What The Nanny Heard

Charlotte, Charlie, and Millie wrap up the Careers After Nannying series with Ishbel, the Scottish Surrogate.

While not a traditional “after nannying” career, Ishbel’s path is a fascinating one. Her varied roles include working with Twins Trust, where she supported families with quadruplets.

Ishbel speaks candidly about her lifelong love of babies and how even her childhood play was a little different — pregnancy always featured. She shares her positive experiences of pregnancy and birth, the influence of IVF in her work and friendships, and how knowing a surrogate personally sparked the realisation that she could help in a unique way.

She breaks down the UK’s archaic surrogacy laws, the potential complications they create, and how she navigated the views of friends, family, and her own household. Ishbel also discusses her non-negotiables, offers advice for anyone considering becoming — or using — a surrogate, and reflects on whether she’d do it again.

Podcast Links:
Scottish Surrogate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_scottish_surrogate/
Brilliant Beginnings: https://brilliantbeginnings.co.uk/

Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_nanny_network/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145513705160641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.yournannynetwork.co.uk/

YNN Disclaimer:The content on our site is provided for information only. Whilst we ensure that it is, as far as possible, correct, it is not intended to amount to legal or other advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that all advice and content provided on our site is legally valid, you should obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. You are permitted to download, modify and amend any documents that We offer for the purpose of you amending or adapting to suit your individual needs as necessary. This is provided to you on the basis that you accept full responsibility for any modifications or amendments made to the content or documents and your assessment of their suitability for the intended purpose. If you choose to rely on any information or materials provided, you do so at your own risk and we accept no liability for any consequences arising from such reliance. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any materials used or adapted are suitable for your particular circumstances. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.

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Charlotte, Charlie and Millie are diving into all things Mother’s Day.

Spoiler alert: Charlie confesses she’s firmly anti-craft and baking! But jokes aside, the conversation gets real. How involved should a nanny be when it comes to Mother’s Day? Where’s the line between thoughtful support and overstepping?

The ladies also explore how to navigate the day when families don’t fit the traditional “mum and dad” setup — especially in sensitive situations that require tact, awareness and emotional intelligence.

There are plenty of practical ideas across all budgets and ability levels, with honest advice on what’s genuinely worked (and what absolutely hasn’t). From handmade gifts that were a hit to the ones that flopped, nothing is off limits.

Is there such a thing as Nanny resentment over the lack of a “Nanny’s Day”? The team weighs in.

Charlotte’s DMs:
Do you think it is OK to have fake nails when working with babies?

Easy Salt Dough Recipe:
2 Cups of plain flour
1 Table salt
1 Warm water
Combine the salt and flour in a bowl. Add Water: Slowly add the warm water, stirring continuously until the mixture forms a dough. Knead: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5–10 minutes until it is smooth, pliable, and no longer sticky. Shape: Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters, or mold it by hand to create shapes. Add Holes: If making ornaments, use a straw or toothpick to make a hole for hanging. Oven: Bake on a lined baking sheet at a low temperature (100°C / 200°F–250°F) for 2–3 hours, or until solid. Air Dry: Allow to air dry for 1–2 days, depending on humidity. Decorate: Once completely cooled and hardened, paint with acrylic paints and seal with a varnish or PVA glue to preserve.

Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_nanny_network/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145513705160641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.yournannynetwork.co.uk/

YNN Disclaimer:The content on our site is provided for information only. Whilst we ensure that it is, as far as possible, correct, it is not intended to amount to legal or other advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that all advice and content provided on our site is legally valid, you should obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. You are permitted to download, modify and amend any documents that We offer for the purpose of you amending or adapting to suit your individual needs as necessary. This is provided to you on the basis that you accept full responsibility for any modifications or amendments made to the content or documents and your assessment of their suitability for the intended purpose. If you choose to rely on any information or materials provided, you do so at your own risk and we accept no liability for any consequences arising from such reliance. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any materials used or adapted are suitable for your particular circumstances. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.

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Charlotte and Charlie continue their Life After Nannying series with Rebecca, founder of The Parent’s Companion.

Rebecca shares her journey from nannying — a role she loved — to training as a maternity nurse around eight years ago, realising the pace and variety of the role suited her personality. She also reflects on taking a career break as a flight attendant with Air New Zealand, where she discovered how much she enjoyed supporting families in a completely different environment. Living in New Zealand further shaped her approach, as she saw how parents there are given ongoing coaching, guidance, and practical tools to support positive parenting — almost like a manual for raising children.

Rebecca explains that her unique approach is centred on empowering parents with the knowledge and confidence to be the best parents they can be, without becoming dependent on professional support. She speaks about the importance of clear boundaries, collaboration, consistency, and even giving parents “homework” — without which real change simply doesn’t stick.

The conversation also explores emotional coaching, different parenting styles, and how children respond far better to playfulness and humour. Rebecca highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and connection, reminding us that play is children’s work. She explains why transitions — like stopping play to leave for school — can be so challenging, and why scaffolding children through these moments is key to helping them move confidently into the next stage of their day.

Podcast Links:
The Parent’s Companion website: https://theparentscompanion.co.uk/
Rebecca’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparentscompanion/
Laura Markham: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/
The Explosive Child by Ross W Green: https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm

Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_nanny_network/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145513705160641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.yournannynetwork.co.uk/

YNN Disclaimer:The content on our site is provided for information only. Whilst we ensure that it is, as far as possible, correct, it is not intended to amount to legal or other advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that all advice and content provided on our site is legally valid, you should obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. You are permitted to download, modify and amend any documents that We offer for the purpose of you amending or adapting to suit your individual needs as necessary. This is provided to you on the basis that you accept full responsibility for any modifications or amendments made to the content or documents and your assessment of their suitability for the intended purpose. If you choose to rely on any information or materials provided, you do so at your own risk and we accept no liability for any consequences arising from such reliance. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any materials used or adapted are suitable for your particular circumstances. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.
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Charlotte, Charlie, and Millie sit down with Georgina, who has supported over 200 families, to talk through her journey from nanny to maternity nurse — and everything in between.

She speaks about the deep job satisfaction that comes from supporting new parents through the intense transition from couple to family of three. We discuss the realities of the role, the importance of empowering parents, and how teaching practical strategies — from establishing routines and winding techniques to knowing when to step back — helps families bond confidently with their new baby.

Georgina reflects on upskilling and training, sharing that while she didn’t feel she needed a course, formal learning helped cement her chosen career path. She speaks honestly about how much of her learning came from hands-on experience rather than the classroom. She’s clear that CPD is important, but acknowledges that fashions and fads in baby care are always evolving.

She also opens up about learning to keep an open mind and respect different parenting styles. Georgina offers practical advice on contracts, the pros and cons of nannying versus maternity nursing, the boundaries maternity nurses need to set, and the importance of peer support — including coffee mornings for maternity nurses.

Podcast Links:
Harmony at Home Maternity: https://harmonyathome.co.uk/childcare-services/maternity-services/
Georgina’s email:
[email protected]
Baby Em
https://www.babyem.co.uk/

Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_nanny_network/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145513705160641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.yournannynetwork.co.uk/

YNN Disclaimer:The content on our site is provided for information only. Whilst we ensure that it is, as far as possible, correct, it is not intended to amount to legal or other advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that all advice and content provided on our site is legally valid, you should obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. You are permitted to download, modify and amend any documents that We offer for the purpose of you amending or adapting to suit your individual needs as necessary. This is provided to you on the basis that you accept full responsibility for any modifications or amendments made to the content or documents and your assessment of their suitability for the intended purpose. If you choose to rely on any information or materials provided, you do so at your own risk and we accept no liability for any consequences arising from such reliance. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any materials used or adapted are suitable for your particular circumstances. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.

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Charlotte, Charlie and Millie chat to the wonderful Adeline, who has spent over 25 years in childcare and early years. She is now a postpartum doula and hypnobirthing practitioner, supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and those deeply transformative early weeks.

Adeline shares how her first role in London, working with a child with a serious illness, shaped her understanding of truly holistic care — supporting not just the child, but the whole family.

Becoming a mother herself brought everything full circle. With a husband who worked away, she began to reflect on how she could use her experience and knowledge differently. This led her to write and deliver courses, training others with a strong focus on practical, hands-on learning rather than screen-based teaching.

In a powerful and honest part of the conversation, Adeline speaks openly about experiencing postnatal rage — feeling dysregulated, burnt out, overwhelmed, shouting, and no longer recognising herself. She reflects on how Covid, in an unexpected way, arrived at the right time for her: creating space to pause, reset, and start again.

Adeline explains clearly what a doula is, what they do, and how the role differs from that of a maternity practitioner. At its heart, she describes doula work as “mothering the mother.”
The episode finishes with Adeline guiding us through hypnobirthing and the profound impact it can have on the birth experience.

Podcast Links:
New Parent Company: https://www.newparentcompany.com/
Adeline’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newparentcompany/

Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_nanny_network/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145513705160641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.yournannynetwork.co.uk/

YNN Disclaimer:The content on our site is provided for information only. Whilst we ensure that it is, as far as possible, correct, it is not intended to amount to legal or other advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that all advice and content provided on our site is legally valid, you should obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. You are permitted to download, modify and amend any documents that We offer for the purpose of you amending or adapting to suit your individual needs as necessary. This is provided to you on the basis that you accept full responsibility for any modifications or amendments made to the content or documents and your assessment of their suitability for the intended purpose. If you choose to rely on any information or materials provided, you do so at your own risk and we accept no liability for any consequences arising from such reliance. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any materials used or adapted are suitable for your particular circumstances. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.