Parents of twins/multiples how did you find childcare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, if neither parent is in a career where getting a clearance matters, this is when I would be willing to assume the risk of hiring someone like an overstayed au pair/undocumented immigrant off the books. Otherwise, the job offer just isn’t competitive.

We are so cannot do this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn’t an au pair appropriate for babies OP?! I think an au pair would be a great solution in your case.

Au pairs don't take care of 9-month-old twins for 35-40 hours a week. That's indentured servitude.

Yes, it’s too much work and responsibility for a young au pair. Maybe in another year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I live in a hcol area and never paid 25 an hour for 4 kids.
Are you open to non English speaking? I pay 20 an hour and for her transportation. We pay her taxes additionally. She gets sick time and vacation time and w2 every year.
It's possible to find but you may have to pay transportation, accept a live in etc.

Thank you. I am open to all options and I’m willing to do this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have twin 9 month olds and a kindergartener and are struggling to find quality childcare (just like many others,yes). We have been ghosted the day before the job started when we thought we found the perfect nanny with great references. Right now we are managing with a part time college student babysitter who has been just decent, grandparents who live out of town visits and tag teaming while working from home. The twins are sleep trained and on a schedule so not extraordinarily difficult anymore.

I’ve interviewed and spoken with so many people from neighborhood groups, FB and friend referrals. Many are not interested /experienced with multiples, some only were interested in talking about salary and avoided actual care related discussions, only want cash and many were former au pairs that overstayed. Tried the au pair route but quickly realized that it wouldn’t be appropriate for babies.

I’m not willing to do daycare until age 2. The local daycare centers that we have checked out are not allowing parents inside and do not have cameras therefore it’s a nonstarter for our family.

The kindergartener is in camp full time and will be going to school in the fall but we need full time help with the twins. Any suggestions or tips on finding full time care? We are an AA family living in NOVA. We can afford max $25/hr and 2 weeks PTO. Thanks

“Nonstarter” for your family? Wake up and smell the roses. You undoubtedly will need to make compromises. You might need to SAHM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op I live in a hcol area and never paid 25 an hour for 4 kids.
Are you open to non English speaking? I pay 20 an hour and for her transportation. We pay her taxes additionally. She gets sick time and vacation time and w2 every year.
It's possible to find but you may have to pay transportation, accept a live in etc.

Thank you. I am open to all options and I’m willing to do this

Expect it to take a lot of time and social networking. You will make mistakes. It is okay. Eventually you'll find a good fit for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL You sound like a headache already. 3 kids with 2 9-month-olds but you want to pay $25/hr and demand cameras?

I can tell that it wouldn't be worth it and I haven't even met you.

The problem is OP.

I’m sure she was very difficult with the new hire and she realized that and bailed. I can’t blame her.

I wasn’t difficult at all. I’m sure she just found a better job. I’ve had a nanny before and multiple babysitters who we are still in touch with. I realize that my rate isn’t high enough. No need to be rude.

[Anonymous]

I paid $15/ hour twins 12 years ago. Not sure what the going rate for twins, but perhaps some of the people on here know what it is or are nannies trying to drive up the hourly rate. We Did have a hard time finding someone who was reliable though. We still have her watch the kids on weekends on occasion - they enjoy each other’s company. We tried a variety of services and websites. Think what worked best was getting a reference from friends, neighbors or co-workers. Was mostly persistence and following your instincts on who would be a good fit. They will also tell yow what they are paying. I think it cost about the same as having two kids in daycare at the same time. Real advantage to have them come to you instead of putting kids in car and getting them to daycare at that age.

[Anonymous]

I think $25 per hour for 9 month old twins is reasonable. We pay $24 per hour for a nanny share ($12 per family) that started when the kids were 5 months and 10 months old. How is this that different? Easier probably, only have to deal with one set of parents. And we’re in DC proper. We were in another nanny share before that that was also $24 per hour (fell apart due to covid).

Now I agree that if you’re having trouble finding someone, sweetening your offer is always the way to go, whether that’s a pay increase, more vacation, making it clear that when the kindergartener is there, payment would increase, etc, or some combination of factors. But I think it’s ridiculous that people are jumping down your neck like you’re trying to pay poverty wages. I honestly think there are some (smart!) nannies who jump on all these types of threads to provide high numbers and thus push wages up in the city.

Also, I think the OP made it clear that she specifically didn’t want a DAYCARE that NEITHER had cameras NOR would let her step a toe in the building. Also, not an absurd request, though of course one she may need to reconsider if the nanny market is especially tight right now and she gets priced out. But jeez, there’s no evidence that she’s some high maintenance dilettante that’s gonna make her nanny agree to having cameras everywhere.

One other suggestion, OP - as I understand it, the nanny market softens a bit in mid-late August as kids start pre-K/kindergarten and some people decide they no longer need a nanny. So if you can hold off a bit, you may have more luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think $25 per hour for 9 month old twins is reasonable. We pay $24 per hour for a nanny share ($12 per family) that started when the kids were 5 months and 10 months old. How is this that different? Easier probably, only have to deal with one set of parents. And we’re in DC proper. We were in another nanny share before that that was also $24 per hour (fell apart due to covid).

Now I agree that if you’re having trouble finding someone, sweetening your offer is always the way to go, whether that’s a pay increase, more vacation, making it clear that when the kindergartener is there, payment would increase, etc, or some combination of factors. But I think it’s ridiculous that people are jumping down your neck like you’re trying to pay poverty wages. I honestly think there are some (smart!) nannies who jump on all these types of threads to provide high numbers and thus push wages up in the city.

Also, I think the OP made it clear that she specifically didn’t want a DAYCARE that NEITHER had cameras NOR would let her step a toe in the building. Also, not an absurd request, though of course one she may need to reconsider if the nanny market is especially tight right now and she gets priced out. But jeez, there’s no evidence that she’s some high maintenance dilettante that’s gonna make her nanny agree to having cameras everywhere.

One other suggestion, OP - as I understand it, the nanny market softens a bit in mid-late August as kids start pre-K/kindergarten and some people decide they no longer need a nanny. So if you can hold off a bit, you may have more luck.

There's no way I'd take a FT 40-hour a week nanny job in D.C. for two infants for under $2,000/mo. Are you paying healthcare? Is one of the families providing housing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think $25 per hour for 9 month old twins is reasonable. We pay $24 per hour for a nanny share ($12 per family) that started when the kids were 5 months and 10 months old. How is this that different? Easier probably, only have to deal with one set of parents. And we’re in DC proper. We were in another nanny share before that that was also $24 per hour (fell apart due to covid).

Now I agree that if you’re having trouble finding someone, sweetening your offer is always the way to go, whether that’s a pay increase, more vacation, making it clear that when the kindergartener is there, payment would increase, etc, or some combination of factors. But I think it’s ridiculous that people are jumping down your neck like you’re trying to pay poverty wages. I honestly think there are some (smart!) nannies who jump on all these types of threads to provide high numbers and thus push wages up in the city.

Also, I think the OP made it clear that she specifically didn’t want a DAYCARE that NEITHER had cameras NOR would let her step a toe in the building. Also, not an absurd request, though of course one she may need to reconsider if the nanny market is especially tight right now and she gets priced out. But jeez, there’s no evidence that she’s some high maintenance dilettante that’s gonna make her nanny agree to having cameras everywhere.

One other suggestion, OP - as I understand it, the nanny market softens a bit in mid-late August as kids start pre-K/kindergarten and some people decide they no longer need a nanny. So if you can hold off a bit, you may have more luck.

There's no way I'd take a FT 40-hour a week nanny job in D.C. for two infants for under $2,000/mo. Are you paying healthcare? Is one of the families providing housing?

PP here.

Your math is off. $24 per hour, full time, is over $4k a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I paid $15/ hour twins 12 years ago. Not sure what the going rate for twins, but perhaps some of the people on here know what it is or are nannies trying to drive up the hourly rate. We Did have a hard time finding someone who was reliable though. We still have her watch the kids on weekends on occasion - they enjoy each other’s company. We tried a variety of services and websites. Think what worked best was getting a reference from friends, neighbors or co-workers. Was mostly persistence and following your instincts on who would be a good fit. They will also tell yow what they are paying. I think it cost about the same as having two kids in daycare at the same time. Real advantage to have them come to you instead of putting kids in car and getting them to daycare at that age.

Ah this makes sense actually bc there’s no one that I know in this area that pays more than $27/hr. Even in my immediate neighborhood families with 3 kids pay $25/hr but the kids are older. Thanks for your insight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think $25 per hour for 9 month old twins is reasonable. We pay $24 per hour for a nanny share ($12 per family) that started when the kids were 5 months and 10 months old. How is this that different? Easier probably, only have to deal with one set of parents. And we’re in DC proper. We were in another nanny share before that that was also $24 per hour (fell apart due to covid).

Now I agree that if you’re having trouble finding someone, sweetening your offer is always the way to go, whether that’s a pay increase, more vacation, making it clear that when the kindergartener is there, payment would increase, etc, or some combination of factors. But I think it’s ridiculous that people are jumping down your neck like you’re trying to pay poverty wages. I honestly think there are some (smart!) nannies who jump on all these types of threads to provide high numbers and thus push wages up in the city.

Also, I think the OP made it clear that she specifically didn’t want a DAYCARE that NEITHER had cameras NOR would let her step a toe in the building. Also, not an absurd request, though of course one she may need to reconsider if the nanny market is especially tight right now and she gets priced out. But jeez, there’s no evidence that she’s some high maintenance dilettante that’s gonna make her nanny agree to having cameras everywhere.

One other suggestion, OP - as I understand it, the nanny market softens a bit in mid-late August as kids start pre-K/kindergarten and some people decide they no longer need a nanny. So if you can hold off a bit, you may have more luck.

There's no way I'd take a FT 40-hour a week nanny job in D.C. for two infants for under $2,000/mo. Are you paying healthcare? Is one of the families providing housing?

PP here.

Your math is off. $24 per hour, full time, is over $4k a month.

Oh you're right! It's per family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think $25 per hour for 9 month old twins is reasonable. We pay $24 per hour for a nanny share ($12 per family) that started when the kids were 5 months and 10 months old. How is this that different? Easier probably, only have to deal with one set of parents. And we’re in DC proper. We were in another nanny share before that that was also $24 per hour (fell apart due to covid).

Now I agree that if you’re having trouble finding someone, sweetening your offer is always the way to go, whether that’s a pay increase, more vacation, making it clear that when the kindergartener is there, payment would increase, etc, or some combination of factors. But I think it’s ridiculous that people are jumping down your neck like you’re trying to pay poverty wages. I honestly think there are some (smart!) nannies who jump on all these types of threads to provide high numbers and thus push wages up in the city.

Also, I think the OP made it clear that she specifically didn’t want a DAYCARE that NEITHER had cameras NOR would let her step a toe in the building. Also, not an absurd request, though of course one she may need to reconsider if the nanny market is especially tight right now and she gets priced out. But jeez, there’s no evidence that she’s some high maintenance dilettante that’s gonna make her nanny agree to having cameras everywhere.

One other suggestion, OP - as I understand it, the nanny market softens a bit in mid-late August as kids start pre-K/kindergarten and some people decide they no longer need a nanny. So if you can hold off a bit, you may have more luck.

Thanks for understanding! You get it ….I don’t understand where all the hate was coming from either. Nothing I said was outlandish IMO and it’s not minimum wage.
I will try waiting a few weeks to see if I get better options as well.

[Anonymous]

Some au pairs are a bit older (doesn’t the program go up to 25?)-why can’t you look for an older au pair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some au pairs are a bit older (doesn’t the program go up to 25?)-why can’t you look for an older au pair?

They are rare right now plus there are still travel bans for a lot of countries. Until travel opens up it’s almost impossible.