Nanny Share vs. Day Care

[Anonymous]

Looking for some general guidance on cost-effective, high-quality child care options in the District. We just found out we're pregnant with our first child and so are very new to all of this. We live in the District (currently in the U street area, but are currently evaluating options for a larger place) and so would greatly prefer something that isn't in VA or MD. We are open to both nanny shares and day care centers, and anticipate needing care from the time our child is 3 months until he/she can enter preschool (hopefully at the DC JCC). We'd like to ideally spend no more than about $1800/month on child care.

Would love any/all guidance on good sources for finding high-quality nannies and day care centers, when to join a waitlist, etc.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

You aren't going to find a quality nanny for $1800 a month so definitely concentrate on a good daycare center near your work rather than your home. Even a nanny share with another infant, if you could find it, would be more than $450 a week for full-time.

Start researching daycare centers, get referrals from friends at work, and check then out carefully. Visit them a few different times during the day to get a feel for how the operate and see if all the children and well-cared for.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the pp that your budget is a challenge. For nannies your only option would be a nanny share, so your best bet is to network aggressively in your area - put up messages on your neighborhood listserv, talk to any local moms, etc...

Can't help w/ any daycare info, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You aren't going to find a quality nanny for $1800 a month so definitely concentrate on a good daycare center near your work rather than your home. Even a nanny share with another infant, if you could find it, would be more than $450 a week for full-time.

Start researching daycare centers, get referrals from friends at work, and check then out carefully. Visit them a few different times during the day to get a feel for how the operate and see if all the children and well-cared for.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for some general guidance on cost-effective, high-quality child care options in the District. We just found out we're pregnant with our first child and so are very new to all of this. We live in the District (currently in the U street area, but are currently evaluating options for a larger place) and so would greatly prefer something that isn't in VA or MD. We are open to both nanny shares and day care centers, and anticipate needing care from the time our child is 3 months until he/she can enter preschool (hopefully at the DC JCC). We'd like to ideally spend no more than about $1800/month on child care.

Would love any/all guidance on good sources for finding high-quality nannies and day care centers, when to join a waitlist, etc.

Thank you!

OP, I make $1800 a month (give or take $50) working just over 15 hours a week. If these are the hours you are looking for then it is feasible. If you are looking for full time your only option is Daycare.

[Anonymous]

You could try posting on the General Parenting Forum for good daycare centers near your work (which I would suggest as well) or your home. The people who read this forum are generally nannies or mother's who have employed nannies so our knowledge of good daycare centers is very limited.

[Anonymous]

OP, you can afford a share. $11.25 is the top of your budget and also high pay for a nanny share. You could pay $8-9 per child and be well within your budget. The key is finding a family and a nanny willing to put in the work instead of watching TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can afford a share. $11.25 is the top of your budget and also high pay for a nanny share. You could pay $8-9 per child and be well within your budget. The key is finding a family and a nanny willing to put in the work instead of watching TV.

They still have to pay taxes on top of that.
That isn't all that great for 2 infants once a nanny has had her taxes deducted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can afford a share. $11.25 is the top of your budget and also high pay for a nanny share. You could pay $8-9 per child and be well within your budget. The key is finding a family and a nanny willing to put in the work instead of watching TV.

They still have to pay taxes on top of that.
That isn't all that great for 2 infants once a nanny has had her taxes deducted.

No way in hell a decent nanny will accept $16-$18/hour for 2 infants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can afford a share. $11.25 is the top of your budget and also high pay for a nanny share. You could pay $8-9 per child and be well within your budget. The key is finding a family and a nanny willing to put in the work instead of watching TV.

They still have to pay taxes on top of that.
That isn't all that great for 2 infants once a nanny has had her taxes deducted.

No way in hell a decent nanny will accept $16-$18/hour for 2 infants.

Then she needs to find a job that pays more. $18 is more than respectable.

[Anonymous]

Four years ago we had a nanny share in upper NW DC with a fabulous nanny for $19/hr. Our share of that (exact 50%) came to $1,400 in paycheck and around $300 in taxes. So a monthly outlay was about $1,700, all told. You can definitely get into a nanny share for $19/hr and find a quality nanny.

[Anonymous]

Just to add that in my opinion, a nanny share is a much better option for a nanny than a daycare center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to add that in my opinion, a nanny share is a much better option for a nanny than a daycare center.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to add that in my opinion, a nanny share is a much better option for a nanny than a daycare center.

Huh?

Sorry, meant to say nanny share is a much better option FOR AN INFANT than a daycare center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four years ago we had a nanny share in upper NW DC with a fabulous nanny for $19/hr. Our share of that (exact 50%) came to $1,400 in paycheck and around $300 in taxes. So a monthly outlay was about $1,700, all told. You can definitely get into a nanny share for $19/hr and find a quality nanny.

Honest question: isn't it "all tolled" - as in all collected? I might be wrong so I'm actually curious.