First time mum - nanny advice Post Reply

[LillyJ]

Hi everyone,

I am due in April next year with my first and starting to think about childcare options for when I go back to work.

I am leaning towards a full time nanny because of both our jobs. I will probably go back to work after 9-10 months, meaning I’d need the nanny to start esy 2026. That feels ages away but can anyone advise when I realistically need to start looking for someone and getting them booked in? I have no idea how long in advance people get booked up!

Also, where is the best place to find a nanny?! I live in SW11.

Thanks
Lilly

[esbconsulting]

Hi Lilly,

Congratulations!

I am a 14+ year Norland Nanny and Maternity Nurse, now running my own Family Consultancy - ESB Consulting.

ESB can help in three different ways:
1) We offer nanny agency recommendations free of charge.
2) After an initial consultation, we write a job advert and share it with our network of hundreds of (Norland) Nannies.
3) Our full nanny search and advisory service (here). 

It is never too early to start planning.

Please do book a complimentary discovery call via our website.

[Mikeydon]

Lilly, how inspiring! You’re already planning to juggle full-time work and motherhood before your baby’s even arrived,talk about ambition! Don’t worry, childcare is a breeze; after all, it’s just about handing your newborn over to someone else for the majority of their waking hours while you work tirelessly to afford the privilege. And, of course, there’s no shortage of opinions from other parents who will gladly make you feel like you’re either neglecting your baby or your career,or both! Welcome to motherhood, where the guilt is free and never-ending.

[rosie.fc]

Norland have a scheme where newly qualified Nannie’s (Nqn) do a placement for a year. We’ve had NQNs for 4 years and they’ve been lovely and not as expensive as fully qualified Nannie’s but brilliant.

[Nims]

For a first time mum, I agree with the other posters that a Norland nanny is the safest route to take especially with a young baby. They are career nannies with the proper training behind them, and there are a lot of them here in London so they are highly networked. 
There is a pricing structure depending on the nanny's experience, so depending on your budget you can get a Newly Qualified Nanny (NQN) who has just completed the Norland 3-year course or a Fully Qualified Nanny (FQN) who has graduated from the college. Their rates go up with each year of experience they attain. So a nanny with 6 years experience will be a lot more expensive than a nanny with two years experience (which makes sense). They can either be live-in (which would keep your costs down) or live-out. The agency website has the pricing structure so you can familiarise yourself accordingly. 
Do contact the Norland Agency https://www.norland.ac.uk/norland-agency and have a chat with them about what suits you and your situation best. 
Note, NQNs get snapped up fast so there's no guarantee that you'll get one.

[replysell]

Hello Lilly, 
Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!
It’s great that you’re thinking ahead about childcare. Generally, it’s advisable to start looking for a nanny around 3-6 months before you need them. Since you plan to return to work in early 2026, starting your search in late 2025 would be ideal. Many nannies can get booked up quickly, so the earlier you start, the better. For finding a nanny in SW11, consider using reputable nanny agencies, local parenting groups on social media, and websites like Care.com or Nanny Lane. Additionally, word of mouth from friendsgoogle baseball or family can be very helpful. Remember to conduct thorough interviews and background checks to find the best fit for your family. Good luck with your search!
 

[sid_seal]

 Remember to conduct thorough interviews and background checks to find the best fit for your family. Good luck with your search!

To add to this, I would strongly recommend contacting the previous employers yourself even if you use an agency. Years ago I was contacted by an agency about a previous nanny; I mentioned a certain issue (nothing that would have made her unemployable, but one that potential employers needed to be aware of) and I got the clear impression that the lady from the agency brushed it off... so once you have a shortlist better to hear first-hand!
Good luck!