Competition to secure a decent nanny has driven 80 per cent of working mothers to say that they would secretly approach the nanny of a friend or neighbour and offer her a better deal, a practice known as nanny nabbing. More than 65 per cent say that they would approach a nanny they liked the look of and try to lure her with extra pay and benefits.

Half of those with nannies (52 per cent) say that they fear that their nanny will be poached by another family.

The survey, of 2,000 working mothers with babies and young children, found considerable disappointment with nurseries, the most common form of paid child care. About one third (34 per cent) of those using day nurseries were dissatisfied with the care that their children received. However, at present, only 5 per cent of families can afford a nanny. Dissatisfaction with nurseries, coupled with changes in the labour market, has driven the demand, for English nannies in particular, to new heights.

Many can now name their price.

Kate Baker, who runs Abbeville Nannies in South London, said that British nannies are now heavily in demand. “Many first-time mums want native English speakers. Australian and New Zealand nannies are now only allowed to work for 12 months — and a year is not really long enough for a nanny job.

“Parents who already have English nannies are paying more and more to hang on to them. This shortage means that nanny nabbing is starting to get quite serious.”

Some English nannies earn £450 a week, with tax and national insurance paid on their behalf – an annual package of about £30,000.

Ms Baker said the market was dominated by highly qualified nannies from eastern Europe, but some mothers remained worried about the language barrier.

However, nannies bring their own problems, the survey revealed. More than half of mothers with nannies say their nanny is “better with my children than I am”. Eighty-six per cent of mothers worry that the nanny is closer to the children than she is, and 50 per cent say their nanny makes them feel inadequate.

Amazingly, 70 per cent of mothers with nannies had not made full checks on their employee, and only about 33 per cent had taken up the recommended two references.

THE COST OF CARE

£135 per week Childminder average

£144 outside London and

£199 London (approx £50 more for under-2s)

Nursery average:

£325 outside London and

£430 in London (four weeks paid holiday, free accommodation, meals)

Live-in nanny:

£390 outside London to £550 in London (four weeks paid holiday, use of family car, some meals)

Live-out nanny:

£23,000 full-time working mother’s average earnings

£10,150 part-time

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