sorry you had this experience, and I only hope you can at least learn from it. It will cost you some money but I am guessing if you can afford a nanny it will not bankrupt you. Spend enough money to do things right this time. Good luck back at work.

OP, I think people are being too hard on you. I would have let the pay advance request go too - I wouldn't have given it, but I don't think I would have let her go then, if my gut was telling me otherwise. (Of course, my gut thinks good of everyone, but that's another issue . . .

However, I agree with others that you do need to let her go now. I would just be worried about her health and ability to care for a newborn. What if something happened to her while she was working? An older child would be able to use the phone to call for help and not kill himself while he waited for it, but an infant is completely at the mercy of his caregiver. What if your nanny has another mini-stroke and passes out at 10 am one day? You might not know anything was wrong and your baby was alone until you got home that evening! Frankly, there is nothing that she or her doctor could say that would convince me to take this risk.

That said, I wouldn't add to the nanny's stress by letting her go while she's in the hospital. I agree with previous PPs who suggested asking her daughter for the parking pass and keys, to pass on to your "temp nanny." Then, when your nanny is out of the hospital, and tells you she's ready to start, gently tell her that you're just not comfortable given her fragile health and the demands of a newborn.

If you get no response from the daughter, wait till nanny's out of the hospital, ask to meet her at a Starbucks, buy her a coffee, let her go, and get your stuff back.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:OP sorry for all the "told you so" comments. they are not helpful at this point I realize. You are in a tough spot.
to your question, yes, I think you should cut your losses at this point BECAUSE this piles on top of the earlier issues and also because if she is sick enough to be in the ER then how will she be up for working for you near-term. It is too bad she is sick but you are in a critical spot w/ your own job and need someone NOW.

for a week or so while you interview (or longer if you can swing the expense to buy you time) I would pay through the nose for a nanny temp agency. It sucks and you may need to forfeit savings/vacation fund but you do not want to have to hire the first person who replies to your ad w/ a pulse. Most good nannies will be employed and so need to give notice even after they find out about your job.

+1

Also second the request for the items back because you'll need to give them to the emergency care back-up nanny - no need to talk about firing her now, wait and see what she says when she's released from the hospital and have that conversation then.

OP sorry for all the "told you so" comments. they are not helpful at this point I realize. You are in a tough spot.
to your question, yes, I think you should cut your losses at this point BECAUSE this piles on top of the earlier issues and also because if she is sick enough to be in the ER then how will she be up for working for you near-term. It is too bad she is sick but you are in a critical spot w/ your own job and need someone NOW.

for a week or so while you interview (or longer if you can swing the expense to buy you time) I would pay through the nose for a nanny temp agency. It sucks and you may need to forfeit savings/vacation fund but you do not want to have to hire the first person who replies to your ad w/ a pulse. Most good nannies will be employed and so need to give notice even after they find out about your job.

OP, you asked for our opinions on the nanny wanted weeks advance pay, and most of the comments told you it was a red flag and to find someone better. You choose not too, and now look.

You're obviously going to do what you want to do so why ask?

Oh - and re the keys/parking pass - request them immediately from the daughter. You can say that you'll need emergency care and have to have the spare set. No other explanation is necessary at the moment. If there is building management you might alert them - especially if they have the ability to deactivate a parking pass.

So sorry! This sounds unbelievably stressful.

Yes, you need another nanny immediately. Safety and reliability are critical for a nanny - you don't have either with this one and she's already been flaky. You don't owe her anything at this stage.

It's miserable now but be thankful you can be out of it and have it behind you quickly - better she show her true colors before anyone gets too invested in her.

Get emergency help if you can (there are agencies out there - it's expensive but hopefully it will be short term). Send a message to your neighborhood listserv asking if anyone has a nanny who can take an additional child for a couple of days, or if there's someone who can provide care for the short term (you never know - this is how I found my nanny and there are lots of grandmothers who might be happy to help), etc...

Good luck! I'm sorry!!

Why did you even hire someone who would ask for an advance? That's so wildly inappropriate!

Re-post your ad saying you need someone to start immediately, ask the daughter for the parking pass back but chalk it up as a loss.

New nanny

I know, I know. But I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt becasue she seemed to be so patient and kind with the kids.

I can't take the week off because I used all of my vacation the last few weeks of my leave. And we can't afford to skip paychecks at the moment.

sorry, but we told you so. asking a person who just hired you for a loan is a big red flag, something that a responsible professional would never do. you say there were also other last minutes issues. I do not understand your question about the keys. I assume you have your nanny home address and phone number. so if you terminate her, you simply contact her and ask her to mail or bring the stuff back to you. anyway, if she really had a stroke, I do not see how she can care for a baby full time from tomorrow

Our nanny had a sudden illness on the day I was supposed to return to work. It sucked, but she got better and now everything is fine. Can you take an additional week off work?

Too many things don't add up...repost the job. She may have been reliable in the past but she sure doesn't seem it now. If she cared about her job she would have called you or ha her daughter call..most likely she herself emailed you from care. How would her daughter know how to do that?? Just tell her you want the parking pass back..did she work at all? If so that's when you will give we the check. Or have her mail them.

I wouldn't fire her for being in the hospital. She could sue you for wrongful termination. I would wait until she is back to work and then tell her it's not working out. Fwiw, I'm a nanny. I remember your previous post and understand how frustrated you must be.

I received an email to our care.com posting that our nanny was in the ER about 30 minutes before she was suppose to be here for work.

Her daughter said she thought she had a mild stroke. We can't take any time off work (today is my second day back from maternity leave) and I'm wondering if we should just repost the job.

She was the nanny that asked for an advance before she started work (previous post) and a few other things have been back and forth and changed last minute with her as well.

If we do let her go how do I get our building keys and parking pass back?

Should I wait and see what happens with her at the doctor?