Nanny On The Piste

Name: Caroline Baldwin

Age: 22

Job: Nursery Nanny in a ski resort

Season: Dec - April

Pay: Around £60 per week inc. board, lodging and season's ski pass (most ski companies will hold some pay back and give it out as a bonus if you stick with them for the whole season).

Qualifications Needed: NNEB or equivalent.

Hours: 4 half days and 1 full day off per week, plus one night babysitting (Although just one day free a week is more usual).

Accomodation: Usually shared room with one or two other girls

I absolutely love ski-ing and working as a nursery nanny in a ski resort meant that I could ski 4 or 5 times a week. By the end of the season I was doing black runs without falling over. I actually started to look quite cool.

Last season I was in Courcheval and two years before I was in Chamonix. In between I work as a nanny in London. Ski companies usually interview you in person and give you a week's training when you get out there.

Our resort we had a great purpose-built nursery with toys, equipment, cots and video. There were six nannies and we cared for between 6 and 12 children aged from 4 months to 3 years. We ate lunch with the kids, so for six months I lived on a diet of fish fingers, chips, hot dogs and custard. Yuk!

I had the most fantastic social life because it was a small resort and we knew all the ski reps and guides. We tended to hang out in the same bar every evening where wine was only £1 a glass and had a fantastic parties like the James Bond Theme Night. I used to fall into bed every night at about 1am, The only down side was that girls do tend to outnumber boys 2 to 1!

I had the time of my life on resort and made some really good mates. We're all having a reunion at the Ski Show in Olympia and I'm actually going ski-ing with them for a week at Christmas. This time there's no work involved - it's a proper holiday and I'm going to have a blast.

Caroline's Tips

• When you meet the new families on Sunday try and get as much information as possible about the children who are going to nursery. It means the kids know who you are when they are left for the first time and are more relaxed (most new kids end up screaming their heads off on Monday morning).
• Have dry ski slope lessons before you go so you don't look a really wally on your first day.
• Buy a ski outfit in the UK, everything is so much more expensive out there.
• Don't pack high heels - you're guaranteed to break a leg.

Caroline went out with Ski Espirt (01252 618300) but other ski companies who employ nannies are:

Mark Warner (0870 848 0482)

Club Med (0700 258 2633)

Powder Byrne (020 8246 5300)

Crystal (0870 848 7000)

Have you had nannying job you'd like to tell us about? Email us on feedback@bestbear.co.uk.