Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

My dc are 15 months apart and ds is 1.5 weeks old. I had a c section and feel pretty well now. I have a nanny here, the nanny who watched dc#1 while I worked. I'll probably return to work at the end of the summer/early sept. the plan was to keep the nanny throughout the summer so I didn't need to search for so one again and since she gets along really great with dd and knows her schedule, etc.


Now that I'm home and recovering I feel like it's a waste of money. Do I need someone here full time for 3 months? Dh is ok with whatever I decide but it's just so much money! I know I will soon want to do all the mommy and me programs with dd that I don't get to do while working and leave ds home and start to work Out again, but shouldn't a little part time help be enough? The nanny keeps hinting she wants a raise and I know she wouldn't want to work part time, even just for 3 months- she needs to earn a living too. Wwyd? Sorry this is so long. I go back and forth on it a lot. She also cleans my house and does laundry but it's very expensive! I will only get 6 weeks paid leave.... She pretty much hangs out with dd all day and I want to enjoy her too! Only thing is I am exclusively nursing so baby I'd glued to me right now. I appreciate all your advice!...

Message edited 5/22/2012 8:35:25 AM.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

anyone??

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I think it's a waste of money...

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

If you really love your nanny I would keep her because three months will fly and then you will need to find someone you trust again. I would have her take care of your older DC while you can focus on the new baby. As for a raise, I would revisit that issue once you have returned to work. If you don't love your nanny, perhaps you can use this time to find a new one.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

we had our nanny the whole time i was home after havign my twins. i was nursing also but not exclusively - but technically more than a single

I liked having her because I could not pick up the older child after my c-section for a few weeks. It was also nice because I could take my older child out place. (i would just pump when needed). Or the nanny could take my older child some place.

At times it wasn't needed but i liked being busy plus it got the nanny used to my kids. i could leave all of them for short periods before i went back to work.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

You know I have wondered what I would do in this scenario if I got pregnant again too. Its hard because it is sort of a waste of money and it would be nice to have the quality time with just your two dc's. On the other hand, i find it super stressful finding a good nanny. I think if you really like her and you are super comfortable with her, you should hang on to her. Although, did you discuss with her whether or not she would consider part time even if it is just 6 weeks? Maybe she wouldn't mind the time off. I know everybody needs to take a living but on the same token, its rare that you can just take a month or two off.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

If you like her, hold on to her. If you don't let her go and look for someone else. But, don't forget it will take you a while to find someone new..... and you might have to hire them a few weeks before you go back to work depending on timing.

Maybe work out with her that she can have paid time off now, but will have to "repay" those hours via night time sitting once you are back at work.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Keep her. I had the same issue. I looked at it as more of an investment for peace of mind and future security. A good nanny is hard to find. Mine helped a lot with one child while I tended to or did activities with the other. Plus is she will be eventually watching both it gives her practice time while you are still around to see how she does.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Although it is a lot of money, if you like her, it is worth it to keep her. Perhaps you can ask her if she'd like to go on part time while you are on leave? Keep in mind that this is her job and I'm assuming that she relies on that income to live.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I would totally keep her...

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I think you have no choice but to keep her, because if she is awesome, someone else is going to snap her up quick and then you are going to have to hunt for a new nanny.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

We are in a similar situation- except I'll be having twins so I will need the help. However, she works 36 hours a week now and I think I'll only need her for 20 or so hours a week during mat leave. I was going to offer to either pay her for the hours worked or pay her the regular weekly pay and then she'll accumulate one floater day a week that she can work off when I go back to work. She is amazing and I CANNOT lose her!

Also- you should give her a raise when you go back as she's now watching 2 kids. Our nanny will be getting more when I go back.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

While it does stink to have to pay when you are home you should keep paying her even if you only tell her to come once or twice a week when you are home so you can have your alone time. Is there a way to guarantee she won't leave after your maternity leave?

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Keeping a nanny I love would be my first choice, if money is not a factor. Three months fly by. A nanny who cleans and DOES laundry is hard to beat, especially while recovering a section and nursing.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Keep the nanny!

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

Everyone has given you great advice above. Bottom line is if you like her and trust her, KEEP HER. Three months will fly by and IMO it is worth the $$. It is so hard to find trustworthy help these days.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I would keep her but during the times that you are home I'd ask her to help you with additional "chores" or see if she would work with you on the financial side (such as pulling back the hours/week for those months or lowering her rate considering you're home with them too.)

For ex., I could really use someone to help me clean out all three kids' closets, organize the summer/winter clothes in storage, get out the backyard toys from the garage/shed, etc. It's already huge that she does light housework and laundry but maybe she could help in other ways too.

An alternative might be to work only 4 days/week...you never know -- she may go for it. I know if I was a nanny and loved the family, I'd be OK with every Friday off in the summer =)

GL!

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I had the same situation, but I kept her and was so so thankful that I did. She did whatever she used to do with DS, so he wasn't misplaced and I focused on the baby. I was also BF so it was hard to leave the baby, but a few times I would nurse, then take my older one for a walk, etc. so that we could spend alone time together. I loved having her here and I also didn't want her to leave me (which I was afraid of also)

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I would totally keep her if you can afford it.

I was struggling watching 2 kids and needed help. It is also nice to be able to take turns taking the kids out. ie it is a bit difficult to take the older child to the pool with a newborn.

Re: Maternity leave and nanny-wwyd?

I was in the same situation when I had my second ds they were 14 months apart. We didn't want to lose the nanny at all since I was going back to work after 3 months.

We kept her. Yes it is an expense but if you like her just think if she wasn't available when you were ready. My nanny helped me organize things and other odds and ends so we didn't get in each others way. It is definately strange having someone around when you want to just hang with the kids.

Keep her if you love her