If you have 2 close in age under 3, how did you decide nanny or daycare?

[Anonymous]

I had a nanny with DS1 for about 3 months. I go sick of the employment issues. I didn't want to have run and play catch-up if she called in sick. We switched to a high quality child-care center and never locked back. You have none of the employment issues and none of the sick time issues. If a caretaker calls in sick or has a problem, it's not the parents' problem. It's the center's problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, our older child did preschool five mornings a week, at a preschool near our house (walkable). Share-child was at our house with the younger one three days/week (but a five-day share would work fine too). Nanny had a double stroller with a buggy board and walked DC#1 to preschool each morning, then took the little ones to a playground (or back home in bad weather). At noon she would take them back to pick up #1, return home, give them lunch, and put them down for naps.

If you do not have a preschool nearby then yes, nanny would be driving three kids to/from preschool - but I don't think that is a big deal (assuming it is a quick drive). As the little ones get a bit older, she will want to be out with them anyway, e.g. at storytimes, playgrounds, etc.

We kept this arrangement until our older one was in first grade and the younger ones 3yo. At that point we decided our 3yo would do well in all-day preschool. It was nice to have him home with his share-child friend and his older brother until then.

I am interested in setting up an arrangement like this for my two kids, plus a share child. May I ask how you did the math on the nanny's hourly wage? How much per family for the share per hour and then how much you added for the older child per hour the older child joined the share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

[Anonymous]

We went with a center for almost the same reason. People in our area who were poor had baby sitters. People whose parents had money could afford a fancier daycare center with a more structured curriculum. I went with a daycare because I had baby sitters as a child, and I was always bored. I wished I could've had the classes and other activities other kids had who went to centers.

This is a good point. Do Nannies (in general) really try to keep kids entertained and active? Just asking because it is hard to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We went with a center for almost the same reason. People in our area who were poor had baby sitters. People whose parents had money could afford a fancier daycare center with a more structured curriculum. I went with a daycare because I had baby sitters as a child, and I was always bored. I wished I could've had the classes and other activities other kids had who went to centers.

This is a good point. Do Nannies (in general) really try to keep kids entertained and active? Just asking because it is hard to do.

Some do, some don't. The issue for us has been that it is hard to judge this from an interview or from observed interactions. how do you really know what goes on at the park etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The salary for the nanny is for 36 hours per week. So, 20 per hour for that many hours. How is that shitty?

Umm, are you paying taxes, unemployment, etc in addition to that? If so, your total is probably significantly more than $3k/month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The salary for the nanny is for 36 hours per week. So, 20 per hour for that many hours. How is that shitty?

Umm, are you paying taxes, unemployment, etc in addition to that? If so, your total is probably significantly more than $3k/month.

We would be paying all of that, I did not factor it in to the monthly, but it isn't really significantly more per month. I am not going to argue with you; the bottom line is that $20 an hour is reasonable for a nanny in this area. I am sure your childcare is way more expensive than mine. You win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Must be nice to be able to work less than full time. For those of us who do work a full 40 hours, plus commute, 36 hour weeks are not really an option.

For us, it would have been a stretch to be able to afford a nanny. We both work 40 hours. It's between 25-45 minutes commute each way so rounding up, it's 1.5 hours commute each day. That's 47.5 hours. Since by law, you must pay time and a half for any hours over 40, that's a minimum of 768.75 per week in wages alone. Add in 7.35% FICA and you're up to $825 per week or $43K per year. Conversely we have our twins in a very good daycare center and it costs us $33.5K for the first two years and then went down to $28.5K after age 2 when the rates when down. Our daycare is usually only closed 3 extra teacher training days per year vs the 5-10 days of paid leave we would have had to offer a nanny. And when we actually advertised and interviewed, we were not getting the best respondents to our ads at the $15 rate. The best candidates wanted more than $15 or wanted some extra perk.

This. I need 50 hours with my 40 hr job in DC. Don't most people have commutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must be nice to be able to work less than full time. For those of us who do work a full 40 hours, plus commute, 36 hour weeks are not really an option.

For us, it would have been a stretch to be able to afford a nanny. We both work 40 hours. It's between 25-45 minutes commute each way so rounding up, it's 1.5 hours commute each day. That's 47.5 hours. Since by law, you must pay time and a half for any hours over 40, that's a minimum of 768.75 per week in wages alone. Add in 7.35% FICA and you're up to $825 per week or $43K per year. Conversely we have our twins in a very good daycare center and it costs us $33.5K for the first two years and then went down to $28.5K after age 2 when the rates when down. Our daycare is usually only closed 3 extra teacher training days per year vs the 5-10 days of paid leave we would have had to offer a nanny. And when we actually advertised and interviewed, we were not getting the best respondents to our ads at the $15 rate. The best candidates wanted more than $15 or wanted some extra perk.

This. I need 50 hours with my 40 hr job in DC. Don't most people have commutes?

This is OP -- I am on a 80% schedule, so figure about 32 hours plus an hour commute every day for four days (1.5 for both ways, lets say) so, 38 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must be nice to be able to work less than full time. For those of us who do work a full 40 hours, plus commute, 36 hour weeks are not really an option.

For us, it would have been a stretch to be able to afford a nanny. We both work 40 hours. It's between 25-45 minutes commute each way so rounding up, it's 1.5 hours commute each day. That's 47.5 hours. Since by law, you must pay time and a half for any hours over 40, that's a minimum of 768.75 per week in wages alone. Add in 7.35% FICA and you're up to $825 per week or $43K per year. Conversely we have our twins in a very good daycare center and it costs us $33.5K for the first two years and then went down to $28.5K after age 2 when the rates when down. Our daycare is usually only closed 3 extra teacher training days per year vs the 5-10 days of paid leave we would have had to offer a nanny. And when we actually advertised and interviewed, we were not getting the best respondents to our ads at the $15 rate. The best candidates wanted more than $15 or wanted some extra perk.

This. I need 50 hours with my 40 hr job in DC. Don't most people have commutes?

DH's currently on a compressed scheduled with every other Friday off. I'm arranging to have the same after maternity leave and will alternate Fridays with DH. We also are staggering our schedules (one 7-4:30, one 9-6:30) so we only need childcare from 8 - 5:30 M-Th so that's less than 40 hrs/wk for the nanny.

[Anonymous]

We decided to go with a nanny and when the kids reached three we did nanny and preschool. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, just what works for your family. We decided to go the nanny route because I had a stay at home mom growing up and I wanted to replicate that as much as possible. Morning's are relaxing because we can goof off since we aren't rushing out the door and they can come home after school and chill. That said, it is very expensive once you add in private preschool, yearly raises, taxes, etc.

[Anonymous]

I did nanny as I felt it was important for the kids to have a natural following of when they wanted to eat, when they wanted to nap etc rather than a schedule at a preschool. My children's nap times evolved over time so for instance my son at age 2 started to take a nap later and later in the day, and it eventually petered off. It would have been harder to let this natural progression happen in a daycare. I also liked that it meant they had more one on one attention from a single caregiver whose only focus was my children. I liked the convenience of them already being home when I got in. I travel for my job, so the nanny has worked out very well for us in that regard as well. She allows us a great deal of flexibility, and I have someone who knows my children day in and day out super well. They view her as a member of the family and have a real bond with her. Overall, I think if it is in your budget, you will find a nanny to be worth it. If it is not in your budget, then there are many fine and loving day cares out there too.

[Anonymous]

We faced the same issue, but chose Nanny because she would be able to watch kids when they were sick. It also made it easier to get out of the house and not have to get the kids ready. I think it was easier on the kids too. A nanny also gives your kids tremendous love and that love continues even after they aren't your nanny anymore. The only negative was that you have to go thru that getting used to each other period.