There is a wonderful nanny in our neighborhood who is looking for four hours every Saturday night. I have watched this woman with her charges away from home when no one is watching and she is engaged, loving and fun. She also has advanced CPR experience and is older/mature.
We would have to pay her every Saturday night whether we used her or not. Sometimes the last thing I want to do on a Saturday night is go out. However I know it’s important to have this time with DH and feel like a set time with excellent childcare would be so good for us. Has anyone done an arrangement like this? How did it work out for you? TIA |
Yes. That would be awesome. |
I would not because it’s not that hard for me to find Saturday night sitters when I need them and because I do not need an excellent nanny on weekend nights—just someone to serve frozen pizza and maybe play a game with the kids before they go to bed.
But if you like the idea and will go out every week, then sure. |
Nope. No way am I going pour 52 Saturday’s in a row. Plus, we are probably gone 8 Saturdays a year at least. |
This. We like to spend a lot of Saturday nights with our kids but when we want to go out for date night or to a party or something. we have never had trouble getting a sitter. And we usually go out about an hour and a half before my kids go to bed. I hire a teenager to sit and eat pizza with them, play a board game or watch a movie, make sure they brush their teeth, and then sit and text while the kids sleep. Don't need an excellent nanny who probably charges $20 or more per hour. Plenty of teenagers in my neighborhood charge $12 to $15. |
Could you split the month with another couple? Two Sat nights per month would be ideal for us. |
OP here. I should clarify that we have a 3.5 year old and a five month old. - teenage babysitter is not an option for us at these ages - I wouldn’t be able to relax. With this nanny I know I would. |
Do what works for your family; who cares what someone who uses a high schooler thinks!?! If you want quality care that you can feel comfortable with when you’re gone (emergencies do happen), then yes, guarantee her hours. |
If I could afford it, yes. |
I wouldn't want every Saturday a month but I would commit to two. I like the idea of splitting with another family. |
How often would you actually go out? I can’t see tossing money down the drain. I also don’t understand why this lady would even ask for this? Sounds money hungry |
You don’t understand why someone would want regular hours and predictable income at their job? Are you really that divorced from reality? OP, I think this sounds like something you’d use and enjoy. If you can afford it, go for it. |
If you're a SAHM and can afford it, go for it.
If you WOH, I think it would be hard to want to leave often enough to make it worth it. |
I would do this if I had a standing commitment for sat evening say volunteer work, gym or some other class I could take at the time etc. And then once or twice a month go on a date night instead. Waste of money IMO to pay sitter and not use the time. |
Is a guaranteed sitter worth $5200 a year to you? Only you know the answer to that. |