Nanny for 3 infants

[Anonymous]

It's not insane but will probably be difficult to come by. A nanny with triplet experience would be your best bet.

[Anonymous]

It isn't at all impossible OP.

Find your local multiples group. Ask for nannies with triplet experience.

Contact them and ask them what they think of your possible job/share opportunity. Ask them what they would charge.

You have ample time to do some research here.

This is a doable job for the right person, at the right compensation level. I think it's well worth exploring as at least one option to consider.

Don't count on much more useful information here though - find people w/ multiples experience, with whom you can speak in a less anonymous way, and you'll get a much better read on the possibilities.

[Anonymous]

15:14 needs to hang out a bit with triplet babies. She'll quickly change her tune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks - this is OP and this is useful. Sounds like this is NOT a good choice!

You are 100% right, OP. My best friend has triplets. Even though she wanted to take care of them herself when they were babies, she always had a nanny to help while her husband was gone during the day. She didn't want to have one (or two) of them always crying waiting to get fed or changed or put to sleep. Plus, she wanted to sometimes eat or use the restroom herself.

The 1:3 ratio in daycares is very hard on most babies. All you need to do is go and see. It's not pretty for these poor little babies.

[Anonymous]

Mom of twins and friend of mom of triplets here: here is why I think this is a bad idea.

1) You are going to be disappointed with the level of care one nanny is going to give your kid. Sometimes your baby won't get tended to when they need to be. Ask any mom of triplets and they'll tell you - there's often a baby who's crying and doesn't get their needs met right away. As a mom of twins you might be more tolerant of this, but as the mom of a singleton, I bet you won't be.

2) You are going to have to pay this person like $28 an hour. I don't think you will find someone who is capable of doing this for less than that. And you want someone capable.

3) Sharing with your sister may sound good, but it's going to open up a veritable mine field. Your nanny is going to not only have to navigate between family members in a business context.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has worked with triplets before, this sounds very challenging.

Ignoring the first year -- which will be difficult for diapers and bottles and naps and feeding -- what about when the babies are older and need activities?
Will you provide a vehicle that can hold three car seats?
Is your area incredibly walkable?
Will you provide a triplet stroller?

Is it impossible? No. But it will be very difficult to find someone willing to take on this job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of twins and friend of mom of triplets here: here is why I think this is a bad idea.

1) You are going to be disappointed with the level of care one nanny is going to give your kid. Sometimes your baby won't get tended to when they need to be. Ask any mom of triplets and they'll tell you - there's often a baby who's crying and doesn't get their needs met right away. As a mom of twins you might be more tolerant of this, but as the mom of a singleton, I bet you won't be.

2) You are going to have to pay this person like $28 an hour. I don't think you will find someone who is capable of doing this for less than that. And you want someone capable.

3) Sharing with your sister may sound good, but it's going to open up a veritable mine field. Your nanny is going to not only have to navigate between family members in a business context.

This is what I was thinking, but my expectation would be closer to $30/hour. Not only would it be 3 babies, but two sets of parents (and worse, sisters, so that when they disagree eventually, it might or might not turn acrimonious very quickly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has worked with triplets before, this sounds very challenging.

Ignoring the first year -- which will be difficult for diapers and bottles and naps and feeding -- what about when the babies are older and need activities?
Will you provide a vehicle that can hold three car seats?
Is your area incredibly walkable?
Will you provide a triplet stroller?

Is it impossible? No. But it will be very difficult to find someone willing to take on this job.

18.52 again. My thought was that it would actually be a lot of fun once the babies are about 12-18 months. I've worked with twins and triplets, and as long as the parents keep disagreements to themselves, at that age, it could work well. Once kids are 12 months+ they can start learning patience, so a small amount of waiting is actually good for them.

[Anonymous]

Would you want your baby to have to be second or third to another baby? This sounds like a potentially dangerous situation.
If you do it, split the costs 2/3 1/3. I'd want a professional nanny, and that would run you $25-$30/hour.

[Anonymous]

I've worked with triplets and it was ok. I would probably do it again! I charged $27/h

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've worked with triplets and it was ok. I would probably do it again! I charged $27/h

You only worked with one family; for a share, $29 or $30 sounds right.

[Anonymous]

While there are nannies out there who claim they can easily care for three infants, etc. I don't think even the most competent and experienced nanny can do so alone.

Reason being is that infants demand the most attention over any other aged children.

They need to be hand fed quite often, require frequent diaper changes and need to be comforted often as they have many needs that need to be met....Many almost immediately.

I think your best bet here would be for each of you to hire separate providers to ensure your children get the best care.

[Anonymous]

The nannies on this board are always very quick to shoot down shares like this. My personal opinion is that they are definitely tough, but not impossible.

I'm a nanny to triplets who are 3 years old. I started with them when they came home from the hospital. I've cared for 3 other sets of infant triplets in my career. Look for someone who has experience and enjoys working with multiples.

[Anonymous]

Come on people, I've cared for 4 sets of triplets in my career and there is not always "one baby crying" while you tend to another.

You have to be really organized and good at what you do. Always anticipating their needs and ready to go before they are starving, tired, etc.. 95% of my time with all of my triplets has been alone and I rarely have screaming babies. There are people like me who really enjoy caring for multiples, I know several of them myself who specialize in multiples and have even cared for quads, quints and sextuplets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come on people, I've cared for 4 sets of triplets in my career and there is not always "one baby crying" while you tend to another.

You have to be really organized and good at what you do. Always anticipating their needs and ready to go before they are starving, tired, etc.. 95% of my time with all of my triplets has been alone and I rarely have screaming babies. There are people like me who really enjoy caring for multiples, I know several of them myself who specialize in multiples and have even cared for quads, quints and sextuplets.

Perhaps your lack of experience with three babies who aren't all siblings, is your problem. I've worked with multiples, plus unrelated babies. You seem to not understand the significant difference. Go observe in a daycare where only one person is juggling three babies, especially if one of them is having her first day. It can easily take months to acclimate to such an environment.

Good that OP wants to reevaluate her options.
BTW, PP, what do you currently charge for infant multiples? How long do you work with the families?