Mariah Carey is postponing plans to start a family with her husband Nick Cannon until she finds a break in her hectic schedule - because she doesn't want her baby to be raised by a nanny.

The star has been dogged by pregnancy rumours ever since she married the rapper/actor in 2008.

And although Carey admits she longs to start a family - she insists she just doesn't have time.

She tells Larry King, "Yes (I want to have children). But this particular moment, I mean this month or next month I'm not sure what I'm doing, my schedule is out of control. It's out of control, because I've never promoted a movie and an album at the same time.

"It would be the happiest thing in my life. But what I'm saying is right now, with this movie coming out and with the next few singles from the album and those things that I'm doing, I need to focus on that."

And Carey is adamant she won't have a baby until she can devote all her attention to her family. She adds, "I cannot do the having a child thing half way. I wouldn't just be like, 'Oh, I'm having a child. Yes. Let me get a nanny so I can give her the baby. You know, take the kid.' That doesn't work for me... I don't believe in it."