How much bonus for an exceptional nanny?

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is just amazing. I don't think we could live without her. She started when my son was 12 weeks and has been amazing with him. They have such a strong bond and he simply adores her. She has been very loving, put him on a great schedule, made him homemade baby food because of the bad jar food, and even syringe fed him for 3 days when he had a stomach bug. It will be a year in early January and she has never missed any days, never been late, does all that we ask, etc. She also goes above and beyond helping us with errands, loading/unloading dishwasher, packing when we go on trips ( baby stuff). We have a wonderful relationship with her. She is very kind. I was once home ill and she stopped at the store to pick me up Gatorade and soup. She is just a great nanny, employee, and person.

We plan on giving her a $1 raise beginning of January. We plan on getting a small gift for her to open and a cash bonus. What is a good gift and how much of a bonus? We were thinking 1-2 weeks salary. Is that sufficient enough?

[Anonymous]

A weeks salary, the small gift, and a heartfelt note about how much you appreciate her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A weeks salary, the small gift, and a heartfelt note about how much you appreciate her.

What kind of gifts would you expect? I was actually thinking of giving her a free massage at a nice spa. DH said that may be too personal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A weeks salary, the small gift, and a heartfelt note about how much you appreciate her.

What kind of gifts would you expect? I was actually thinking of giving her a free massage at a nice spa. DH said that may be too personal.

First, you sound like a WONDERFUL employer - I am so happy you found a great nanny and happier still that you appreciate her.

My favorite gift was a photograph of my charge and I in a frame with the inscription, "I love my nanny". I usually don't like things like that but this was my favorite gift of all times.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't give her a massage spa visit unless you know she likes that. I got one last year and it's soooo not me. You do sound like an amazing person to work for and I think if you put what you just posted in a note to her with a token gift (I would love the "I Love My Nanny" frame.) and a week's pay as a bonus you will have a very happy nanny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't give her a massage spa visit unless you know she likes that. I got one last year and it's soooo not me. You do sound like an amazing person to work for and I think if you put what you just posted in a note to her with a token gift (I would love the "I Love My Nanny" frame.) and a week's pay as a bonus you will have a very happy nanny!

+1 on making sure your nanny likes massages, personally I hate them. Safer bet might be to find a spa/salon with a very wide variety of services (mani/pedi, hair cuts, facials, etc) and get her a dollar amount giftcards there rather than a specific service (which can sometimes be hard to transfer)

You sound like a great and very thoughtful employer though!

[Anonymous]

I've had 2-3 employers give me a massage certificate and I love it. I guess some people aren't into letting others touch them so you'd want to know if she likes it before buying it. But if she has mentioned getting a massage or wanting to get one, definitely go for it. It's one of my favorite gifts. Another favorite (small) gift is movie tickets. Another family randomly gave me a gift certificate to West Elm after I had mentioned liking that store. That was really nice and I think of them every time I use the lamp I bought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't give her a massage spa visit unless you know she likes that. I got one last year and it's soooo not me. You do sound like an amazing person to work for and I think if you put what you just posted in a note to her with a token gift (I would love the "I Love My Nanny" frame.) and a week's pay as a bonus you will have a very happy nanny!

She loves massages and spas. I go every couple of months and we had talked about great spas. Her birthday was over the summer and she told me how a few friends took her for a spa day. I think she would love it.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny sounds like ours. We gave ours 2 weeks salary last year as a bonus and plan to do the same this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny sounds like ours. We gave ours 2 weeks salary last year as a bonus and plan to do the same this year.

Do you also give a gift? I think our nanny may expect the bonus money and a separate gift, but I have no idea what to get her. She's wonderful but I'd love to just give her the money - I have no idea what to get her.

[Anonymous]

You could get her a nice basket from bath and body works ... and add a card to it with the bonus in it.
A little gift from your child would be adorable (like the framed picture mentioned above)

[Anonymous]

It all sounds excellent to me OP.

It's very refreshing to see a family appreciate their nanny as much as you do.

It is a win-win situation for everyone involved here, most esp. your son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny sounds like ours. We gave ours 2 weeks salary last year as a bonus and plan to do the same this year.

Do you also give a gift? I think our nanny may expect the bonus money and a separate gift, but I have no idea what to get her. She's wonderful but I'd love to just give her the money - I have no idea what to get her.

We do give a gift as well, but I don't think you can go wrong with a generous bonus and a nice heartfelt card.

[Anonymous]

I came on here to make sure what we were doing for our amazing nanny was on par and it seems it is. She started in March so this is our first end-of-the-year bonus time. We are giving her a raise, two weeks cash bonus and also a Christmas present of a $100 gift card to a local restaurant. She is young, doesn't have kids yet, and lives with her boyfriend so I know she has someone to go to a nice dinner with and it is something they would enjoy.

Would your nanny enjoy a restaurant gift card? It's a little less personal than a spa gift card, but I guess it depends if she is the type that would like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I came on here to make sure what we were doing for our amazing nanny was on par and it seems it is. She started in March so this is our first end-of-the-year bonus time. We are giving her a raise, two weeks cash bonus and also a Christmas present of a $100 gift card to a local restaurant. She is young, doesn't have kids yet, and lives with her boyfriend so I know she has someone to go to a nice dinner with and it is something they would enjoy.

Would your nanny enjoy a restaurant gift card? It's a little less personal than a spa gift card, but I guess it depends if she is the type that would like that.

Her and her boyfriend don't eat out too much. My nanny has gluten allergies and it's a plant based diet. I don't think a restaurant would be a good gift. We decided on two weeks salary bonus ( on top of two weeks paid vacation), a spa massage, a card, and a little picture of my son and her. We gave her today and tomorrow off as well. She bought my son nice gift ( some boys and a toy) and she baked us homemade cupcakes. I think we were both appreciative.