Night nurse

Do you sometimes feel frustrated at not being able to take a holiday when you want to? Or are you keen to get home for longer than just Christmas day this year, or to earn some extra cash?

Experienced nannies or maternity nurses looking for more flexibility in their lives could consider signing up to an agency such as Night Nannies, whose main clients want help with a newborn baby - but not 24 hours a day, like a maternity nurse.

The agency was founded 18 months ago by Anastasia Baker, then a TV journalist who was struggling with lack of sleep after the birth of her second child, Alexander. At the time, her daughter Amelia was 21 months old and, as she says, 'I was desperate to find an experienced nanny who would come two or three nights a week to help me out. All I wanted was the occasional full night's sleep and then I knew I could manage anything.' The agency had also planned to provide nannies for parents needing to go away at night, but there has proved to be less demand for this than anticipated. Most clients are looking for relief from the relentless grind of waking up several times, night after night, to care for a new baby while trying to work and do everything else. And if they take an evening out they don't want to have to rush back for a babysitter or get up too early the next day.