How do I get better at finding and procuring childcare for my kid?
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Anonymous
Oh wooteedoo - a 4-year-old and 2 newborn twins for $26/hr. |
Anonymous
Most Kindergartners are 5--most districts (that I have known) require the child to be 5 by September 1...then you also have the whole "red shirting" factor. Regardless, the point is, since the single child was in kindergarten, he was not going to be around most of the day, AND the OP clarified later that they would pay an additional rate when he was there. So no, that poster was NOT looking for care for 3 kids at $26/hr. |
Anonymous
| Nanny here- The problem is pay and hours. If you want to pay $18-20/hr for full time care, it’s low but someone will do it for the full time hours. Part time or on call is always more. I’m a nanny in LA so our rates are higher, but for my full time family I charge $30/hr. For on calls on weekends or in the morning (my work kids are school age) I charge $35/hr because it’s not full time. If you only want hours here and there, you have to pay more unless it’s a 40hr a week job. Nannies are the most expensive form of childcare. I’d try to find a drop in home day care or up your pay. There’s a family who pays me $25/hr for sitting, but I will never be available for them weekends or prime nights (thurs, fri, sat) because of the pay. I’ll do a random Tuesday night or a morning because I’m not doing anything, but I won’t book them ahead due to the pay. |
Anonymous
Did I say she was looking for care for 3 kids for $26/hr? It literally says 'thought she could get away with $26/hr for twins + 2 weeks of paid vacation' |
Anonymous
You think McDonald’s is low stress!? |
Anonymous
A lot less than being a nanny! |
Anonymous
So, $20 is not a "really good rate." It's just a totally average rate. Also, if you only need a summer nanny you want either a teacher who wants to earn extra money in the summer or a college student. Use your neighborhood list-serve around April/May to say that you'll need a nanny from this date to that date, you'll pay $21 an hour plus transportation costs and there's no housework aside from cleaning up toys and child's food. Lay it all out there. |
Anonymous
It’s as stressful as you make it. I worked at a Burger King in high school and was stressed until I realized that I didn’t care if I got fired and that almost nothing would actually get me fired. If you want to be a go getter and make assistant manager for that extra fifteen cents an hour, it’s stressful, but that’s on you |
Anonymous
There is truth to this. My share is with a longtime coworker at the same job level. And our nanny goes to my church. |
Anonymous
+1 I'm terrified of having other individuals children's lives in my hands. Terrified. I can't even do carpooling with someone else. And yes - I've managed to set up my schedule that it doesn't affect me negatively but still its a real fear. Would having to put out 8 McDonald's orders in 10 minutes be a pain? Sure. But you mess up someone's burger, you just make a new one in a minute. You can't do that with a child and you certainly will be facing financial, legal, and criminal consequences otherwise. The other thing that many people don't consider is that legal daycares have extremely expensive liability insurance and for good reason. |
Anonymous
This. In retail and fast food all the stress and accountability Is on the managers the way they operate . If you don’t want that you can coast |
Anonymous
| That's why no one should apply for a nanny job unless they worked in childcare for years and years, and so they are not so stressed about responsibity. If you worked in a daycare center for 10 yrs, you probably have been through the most of possible situations and so you can handle nannying one-two children pretty well. |
Anonymous
| This post and all the responses were very helpful for me. I'm in the same predicament trying to find after school care for my boys who are in elementary school. Offering $22/hour. Main responsibility is driving them to activities, no housework. But it all comes down to pay and perhaps I'm not offering enough for the hourly rate as it's only 15-20 hours per week. I simply can't offer more hours as the kids are in school the rest of the time! |
Anonymous
In order for it to be worth it, the nanny likely has a weekly number to be able to meet her bills. Most live-out nannies need at least $800/week, so backtrack from there. if you don't want to pay $40/hour, think about having them come an hour earlier and meal prep, start laundry and get snacks and activities around. |