infant twins+3 y/o - successful childcare arrangements for 2 WOH parents? (cross-post)

[Anonymous]

Parents, have you had a successful experience with FT child care for twin infants + 3 y/o? Looking for advice for those who've BTDT about potential child care arrangements in the following situation (cross-post from general discussion forum):

We're expecting twins when our DS will just turn 3. DH and I work FT downtown, commuting from close-in MoCo. DS is currently in daycare downtown, but we're not thrilled with the place. Before we found out about the twins, we were thinking of moving him to a morning preschool closer to our house and getting an au pair.

With twins coming, a nanny with twin or share experience seems like the way to go. I can't imagine hauling a 3 yo and two babies to/from downtown daycare everyday!

But what to do about the 3 year old? If he goes to a preschool near our house, it is reasonable to ask a nanny to care for infant twins and a 3 year old every afternoon? Is it reasonable to ask the nanny to pick him up from preschool, or will that throw off the schedule with the twins? Does it matter if the preschool is w/in easy walking distance of our house? Or would we need to find another arrangement (maybe college student) to transport DS home from preschool. Or leave him in FT daycare?

What's reasonable to pay a nanny in this situation? We have a BR suite in the basement to do a live-in option.

Twins will be about 3-4 months old when I have to go back to work. DS currently naps in the afternoon from 1-3, but that may start dropping down by the time the twins are born.

Advice appreciated.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

bump.

I have similar questions about a nanny share with two toddlers currently and both mothers expecting.

[Anonymous]

2 toddlers and 2 infants? That seems very overwhelming.
What are the odds of both toddlers getting into the same preschool/daycare?

I had to do some digging, but I found the other thread:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/276274.page

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny that actually just started a job like this 4 weeks ago. The twins are 10 weeks old and they have a 2 1/2 year old daughter who is currently in daycare. The mom just started going back to work 2 days a week and will go back full-time in May. They plan on keeping the 2 1/2 year old in daycare until June and then taking her out so come June, I will have her as well as the twins (who will be 5 months). Come September, they plan on putting the 2 1/2 year old in a new daycare for at least part-time.

I have over 7 years of nanny experience and have cared for children these ages before so this isn't a lot for me. Yes, it definitely is hard..but you need someone who has the experience. If you can find someone who has a ton of experience with these ages and multiples, I don't see why you couldn't find someone to watch all 3.

I am not in DC but they are paying me $17/hr for just the babies and come June, they will be paying me $19/hr for all 3 kids and I will stay at that rate even when the 2 year old goes into daycare. These are also NET rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny that actually just started a job like this 4 weeks ago. The twins are 10 weeks old and they have a 2 1/2 year old daughter who is currently in daycare. The mom just started going back to work 2 days a week and will go back full-time in May. They plan on keeping the 2 1/2 year old in daycare until June and then taking her out so come June, I will have her as well as the twins (who will be 5 months). Come September, they plan on putting the 2 1/2 year old in a new daycare for at least part-time.

I have over 7 years of nanny experience and have cared for children these ages before so this isn't a lot for me. Yes, it definitely is hard..but you need someone who has the experience. If you can find someone who has a ton of experience with these ages and multiples, I don't see why you couldn't find someone to watch all 3.

I am not in DC but they are paying me $17/hr for just the babies and come June, they will be paying me $19/hr for all 3 kids and I will stay at that rate even when the 2 year old goes into daycare. These are also NET rates.

But the person who bumped the thread (2nd post) is in a share with two toddlers and each pregnant. Not the same situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny that actually just started a job like this 4 weeks ago. The twins are 10 weeks old and they have a 2 1/2 year old daughter who is currently in daycare. The mom just started going back to work 2 days a week and will go back full-time in May. They plan on keeping the 2 1/2 year old in daycare until June and then taking her out so come June, I will have her as well as the twins (who will be 5 months). Come September, they plan on putting the 2 1/2 year old in a new daycare for at least part-time.

I have over 7 years of nanny experience and have cared for children these ages before so this isn't a lot for me. Yes, it definitely is hard..but you need someone who has the experience. If you can find someone who has a ton of experience with these ages and multiples, I don't see why you couldn't find someone to watch all 3.

I am not in DC but they are paying me $17/hr for just the babies and come June, they will be paying me $19/hr for all 3 kids and I will stay at that rate even when the 2 year old goes into daycare. These are also NET rates.

But the person who bumped the thread (2nd post) is in a share with two toddlers and each pregnant. Not the same situation.

Okay, yes....but it will be like caring for twin infants and twin toddlers. Almost the same..just adding 1 more toddler.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I can't do basic math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Thanks. I can't do basic math.

No need to be snarky. I was just trying to help both PP's out. No one else had posted so I figured I could put my info out there as no one else had yet.

[Anonymous]

To the original poster:
This is a totally reasonable set up, once the twins are on a schedule. How long is your maternity leave?

For an example, if your maternity leave is two months, then I would have the nanny start about six weeks in. Keep your toddler in daycare until twins are about three months old. That gives you six weeks to just deal with the chaos of having two, two weeks overlapping with the nanny for her to learn your preferences and parenting style and for her to begin to see patterns in the way your children are sleeping.

The following month, the nanny's goal is to get the twins on a consistent and mutual sleep schedule. A nanny with infant/twin experience should be able to handle this task.

At 3 months, the toddler either stays all day with the nanny, or does half-day preschool. The nanny could probably manage all three, but preschool would likely be better for DC1, as it will be hard for the nanny go on fun outings with three until the twins are a bit bigger and drop to 2 naps each day. Even three mornings a week would mean that DC1 has some fun and exciting days mixed in with quieter days at home with the babies.

Having to pick up DC1 mid-day should be managable, provided you are open to that throwing off the twins' bedtime if it interupts afternoon nap. The closer the better, and walking distance would be perfect because if it does end up being during a naptime, nanny can just let them nap in the stroller en route, but be sure it's also walking distance for the toddler! If DC1 isn't having an essential nap or "rest time" in the mid-afternoon, then you might consider doing afternoon preschool. The typical nap schedule fof a young, three-nap-a-day infant will be ballpark 9-10, 1-2/3, and a short one around 4-5. If nanny had DC1 in the mornings, they could do cooking, art, games, imaginative play, etc. during morning nap, then all 3 could walk to a neighborhood park or play with toys, etc during the babies' longer wake time, preschool drop-off then afternoon nap/ housework while DC1 is awake and DC1 would be at school during the babies' more tired, demanding afternoon hours. But if DC1 still needs a daily nap, that might blow your bedtime routine to hell, so go with morning in that case!

[Anonymous]

I guess is too many children and the family is thinking doing nanny share ?? OMG better open a day care! If i am not wrong to take care more them 2 children as a nanny share the nanny has to have a day care license and a lot of experience ! Does parents today does not have consideration to ask the nanny to take care of that many children?? The most of the families who wants nanny share does not have the money to pay a decent salary to the nanny! The most of them don't even pay $20.00 per hr and some also ask for house work too! OMG!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny that actually just started a job like this 4 weeks ago. The twins are 10 weeks old and they have a 2 1/2 year old daughter who is currently in daycare. The mom just started going back to work 2 days a week and will go back full-time in May. They plan on keeping the 2 1/2 year old in daycare until June and then taking her out so come June, I will have her as well as the twins (who will be 5 months). Come September, they plan on putting the 2 1/2 year old in a new daycare for at least part-time.

I have over 7 years of nanny experience and have cared for children these ages before so this isn't a lot for me. Yes, it definitely is hard..but you need someone who has the experience. If you can find someone who has a ton of experience with these ages and multiples, I don't see why you couldn't find someone to watch all 3.

I am not in DC but they are paying me $17/hr for just the babies and come June, they will be paying me $19/hr for all 3 kids and I will stay at that rate even when the 2 year old goes into daycare. These are also NET rates.

But the person who bumped the thread (2nd post) is in a share with two toddlers and each pregnant. Not the same situation.

Okay, yes....but it will be like caring for twin infants and twin toddlers. Almost the same..just adding 1 more toddler.

I'm not the poster you're quoting- but 2 babies from two different families is VERY different than twins. Different families, different schedules, different parenting habits. They didn't come out having to share time/attention from day 1. It may not seem like much difference, but truly, it is.