Rate for Nanny during Labor / Delivery

[Anonymous]

I am trying to work out child care arrangements for when baby no 2 arrives. Our first child is 2 and we have a fulltime nanny. Our nanny has generally said she is happy to be available when I go into labor and am in the hospital, but we haven't had a detailed conversation yet. How do people typically compensate nannies in these circumstances? Do I just pay her her regular rate ($26) plus overtime for the number of hours she is at our house? Do we agree a daily rate for the extra hours, in addition to the hourly rate she would get on a normal day?

Other info that may be relevant: I'm in MD and we pay on the books using a payroll service. There's a decent chance I end up having a c-section, in which case I'd be in the hospital for at least 3 days. A family member may be able to come for some of the time. We haven't discussed with our nanny whether she wants to stay on after my maternity leave ends which is also when her contract expires. We'd be happy for her to stay (my first child loves her and she has shown great judgment during COVID), but she has always looked after toddlers and older so she may not want to.

[Anonymous]

Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ what PP said. I would finalize if she’s going to stay or not bc if she’s not you’ll want to jump on finding someone new ASAP. As far as while you’re in the hospital, can’t your husband stay at night w/ the toddler? I’ve never understood these parents who insist the dh sleep at the hospital. I’d much prefer my dh is at home and well rested and less change for my older children. I have 4 w/ c-sections and never needed dh at the hospital overnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

This sounds right to me, assuming your 2 year old is a decent sleeper (ie, it would be unusual for him to be up in the middle of the night).

I would also say that some kind of bonus for the fact that the dates are unsure is in order. So, if you were doing a weekend away with your husband, this formula works. But are you also, essentially, asking her to be on call for several weeks? Because you don't know when you'll go into labor? I think some extra money is in order for that - if you're expecting her to be sober and reachable 24/7 and able to get to your house in less than an hour, there should be some compensation for that. Maybe a $200 on call fee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree w/ what PP said. I would finalize if she’s going to stay or not bc if she’s not you’ll want to jump on finding someone new ASAP. As far as while you’re in the hospital, can’t your husband stay at night w/ the toddler? I’ve never understood these parents who insist the dh sleep at the hospital. I’d much prefer my dh is at home and well rested and less change for my older children. I have 4 w/ c-sections and never needed dh at the hospital overnight.

Because of covid, my husband wasn't allowed to leave and come back. I gave birth this past summer. So either he comes for the birth and leaves and never comes back, or he's there the whole time. We opted to have him with me the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree w/ what PP said. I would finalize if she’s going to stay or not bc if she’s not you’ll want to jump on finding someone new ASAP. As far as while you’re in the hospital, can’t your husband stay at night w/ the toddler? I’ve never understood these parents who insist the dh sleep at the hospital. I’d much prefer my dh is at home and well rested and less change for my older children. I have 4 w/ c-sections and never needed dh at the hospital overnight.

She is definitely going to stay through my maternity leave. I'm not due for a couple months and I have 6 months of maternity leave, so I think I can wait to find another nanny at this point. If we need someone new I'll likely have to find them on maternity leave.

I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and there is no way I could have gotten the baby out of the basinet to nurse safely for the first 48 hours post c-section. I'm not even sure I was coherent enough to know the baby needed to nurse / hold the baby for the first 12 hours. So I think my husband needs to plan to spend at least 1 night in the hospital with me, but once I'm doing fine I'm happy to send him home even if he can't return. Currently, he would be allowed to return, but who knows with omicron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

This sounds right to me, assuming your 2 year old is a decent sleeper (ie, it would be unusual for him to be up in the middle of the night).

I would also say that some kind of bonus for the fact that the dates are unsure is in order. So, if you were doing a weekend away with your husband, this formula works. But are you also, essentially, asking her to be on call for several weeks? Because you don't know when you'll go into labor? I think some extra money is in order for that - if you're expecting her to be sober and reachable 24/7 and able to get to your house in less than an hour, there should be some compensation for that. Maybe a $200 on call fee?

Yes, kid is a good sleeper and rarely wakes up overnight. And thanks this is helpful, I hadn't thought about an on call fee but it seems reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

Absolutely not! IF the child sleeps through the night, an overnight fee applies for the 8 hours that the nanny is expected to sleep. Regular rate for all other hours. If your child won’t sleep through the night, hourly rate for the night.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny has a travel rate for overnights - $400 for a 24 hour period. So you wouldn’t pay your nanny for her usual day/hourly rate. And you can pay in cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

That is pitiful and insulting!!! $100 for 12 hours!!

Do not do this, OP. You will lose your nanny.

[Anonymous]

Ask your nanny for a “travel rate” for the hours you’re away. That $100 overnight quote is so very wrong. Pay her in cash.

[Anonymous]

I would be charging whatever my hourly rate is plus time and half for any hours over. I don’t have an “overnight” flat rate. I’m not accepting less because child is sleep. If I can’t go home, and am expected to watch at 24/7 than I expect to be paid 24/7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

That is pitiful and insulting!!! $100 for 12 hours!!

Do not do this, OP. You will lose your nanny.

+1
I have to agree with this!
This is less than minimum wage in certain areas.

I would think an agency would know better than this truthfully…..

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. I’ve always charged a flat overnight rate for sleeping hours, and overtime for the hours they’re awake. I e been a nanny for decades. It’s never been paid to me in cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I run a local nanny agency and happy to give some insight on normal overnight pay.

Typically, families pay the nanny regular hourly rate (and applicable OT) for all daytime hours work plus an overnight stipend for sleeping hours (the average is $100 per night).

So let's say your child sleeps 7pm-7am, that would be 12 hours of regular hourly rate for 7am-7pm plus $100 flat fee for 7pm-7am.

Hope that helps and congrats on baby 2!

No way would I accept $100 for 12 hours of being away from my home and my bed. You pay hourly fee and OT. Nannies are not slaves or indentured servants.