Fair Rates For Nanny Who Doesn't Drive???

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny who is currently on the market for a new job. Even though I don't have my drivers license I still want to find a great family and make decent money. I'm finding in my job search 90 percent of people want a nanny who drives. I really need a fulltime job only and would like some sort of benefits. If I don't drive they want me to take the bare minimum. I'm also looking at watching kids overnight in my home also, What would be a fair rate to charge if I'm including meals and everything????

About me and my Qualifications:

*I'm 23 and a born US citizen
*I have eights years experience working with children in different settings. The past four have been being a nanny and working in a childcare part time.
*I'm a college student and flexible with my class schedule.
*I'm very flexible and willing to do overtime, overnights, and weekends.
*Even though I don't drive I don't mind commuting with the children I watch as long as they are somewhat close to metro or a short bus ride.

So my question is how much is a fair rate to tell familes I charge for Fulltime work and what benefits should I ask for that would make them still consider me even though I don't drive?

Also whats a fair rate to charge for overnight?

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? Not driving in Manhattan is very different than not driving in Nebraska. The key to getting a high rate will be finding a position where driving is not a major advantage.

- Employer's home walkable from public transit or from lots of places where you can take the kids
- Position is infant care only, so outings not emphasized
- Kids transportation already arranged for in some other way

[Anonymous]

I live in Montgomery County (Derwood) but I'm strongly considering moving to DC so I've been applying for jobs in both areas.

[Anonymous]

Get CPR/First Aid Certs and great refrences. Try to look good on paper (driving aside). You'll eventually find a family although the search may be a little tougher for you.

[Anonymous]

Its never been an issue for me, and I do not adjust my rates because of it. I work with young infants for the most part, and in areas easily accessed by public transport. In fact most of my bosses haven't even been aware that I don't/won't drive. Honestly, I'm a horrible driver and have no desire to take on the responsibility of driving kids. We bus and metro it up, and its a big adventure for them.

[Anonymous]

DC is expensive. Have you looked at prices for apartments in the area? Make sure you can afford where you want to live before you move! And many places want proof of income, because they want you to make 3x the cost of rent.

Unless I knew the nanny very well, there's absolutely no way I'd let my child sleep in a stranger's home overnight.

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to be critical, but I see many ads like yours all the time. How can you be 23 and already have eight yrs of nanny experience? Did you start working as a professional nanny at fifteen??

Also, if you watch children in your home, be prepared to take a pay cut since you won't have any commuting costs and the parents will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get CPR/First Aid Certs and great refrences. Try to look good on paper (driving aside). You'll eventually find a family although the search may be a little tougher for you.

I'm sorry I forgot to mention I'm Certified in CPR, First Aid and Infant SIDS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to be critical, but I see many ads like yours all the time. How can you be 23 and already have eight yrs of nanny experience? Did you start working as a professional nanny at fifteen??

Also, if you watch children in your home, be prepared to take a pay cut since you won't have any commuting costs and the parents will.

I didn't say I had 8 years of nanny experience, I have 8 years of experience working with kids I started helping my moms trend in a home daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its never been an issue for me, and I do not adjust my rates because of it. I work with young infants for the most part, and in areas easily accessed by public transport. In fact most of my bosses haven't even been aware that I don't/won't drive. Honestly, I'm a horrible driver and have no desire to take on the responsibility of driving kids. We bus and metro it up, and its a big adventure for them.

This is what I'm looking for but again what is a good rate I should charge and what benefits should I request???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is expensive. Have you looked at prices for apartments in the area? Make sure you can afford where you want to live before you move! And many places want proof of income, because they want you to make 3x the cost of rent.

Unless I knew the nanny very well, there's absolutely no way I'd let my child sleep in a stranger's home overnight.

Yes, I have been looking. I know DC is expensive but also so is living in Montgomery County. I'd rather. Live in the city where a car isn't so much of a requirement..

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to be critical, but I see many ads like yours all the time. How can you be 23 and already have eight yrs of nanny experience? Did you start working as a professional nanny at fifteen??

+1000 OP, I'll be more blunt. One of the reasons that MBs hesitate to hire young nannies is because they lack judgement and experience. If you are trying to count your teenage and pre-teen years as experience in your ad, you just look like a fool. It backs up the notion that young nannies lack judgement and don't even know what they don't know.

If you add this to the inability to a drive in area that is generally lacking in public transportation to kid activity places and preschools, you are barely worth minimum wage. Yes, you need a job, Yes, you would like to make enough to pay for your iPhone. However, there are about a zillion more qualified nannies in front of you with actual experience and who can meet basic job requirements.

You are better off finding a job a in daycare center. Some centers will send you to training where you can work on getting a child development certificate. You can get more real experience with infants and move up to being an assist in a preschooler class. If the center is accredited, you will need to get a degree or at least an associate degree to be more than an assistant. The pay is not great but it will give you more solid experience and not require driving. The downside is that it more work as you can't run your own errands, talk to your friends and surf the web while working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean to be critical, but I see many ads like yours all the time. How can you be 23 and already have eight yrs of nanny experience? Did you start working as a professional nanny at fifteen??

+1000 OP, I'll be more blunt. One of the reasons that MBs hesitate to hire young nannies is because they lack judgement and experience. If you are trying to count your teenage and pre-teen years as experience in your ad, you just look like a fool. It backs up the notion that young nannies lack judgement and don't even know what they don't know.

If you add this to the inability to a drive in area that is generally lacking in public transportation to kid activity places and preschools, you are barely worth minimum wage. Yes, you need a job, Yes, you would like to make enough to pay for your iPhone. However, there are about a zillion more qualified nannies in front of you with actual experience and who can meet basic job requirements.

You are better off finding a job a in daycare center. Some centers will send you to training where you can work on getting a child development certificate. You can get more real experience with infants and move up to being an assist in a preschooler class. If the center is accredited, you will need to get a degree or at least an associate degree to be more than an assistant. The pay is not great but it will give you more solid experience and not require driving. The downside is that it more work as you can't run your own errands, talk to your friends and surf the web while working.

The condescension and general elitist tone of your post was almost bearable owing to the somewhat helpful advice you attempted to give. You just had to ruin it at the end didn't you. Why do so many bitter, burnt out nannies insist on trying to make anyone who enjoys the small perks of this profession (yes including picking up something at the store when you are there for your boss, answering the phone and "surfing the web" when children are napping) into unprofessional teen girls? Being old doesn't make you superior, get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

You ARE unprofessional teenage girls. This board has been overrun with idiot 20 year old so called nannies lacking in ANY common sense. You bring down the reputation of the entire profession. You perpetuate the image of the lazy, unskilled nanny by focusing more on enjoying the "perks" of the position than doing actual work. You wonder why you can't find a higher paying job. The OP isn't looking for a "fair" rate. She is looking for a high rate and is just too dumb to realize that she isn't qualified to work anywhere beyond fast food. You need to be actually qualified to find a higher paying job and once you get it you have to do actual work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You ARE unprofessional teenage girls. This board has been overrun with idiot 20 year old so called nannies lacking in ANY common sense. You bring down the reputation of the entire profession. You perpetuate the image of the lazy, unskilled nanny by focusing more on enjoying the "perks" of the position than doing actual work. You wonder why you can't find a higher paying job. The OP isn't looking for a "fair" rate. She is looking for a high rate and is just too dumb to realize that she isn't qualified to work anywhere beyond fast food. You need to be actually qualified to find a higher paying job and once you get it you have to do actual work.

I'm 30 and in grad school to become a Nurse Practitioner, NOT an unprofessional teenage girl. You are a nanny, you are not saving the world. No amount of bitchiness is suddenly going to change your job description, which at the end of the day, is to babysit children. Belittling someone who came to this space for help doesn't make you look like more of a professional, quite the opposite. YOU are bringing down the reputation of the profession by acting like a sanctimonious old bag.