Is this childcare situation strange or too good to be true?

[Anonymous]

I was seeking flexible part-time childcare for my 18-month-old and we looked into daycares, home care centers and nannies. We live in an area with a big shortage of childcare for infants and toddlers which is one of the major reasons I stopped working for a year and a half. Was offered a very flexible work from home position that I accepted.

I ideally really wanted DD out of the house as I’ve found it really hard to work if she’s home. But we were open to nannies.

I ran across a post on Facebook from a Mom with a similarity ages toddler looking to provide childcare in her home three days a week (TWTh). She posted pictures of their backyard, playroom and nursery and it looked like a Montessori school. Tons of age appropriate toys, mostly wooden or open ended. Giant backyard with little play set. It looked great.

Contacted Mom and met at her home. I was not expecting such a nice home in one of the fanciest neighborhoods in our town. The kids got along really well. I really liked the mom. She’s an older Mom (early 40s) and said her daughter would be their only and she really wanted her to have someone to socialize with but wasn’t ready for daycare or preschool. She also she missed nannying but wasn’t interested in working in other peoples homes anymore, especially with her own.

She made it clear she was not a home daycare and was not registered nor was she planning on becoming a home daycare. She said she’s looking for one child who is the same age as her DD to care for longer term. I checked and in our state it’s legal to care for one other families children in your home without needing to be registered as a home daycare.

She is only offering care three days a week but can offer longer days. I can get what I need to get done in three days so it really works out perfectly.

Here is where I feel like it’s too good to be true. She’s charging $550 a week for about 30 hours. Far cheaper that what I’ve found, aside from some really sketchy home daycares. This includes breakfast, lunch and snack. (She is basically one of those toddler chefs you see on Instagram, she showed me pictures of what she prepares for her DD and it’s way healthier then what I’d pack for her).

She gave me her resume, information about homeowners insurance and her references. I called a few previous families and they all had nothing but positive things to say about her. She’s CPR certified and all that good stuff.

I also ended up letting my curiosity get the best of me and was able to find out what her husband did for work. She said he worked outside the home and also travelers frequently as a software engineer. Well, he’s a very successful app developer and definitely has an income much much higher than either DH or I.

I took everything the mom said at value as to why she’s wanting to watch another child. But DH finds it a bit weird, he doesn’t think their family “needs” the $550 a month. But when I wasn’t working I really had a hard time not having my own income, so I can relate.

A few mom friends also think it’s too good to be true. But so far it’s our very best option and I have no reservations about seeing if it works out.

Would you try this? Does it raise any red flags?

(And no, we are not DC local so not worried she’s lurking the threads).

TIA

[Anonymous]

It definitely is not the norm but sounds like a bored SAHM looking to either put some of her own money away for a rainy day or just wants money independent of her husband.

I'd say go for it. I hate to this but I would bet some of your friends may be jealous that you found this opportunity and not them.

[Anonymous]

$550 a week or a month? You posted both.

I'd check references really carefully. But I would do that anyway. It could be great, but I would worry a little that she's doing this because she thinks it's fun, or because she's focused on the benefit to her own child, and that she might quit abruptly if she realizes it isn't that fun to have 2, or that she might prioritize her daughter over your child.

[Anonymous]

Sounds great to me. Maybe try it on a trial basis?

[Anonymous]

OMFG. Yes, I would try it.

She’s looking for a playmate for her daughter. She has to charge you *something*. I’m sure she came up with that number for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$550 a week or a month? You posted both.

I'd check references really carefully. But I would do that anyway. It could be great, but I would worry a little that she's doing this because she thinks it's fun, or because she's focused on the benefit to her own child, and that she might quit abruptly if she realizes it isn't that fun to have 2, or that she might prioritize her daughter over your child.

I imagine its a month because $18/hr for someone to watch your kid and theirs doesn't sound so low that people would be telling OP its too good to be true

[Anonymous]

Ask if she has CC cameras so you can check in during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$550 a week or a month? You posted both.

I'd check references really carefully. But I would do that anyway. It could be great, but I would worry a little that she's doing this because she thinks it's fun, or because she's focused on the benefit to her own child, and that she might quit abruptly if she realizes it isn't that fun to have 2, or that she might prioritize her daughter over your child.

A week. Most daycares for toddlers around here run about $800 a week. Granted they offer more hours but I really don’t need more than 30.

I’ve called three references but she offered a long list. She was a professional nanny for 15 years.

Yes, honestly my biggest concern is her deciding it’s not worth it but I guess that could happen with any nanny, even one in our home.

[Anonymous]

I could see someone doing this if they felt like their kid needed some socialization. And 18$ per hour seems normal-high for half of what is essentially a nanny share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$550 a week or a month? You posted both.

I'd check references really carefully. But I would do that anyway. It could be great, but I would worry a little that she's doing this because she thinks it's fun, or because she's focused on the benefit to her own child, and that she might quit abruptly if she realizes it isn't that fun to have 2, or that she might prioritize her daughter over your child.

A week. Most daycares for toddlers around here run about $800 a week. Granted they offer more hours but I really don’t need more than 30.

I’ve called three references but she offered a long list. She was a professional nanny for 15 years.

Yes, honestly my biggest concern is her deciding it’s not worth it but I guess that could happen with any nanny, even one in our home.

You are definitely over thinking this and your mom friends are definitely jealous and trying to discourage you because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$550 a week or a month? You posted both.

I'd check references really carefully. But I would do that anyway. It could be great, but I would worry a little that she's doing this because she thinks it's fun, or because she's focused on the benefit to her own child, and that she might quit abruptly if she realizes it isn't that fun to have 2, or that she might prioritize her daughter over your child.

I imagine its a month because $18/hr for someone to watch your kid and theirs doesn't sound so low that people would be telling OP its too good to be true

No, a week. Which believe it or not is several hundred dollars cheaper than most decent daycares locally (that don’t have openings anyways).

We didn’t speak to a single nanny offering less than $20-25 an hour and I know many see the perks of having the child in your home but it has not worked for me. I have friends with nannies paying four figured a week easily.

[Anonymous]

She's clearly not doing it for the money, but for her kid's benefit. I'd go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask if she has CC cameras so you can check in during the day.

I honestly feel like that’s a weird request. Asking for cameras to access their home?

Maybe if I ask for it in common areas? But I truly don’t want to offend her and lose the opportunity.

[Anonymous]

It seems fair and not too good to be true. I once used a woman who brought her child and there definitely should be a discount.

It is usually cheaper to drop off vs her coming to your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's clearly not doing it for the money, but for her kid's benefit. I'd go for it.

Yes, that’s what she essentially said but she did seem like she genuinely liked kids. DD seemed to like her. She is soft spoken and friendly.