Take a temporary nanny on holiday to help with the kids

Written by Sally Beck

Now, I really don’t know how to feel about taking a nanny on holiday to look after the kids. I suspect you’ll only be able to afford it if you work fulltime, or if you or your husband are loaded, as you pay travel, accommodation and food costs on top of the fees. And surely holidays are a fantastic bonding time if you don’t get to see your children much during the week?

However, if you think that holiday clubs and creches make the holiday for your children, and worry because they’re not always what they’re cracked up to be, or there’s a big age gap between older and younger siblings, or you have a huge brood, a nanny could be a great idea. Plus, there’s someone to babysit!

Whichever way you feel, 21-year-old Michaela Drake, a Young Entrepreneur finalist, has set up a temporary holiday nannying agency which caters for families who want to take help along. She runs it with her mother who gives a parent’s perspective to the business.
 Having worked as a temporary nanny during her university holidays, Michaela, who completed a BSc at Sheffield University says that: “Nannies are the key to a fun and relaxing holiday for the whole family.

“They can help by playing, reading stories, entertaining children on the journey, or simply wiping sticky fingers and putting on suncream. They are there as an extra pair of hands, and eyes, and for babysitting when needed.”

All nannies are personally vetted and the agency takes pride in matching the right nanny to the right family.

There are three nanny types, and a three-tier price system. The cheapest is a student nanny who costs £270 per week, a qualified nanny is £390 per week or you can hire a teacher who can help with schoolwork, languages or swimming for £485 per week. The prices are based on 42 work hours per eight day week and 12 babysitting hours, however the agency say they’re flexible and can tailor to your requirements. There’s a cost calculator on the website to help you work out prices. Nanny’s are entitled to one day off - not a travel day obviously - per week.

www.mytravellingnanny.co.uk call 020 8133 3126, or email: info@mytravellingnanny.co.uk