Is this really true?

[Anonymous]

I need to ask around because I just can't believe the things I see on care.com and I am not sure if these nannies are too entitled and got a lot of nerve or am i so out of touch.

I am a nanny myself and I live in Bowie and I am in need of care for my own child and I was hoping to find a nanny share or a stay at home mother to care for my child at their home and this is the only thing I see on care.com. Stay at home mom ads about them looking for a child to care from their home while they watch their own child and they charge between $15-$20 per hour--- Let me repeat and spell it out-- The SAHM are at the comfort of their home, they do not need to use their car, no gas either, no time to commute, the child will be dropped off at the comfort of her own home while she watches her own child and they are charging $15-$20/hour. Is this even realistic?

I get paid $18/hour but I don't take my child to work and have to pay for my child's care which is my responsibility of course, I use my own car (wear and tear), gas, I go to THEIR home and drive the kids to wherever they got to go. The parents go to work without having to worry about anything because I am coming to THEM.

Can someone please fill me in? because if that is the standard rate then I might as well quit my job and save all the hours I spent on commuting daily between going to work and dropping my child off at his sitter and picking up, save on gas ($100 weekly), plus saving on childcare, S!&H--- I will be at the comfort of my very own house caring for kids that are dropped off by their parents, and save all this money and still get paid what I get paid now.

[Anonymous]

Yeah that is ridiculous. The only way I'd provide that much money is if the stay at home mother was a former teacher with a college education in childcare who will be providing all the food, diapers, etc. She would also need to know First Aid and CPR and take my child on frequent outings (on her dime).. LOL..

[Anonymous]

You should be given mileage!! But I definitely think that's crazy to pay someone to babysit in their home. That's different than being a nanny..I would think 35-50 a day?? Considering the sitter may watch a few kids and like you said is in her own home

[Anonymous]

OP here___ This lady just replied to my ad, and she wants to bring her child and she is charging $15 PER HOUR!!!!!! :-O

[Anonymous]

Can you do a childcare exchange with another mom or drop in daycare? Do you have any family or friends nearby that can watch her? Do you qualify for childcare subsidy?

[Anonymous]

That is unrealistic. I think you should make your own profile on Care and state you are looking for a SAHM in her own home and the range you are able to pay. That way, the providers that respond to you will know what you are comfortable with and be fine with it.

[Anonymous]

Op here- I am glad to know that I am not that out of touch with reality. I have been in this business for quiet some time already and people are barely wanting to pay for a nanny to come to their home in Bethesda/Chevy Chase and these expensive areas, let alone in Bowie and to bring her own child. On my side of town (Bowie/Annapolis) all the nanny jobs that you go to their house and you drive the kids around and do light housekeeping are all advertised for less than $15/hour.

PP I do not qualify for childcare subsidy. I did check already but I guess the requirement is that for a household of 3 people the annually income is about 19k?! But I do have someone who watches my child but the only problem is that is too out of my way, too far, and it became too difficult because of the distance.
There is my neighbor that could watch my son but the problem is that the house is too dirty and they have a cat and my son has bad asthma, so that could be a problem. But I am exploring my options.

[Anonymous]

Not realistic in any area- even NW DC.

I'm also a nanny living in Bowie (no children though) and while I have seen some well paying jobs in Bowie/Upper Marlboro for nannies, they're obviously not as plentiful as in DC where everything costs more.

What you need is to find another family to share a nanny with, or more likely an in-home child care center. Check out http://www.mdchildcare.org/mdcfc/childcare/choose.html you can search the database there for options.

Make sure wherever you choose is properly licensed!

[Anonymous]

I realize that this is probably rare, but I was paid $17/hour for the care of two children (4 and 7) all while I brought my one year old to work. Believe me, my child got the short end of the stick though. He sacrificed lots of naps and playtime because of their busy schedule. But he was a really easy going, happy, independent toddler - so I don't think he ever noticed. I am a college educated mom. I took all the kids to tons of activities, taught the 4 year old to read and loved the kids very much. I helped with cleaning and laundry (by choice) to make things easier on their parents. I know that I was an awesome nanny and am a wonderful parent to three children now. I do not in any way think that having my child there provided less care for the other kids. They got a much better experience than any daycare would provide and Mom still says I was the best nanny they had ever have . Again, I realize that this case may not be common, but having a child tag along does not necessarily mean your kids are not getting top notch care.

[Anonymous]

Those are sky high prices.

I agree that a SAHM should make less than a nanny who comes to your home and cares for your child. They don't have to commute, they can stay in the comfort of their own homes plus they don't have to pay for childcare.

I think you should buy a membership on Care.com + post your own childcare ad.
Or go on sittercity.com or CL.

GL.

[Anonymous]

OP here- i did post on care.com and all the replies i got was to watch my child at their home and they all charge above $13/hour, more like $15 actually, and i got over 15 replies. I take this as an insult, i will drop my child off at their house while they are a SAHM watching their own child and they want to ask me $15 per hour?! Not even to mention the replies i got from very young girls who are not a bit professional by the way the communicate with a potential employer, no professional experience, they want to watch my child at their own home, being that i drop my child off their house and they are also charging above $13/hour!!! What is this???

Maybe I should just leave my high paying nanny job ($18/hour) and watch kids at my house for $15/hour and save on childcare, gas, wear and tear of my car, time and just get paid to be home and watch my own child?? Even for $13 an hour would be a better deal than my current job.

I am appalled at the responses I get and they keep coming. Am I overreacting? Or Maybe I am being underpaid?! Which I used to beliebpve that $18/hour in Bethesda for 2 school age children was pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Leave the DC area, you can nanny anywhere and childcare is a lot more affordable in other places. I live in Ohio and I make $12/hr as a nanny but my friend has a SAHM mom watch her child for $6/hr.

[Anonymous]

You are getting replies from people who are SAHMs and are only open to having another kid around if it's really worth their while. They are not trying to actually make ends meet and so don't need to price competitively. Most SAHMs will not want to do this so your pool is actually not huge. If a SAHM is thinking of caring for other kids in her home she likely has looked into setting up a daycare.

Keep looking.

[Anonymous]

OP - do you have a neighborhood listserv? It might be worth posting in some places like that - maybe you'd have better luck.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, in Maryland, there are two different subsidy programs. One for very low income and one for moderate income - working parent something or other (WPA). Double check and make sure there are not two and you don't qualify.