The Advantages of Nanny’s Little One Coming to Work
Nanny’s little one joining them at work is a hot topic. With good nursery places like hen’s teeth, nannies with children are struggling to find childcare solutions around their work. And sometimes that results in excellent nannies leaving the industry they love.
We’ve recently had quite a few nannies ask if they can take their little ones to work. Some families are open to this, but many close it down without much consideration. We think that’s a mistake!
It strikes me that this kind of arrangement has more than a few advantages. So, here’s a blog post to explore some of the benefits of a nanny’s little one joining them at work.
‘I know my little boy would bring even more to my work with families, but it’s hard to find families that see that value.’
Nanny V and her little boy of 18 months (too cute 🩵)
What better evidence of the nanny’s childcare experience?
Of course, you don’t need to be a mum or dad to be a good nanny. But equally, a nanny who is a parent has great first-hand experience of raising little ones.
👀 Real-world parenting insight — watching a nanny interact with their own child gives families a very honest window into how they parent. That’s powerful reassurance.
Nanny’s little one is a ready-made play partner
If you only have one child, a nanny with her own child may be a great playmate. Every day will be a play date and a chance to socialise and develop alongside another child.
It also broadens both children’s friendship circles. They’ll have a regular friend from a different nursery or school.
The developmental benefits go deeper than just company:
🤝 Reduced only-child loneliness — particularly relevant post-COVID, where many children missed early socialisation windows.
🧠 Language and communication development — children learn enormously from peer interaction, often more than from adult interaction alone.
🌱 Emotional development — learning to navigate sharing, compromise and conflict resolution with another child is hugely valuable at a young age, and happens naturally in this setting.
💡 Top tip: the strongest nanny + child relationships tend to be when the children are at a similar developmental stage
A more experienced nanny for a little less cost
Often, nannies will slightly discount their salary to share some of their childcare savings. So by being a little flexible, you’ll likely secure a nanny with skills that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Some might argue that the salary discount is due to the nanny not being 100% focused on the family’s child. But I don’t think this argument holds much value. An experienced nanny can look after more than one child; a second child doesn’t mean double the work, especially if ages are aligned.
Build a stronger bond with your nanny
Much of life is about give and take. And if you move a little to accommodate your nanny’s little one, you can be sure your nanny will move a whole lot more when you need a little flexibility.
Minor accommodations like this grow the relationship and the loyalty between the family and the nanny.
That said, the nanny’s little one has to fit in
Has this blog prompted you to consider a nanny with their child?
If yes, arranging a playdate as part of the interview process is advisable.
Think about the children’s age and natures. As with any new interaction, you’ll likely get the measure of the relationship quickly.
That way, you’ll be confident that nanny’s little one enhances your child’s day and overall happiness. And indeed, it works the other way around, too. But you can be sure that little people generally find a way to play well together.
And if they have a few lumps and bumps along the way, don’t worry. That’s life, and we all have to deal with little ups and downs now and again.
Yet another dynamic to new world nannying to explore
So, if you come across a nanny’s profile and they have a child they’d like to bring to work, don’t dismiss it immediately.
It might just bring some benefits to your family that you hadn’t considered. And you’ll undoubtedly foster a closer relationship with the wonderful nanny your family comes to rely on.
Want to read more?
Here’s a blog post that shares a handy checklist for bringing a new nanny into your home and family.
