Terri Ramsey Beavers The live-in nanny is a great idea, but it’s not the right solution for everyone. If you’re considering getting one, then you’re going to need to spend some time weighing up the pros and cons before making a decision.
Don’t forget that if you have a partner you need to make the decision together, having someone else share your home is a big commitment. If you make the decision for the wrong reasons it can place a huge strain on your relationship.
It’s also important to make sure they are appropriately qualified and that they are from a reputable firm offering nanny services.
The pros
There are plenty of positive sides to having a live-in nanny:
- Flexibility
When your nanny lives in the same building it’s much easier to be flexible regarding the hours they are available or when you have last-minute/urgent plans.
- Cost
A live-in nanny is generally cheaper than the non-live-in option, especially when you have more than one child that needs attention. They are also not going to be charging you extra because you got back late from an evening out.
- Convenience
Having a live-in nanny allows you to get on with things without having to worry if the nanny will arrive on time. When you don’t have a lot of time this can be a real bonus.
- Housekeeping
It’s quite common for a live-in nanny to help out with the housekeeping. However, you should never assume this will be the case, it’s always best to verify the situation first so as not to take advantage.
- Hand-picked Care
Perhaps one of the best reasons to hire a live-in nanny is that you get to pick the person looking after and spending so much time with your children.
Even after they’ve started working for you it’s easy to see how your children react when they’re around. That makes it easier to be certain you made the right choice, which is what is best for your child or children.
Don’t forget the pros for you can seem like a con to the nanny, make sure everyone knows what to expect before the live-in nanny starts work.
The Cons
But, you do need to consider the disadvantages as well, there are a few.
- Additional costs
You pay the nanny a set fee but in return, they can use all the electricity they need and you’ll have to feed them or provide them with food. This can add a substantial amount to your weekly bills.
- Use of vehicle
If the nanny is going to be ferrying your children around then it’s normal for them to have use of a vehicle. This means you’ll have to cover the cost of running the vehicle and you may not be able to use it yourself.
- Private space for the nanny
Every live-in nanny should have their own private space. However, it can be difficult to ensure that this space is really private for them after all, internal bedrooms are not normally soundproofed. You’ll also find that you lose some of the privacy and freedom in your own home, you’ll always have to think about the nanny being there.
- Boundaries can be hard to establish and maintain
Because the nanny is there most of the time it can be hard to separate them from family life or to prevent the children from going to them when they are off-duty. This can make the boundaries blurred and make it very difficult to keep a balanced and fair employer/employee relationship.
Having a live-in nanny can work, but you need to ensure you’re aware of all the advantages and disadvantages before you commit.