How much of a raise for the addition of twins?

[Anonymous]

Our fabulous nanny of two years currently watches our 2 year old. In a few months she will also be taking care of our twins when I head back to work. How much more money do you think I should pay her? I plan to discuss with her, but wanted to go in with an idea of what might be expected. She is legal, drives and works 40 hours a week for us at $17.50 an hour and we live in Silver Spring. I appreciate any advice on what a typical raise for this situation might look like.

[Anonymous]

Well, that isn't a typical situation and it is a LOT of work.

I think it's worthy of a fairly significant bump so it's probably more a question of what you can afford. Can you do $21/hr? I think anything less than $20 probably isn't a significant enough bump.

If she's great, willing to take on the twins, and you trust her, I'd really try to find a way to give her a significant increase.

[Anonymous]

Infant twins are going to be a lot of work, which is why your wonderful nanny is going to need a significant increase in pay! I would think somewhere in the $21-25 range depending on other duties. If she does light housekeeping I'd expect for her to be able to stop if you want to pay her on the lower end. Also, putting the toddler in a preschool program 2 mornings a week would also be a great way to help out the nanny and make your costs lower.

[Anonymous]

$3-4/hr.

[Anonymous]

$2 an hour. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you can't afford to give her any more raises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$2 an hour. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you can't afford to give her any more raises.

A good belly laugh is a great way to start the dat! Thanks. $25 an he. Minimum or you'd be looking for an legal.

[Anonymous]

I am a great nanny with a lot of experience and that would be a huge game changer for me. Honestly, if you want to keep her I would go big or go home on your offer. DO NOT try to nickle and dime her, or you will lose her. Infant twins and a two year is A LOT of work and to any experienced nanny it will sound like hell on earth. If you can't afford a big raise then you need to come up with some other benefit that would make it worth it for her. Be prepared for her to be secretly job hunting.

[Anonymous]

Well, you're already paying on the high side of market rate, so you're kind of in a bind. She will be expecting a significant raise. Twins are harder, so a significant raise is not out of line, but you'll probably price yourself out of a nanny sooner rather than later if you give yearly raises and bonuses.

I think the PP who suggested $21/hr is right. You are still in market, it is a significant raise, and you still have some room for yearly raises, if they are earned, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$2 an hour. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you can't afford to give her any more raises.

A good belly laugh is a great way to start the dat! Thanks. $25 an he. Minimum or you'd be looking for an legal.

$2 an hour raise. Glad your lack of comprehension gave you a good laugh.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the poster who suggested $21/hour. I can't imagine taking on all that additional work for an extra 80 bucks a week (2/hr * 40 hrs).

[Anonymous]

I agree that if she already has "light housekeeping" or any type of housekeeping duties, scratch them all out of the job contract. Expect only childcare from here on out.

Also, how long are her days? During any downtime, I would let her rest when the babies do so she can get adequate rest too because she can quickly burn out w/so many children in tow.

I suggest you hire another nanny and give her alternate days and see if your nanny if up for that idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a great nanny with a lot of experience and that would be a huge game changer for me. Honestly, if you want to keep her I would go big or go home on your offer. DO NOT try to nickle and dime her, or you will lose her. Infant twins and a two year is A LOT of work and to any experienced nanny it will sound like hell on earth. If you can't afford a big raise then you need to come up with some other benefit that would make it worth it for her. Be prepared for her to be secretly job hunting.

Absolutely not true! Just because you couldn't handle the position doesn't mean other nannies would think it's "hell on earth" I am a very experienced nanny and love working with multiples. I currently care for toddler triplets and couldn't be happier in my job. I'm part of facebook group for Nannies of Multiples and there are several nannies there caring for a toddler and infant twins. Everyone there seem to be very happy in their positions.

[Anonymous]

OP, we are in exactly the same position, we have a 2 year old and expecting twins next year. We have a full time nanny now. I am leaning more toward having two nannies when the twins are born, I just can't imagine the nanny taking care of three.... But this of course is getting pretty expensive> I just don't know how realistic it is caring for a toddler and 4-5 month old twins since the twins will be on a different schedule, the toddler needs attention, etc.

[Anonymous]

The big question is whether she has extensive newborn experience and at least SOME twin experience. If not, you are essentially taking a chance on her and I would price lower and spend the difference on supplementary care (so pay $2 more, and then hire a part-time mother's helper. If she has the experience to prove that she can handle this job, then you should offer her basically the most you can while still leaving a small buffer for raises/bonuses.

[Anonymous]

6:28 here. Wanted to clarify that I am suggesting you hire a mother's helper to assist the nanny if she does not have sufficient experience. E.g., nanny handles all three until the wnd of toddler's nap, then a MH comes for the last few hours, so nanny can have help toward the end of the day.