She's known for her use of the naughty step method, and has built a hugely successful career both in the UK and US as Supernanny - many parents have high regard for Jo Frost and her calm, common-sense approach to childcare.
But, while mums - and some hands-on dads - may watch Jo on TV or have read her books, having a real nanny is a very different story. Whether live-in or daily, a nanny is expensive, which is why they are traditionally the preserve of the well-off, such as those with high flying careers, or celebrities.
'Ordinary' parents typically will use cheaper childcare options such as childminders, babysitters, nursery, after school clubs - or if possible, rely on parents to help out. But it is possible that a nanny would need to be drafted in for the long term and step full time into a mother's role in the event of an untimely death. If so, it may only be possible to fund this through a life insurance policy. This is where having the right life insurance cover could be important.
If a mother dies, a working father will need a vast amount of help - and a live-in nanny may be essential, or he may need to pay a cleaner to help out around the house. And the situation is no different if a mother has chosen to be the main earner and a father stays at home - again if a spouse dies, giving up a career may not be an option.
This is not something any parent would want to think about, but factoring in these potential costs when obtaining life insurance quotes could be something for those taking out life cover to think about.
Life insurance is not just there to cover mortgage repayments or other living expenses. It can also provide for childcare - and if necessary, the cost of a nanny. Depending on the age of children, the cumulative cost of a nanny could be enormous, running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
London agency The Nanny Service says that the salary for a live-in nanny is £300-400 a week[1], whereas a live-out, or daily nanny would be paid around £450-550 a week. As an employer, you would also need to pay tax and National Insurance contributions, as well as potentially covering their living costs and paying for car insurance if they need to drive. Some employers also pay for a range of other insurance cover for their nannies, such as health, or travel insurance, depending on their duties.
Generally, a daily nanny will expect to work no more than 10 hours a day and be paid extra for one or two evenings babysitting a week.
A parent obviously needs to be very careful in choosing who they recruit. There are various childcare qualifications such as a CACHE NVQ Level 3, or degree in early childhood education. Equally important is the need to check out references - and there is of course also a need to think long and hard about who will be the right fit for your family.
Even if you choose to buy life insurance online, it should not be a quick decision. The cost of a nanny may not be something which springs to mind when obtaining a life insurance quotation or comparison, but it will be appropriate for some.
[1] http://www.nannyservice.co.uk/pages/permanent-nannies-temporary-nanny-part-time-nannies.html
This is an advertorial feature
