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Nannies – expensive or cost-effective?
I have two children and work freelance, but the daily round trip to the child-minder for the baby, and nursery for the three year old, doesn’t leave me enough time (or energy) to fit much work in during the day. I fantasise about being able to leave the house in the morning, handing over my half-dressed, un-breakfasted children to a punctual, smiling nanny. So when I stumbled across The Nanny Handbook (Karen House and Louise Sheppard – Simon and Schuster £12.99) in my local bookshop, I thought I could at least put my fantasy to the test, and see if this is a realistic childcare option for someone like me. Karen House and Louise Sheppard are management consultants and, between them, they’ve employed ten nannies, so they ought to know what’s what.
What does a nanny cost?
Finance is, rightly, top of the list of things to consider. A recent survey by Nannytax, the nannies’ payroll service, showed that they’re expensive. While it’s absolutely right that whoever looks after your children should be paid a decent wage, you want to make sure your earnings after tax aren’t completely eclipsed by the cost of your childcare. The average salary for a full-time nanny in the Home Counties is nearly £18,000; in London this rises to £22,000 plus perks, which can mean a car or even membership of the local gym. Elsewhere, nannies can expect a salary of around £15,000.
Is it really a nanny you want?
A nanny becomes more cost-effective, the more children you have; but some people just aren’t cut out for employing someone who’s based in their house. My friend Helen, a barrister with two small daughters, has given her nanny notice and is going back to child minders and nurseries, because she can’t cope with someone doing things differently in her home. For reasons she can’t articulate, it’s fine for her children to be elsewhere watching television and eating crisps, but she can’t bear to have them doing it at home. If you suspect you’re a control freak, you must learn to delegate responsibility to your nanny, or you’re going to make everybody’s life miserable.
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