DB's (and soon after) MB's Birthday- Gift Ideas

[Anonymous]

So DB’s birthday is next week. I want to get him a gift. Something child related from my charge. Since DC is only 9 months old, there’s not much we can do in the realm of arts and crafts to make something half decent for the guy, lol.

So I was thinking of getting him a photo card from CVS. The card will have a picture of the little munchkin and her daddy. On the inside I’ll print her hand and foot, and write something short and sweet from “her” to him.

I also want to bake him a small cake, pie, or a few cookies. MB and DB like to eat healthy, but they do enjoy the occasional treat. I know that DB loves fruits, especially blueberries. So perhaps a small blueberry cobbler or something? Not really sure yet, but I enjoy baking!

MB already asked me to stay late on his birthday night so that she could take him out to dinner. Should I offer to babysit for free that evening as an additional gift?

Also, MB's birthday is about a month after DB's. If I get a photo card for him, then I plan on getting one for her when the time comes. Also, if I bake something for his birthday, than I'll bake a favorite treat for hers (she's a chocolate lover!).

Aside from the card and the potential baked goods, is there anything else I should offer.

Any and all ideas are appreciated.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

I have to be honest: I don't need my nanny giving me gifts. And I hate, with a passion, the arts & crafts shit. OP, this is too much! You want to give a card with a picture AND a footprint AND handprint from the baby in the card (which is weird, since it's not a milestone of the baby's, then you want to bake a blueberry cobbler, and on top of THAT you want to give several hours of free babysitting? This is way too much. Do not give away what you do for a living, for free. It devalues your worth as a professional.

Just give a card and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. 'Happy Birthday' will do.
This is not a line you should cross. Keep it professional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to be honest: I don't need my nanny giving me gifts. And I hate, with a passion, the arts & crafts shit. OP, this is too much! You want to give a card with a picture AND a footprint AND handprint from the baby in the card (which is weird, since it's not a milestone of the baby's, then you want to bake a blueberry cobbler, and on top of THAT you want to give several hours of free babysitting? This is way too much. Do not give away what you do for a living, for free. It devalues your worth as a professional.

Just give a card and be done with it.

I agree. I always think it's odd when nannies spend money on their bosses. A card is more than enough.

[Anonymous]

You are very generous, but I think 1 of your suggestions will suffice. You also don't want to risk "out-doing" your MB's present to him. I think a homemade treat is the best idea. It shows you put some effort into his gift, but you didn't have to splurge on his behalf.

[Anonymous]

I recently babysat for mb to go out on her bday. I charged for the time but brought a homemade from scratch cake. I don't have a car d so i took the cake unassembled and had the 2 yr old help me assemble it while she was in the shower and db was finishin gup working. I made a meringue frosting and beat the eggs there, tossed it in the ocen an dit wa sdone by the time she came down. The kid got to say happy bday and have a tiny slice of cake before bed and everyone was happy. Keep it simple OP. The only time I give away my time is on the first date night after a new baby and maybe a funeral.

[Anonymous]

I just went thru the MB DB birthday scenario and this is what I did. For MBs birthday I had a picture made of both DCs and put it in a beautiful frame. I had no idea at the time but it was the first professional "together" picture of the kids and MB cried and hugged me that so much time had gotten away before pics were taken. Score lol
For DB I had oldest DC paint a coffee mug at a paint your own pottery place and then did a small coffee related basket to go with it. Huge hit with DB and the mug he uses at work. Double score lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just went thru the MB DB birthday scenario and this is what I did. For MBs birthday I had a picture made of both DCs and put it in a beautiful frame. I had no idea at the time but it was the first professional "together" picture of the kids and MB cried and hugged me that so much time had gotten away before pics were taken. Score lol
For DB I had oldest DC paint a coffee mug at a paint your own pottery place and then did a small coffee related basket to go with it. Huge hit with DB and the mug he uses at work. Double score lol

OP here. Neat ideas!

Originally I wanted to have a professional photo taken of the little munchkin. However, I couldn't find any reasonably priced venues in the city.

I got MB and DB personalized coffee mugs for Christmas. MB uses hers at work and, since DB doesn't work in an office setting, he just uses his at home.

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and I feel very conflicted when our nanny gives us gifts. She's very thoughtful and generous but she goes over the top. And I feel uncomfortable with her spending money on us.

I think the photocard idea is lovely and more than sufficient. If MB asks you to babysit accept the payment. You don't need to go overboard and it might just make them feel awkward.

[Anonymous]

A homemade card from the children, that's all. I have been a nanny for 8 years, this is very unprofessional and weird. I might offer a free evening on their anniversary, but not for every birthday. And no, you should not be baking DB a birthday cake! You can bake one for your charges, IF that is okay with the parents, as they may not want a ton of sweets in the house.