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

[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.

Agree that I would be worried she will quit abruptly and that she will prioritize her daughter.

I guess you could try it, but I'd be prepared for it to end suddenly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would try this! (BTW this is consistent with CA law - you never know who might be lurking 😉)

That’s true.

I am in CA. I guess childcare is just much pricier here than DC. I figured it would be the same. $550 is a deal to me for what we are getting.

Not iny experience. My sister in CA pays less for a nanny than I do in DC. Undocumented workers drive down wages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would try this! (BTW this is consistent with CA law - you never know who might be lurking 😉)

That’s true.

I am in CA. I guess childcare is just much pricier here than DC. I figured it would be the same. $550 is a deal to me for what we are getting.

Not iny experience. My sister in CA pays less for a nanny than I do in DC. Undocumented workers drive down wages.

Interesting perspective. I would say it’s exploitative, unscrupulous employers driving down those wages.

[Anonymous]

OP, I did this type of child care when my younger child was 1 and a half to about age 3. The difference was that it was for a friend, but it was probably for about the same reason - I wanted to earn a little extra money, but wasn't doing it FOR the money; I didn't want someone expecting anything but what I was doing for my own child, and I wasn't going to worry about providing back up care if I was sick, etc. It worked well; I cared for the other girl as if she was my own, and she is one of my daughter's closest friends even today (daughter's in college now).

[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.

Unreliability is probably the biggest risk. What if her own kid gets sick for more than a few days or has some kind of accident and she can't watch your kid anymore? A care center has multiple employees to pick up the slack, home day care can close unpredictably. OP should make sure she has a back-up plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's an insane amount of money for 3 days in her home, which is easy for her. Hard no if she's not willing to become licensed. For that amount she should be licensed.

Where do you live? We do a nanny share in our home and on our own we are paying $600 a week for about 40 hours.

There are cheaper options, there always are but is it worth it?

A nanny share is a different situation than this one. That also seems high for a share.

It’s $15 per hour per family.

If you consider that high for childcare I feel incredibly sorry for your nanny.

I'd never higher a nanny. And, I'd never do what OP is saying

Higher than what?

I’m going to assume you own a home daycare and are angry people prefer situations like this. Home daycares have a bad reputation for a reason. I’ve seen licensed centers (both home and traditional) that I wouldn’t even send a dog to.

There are good licensed centers and bad ones, same with home day cares but this is extremely high for 3 days of care in an unlicensed home.

She needs special homeowners and car insurance at a minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I mean $2,200 a month, most likely tax free, isn’t nothing. That is a pretty nice side hustle and it gives her kid a playmate as well.

Yes, she's doing it for the money - very good for 3 days of basic care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would try this! (BTW this is consistent with CA law - you never know who might be lurking 😉)

That’s true.

I am in CA. I guess childcare is just much pricier here than DC. I figured it would be the same. $550 is a deal to me for what we are getting.

Not iny experience. My sister in CA pays less for a nanny than I do in DC. Undocumented workers drive down wages.

It’s not undocumented wages that drive down wages, it’s people who believe it’s ok to underpay people because they aren’t documented.

Maybe your sister is just a shitty person?

[Anonymous]

I mean $2,200 a month, most likely tax free, isn’t nothing. That is a pretty nice side hustle and it gives her kid a playmate as well.

This. I am a mom who had an only in my 40s and if I were a SAHM, I would have been happy to have an arrangement where DC had a predictable consistent playdate with an amicable child, while simultaneously earning a significant income. Who knows, maybe she's using the 550/week to subsidize her own child care on her "off" days.

[Anonymous]

I’d take it! It doesn’t sound unsafe and I think the most likely issue is the other mom deciding she doesn’t want to deal with two toddlers after all but hopefully that’s a least some months childcare for you first. The price is not so low as to expect that something really sketchy is going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds good and reasonable for nanny share pricing. Even if they are wealthy she should still charge what she is worth.

+1

I would take it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

I’d absolutely do it. She wants a playmate for her kid and some pocket money. You get a loving mom, safe environment and friend for your kid. Win win.

Yes she might flake or it might fizzle out but that can happen with any childcare arrangement.

[Anonymous]

I would have accepted on the spot!

My sisters neighbor did this She was a godsend when my sis had to go back to work after only 3 months leave.

[Anonymous]

I did something like this, with someone I knew, thought I was both saving money and getting a good environment.

Never again. Be sure you have backup plans in case the woman's child is sick. In case the woman is sick. In case she has a family emergency. Make sure you have all expectations in writing beforehand. Do you pay when she cancels on you? Will she ever have to leave the house and drive your child somewhere?

Just make sure you think through every scenario and put this stuff in writing to make sure both parties are in agreement. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

It’s a fine deal but not a steal. Think of it as half of a nanny share but it should be less bc she gets the perks of being with her own child