How hard is it to find someone to watch the kids before school?

[Anonymous]

DH leaves for work at 6:45. I normally take the kids to school and preschool, but when I travel, we need someone to get the kids up and out the door (and at least drive the preschooler to school). No one has before care that starts early enough for DH to do it and still get to work. He cannot take leave in the mornings every time I travel for work.

If you have someone who fills such a role as this, how did you find them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH leaves for work at 6:45. I normally take the kids to school and preschool, but when I travel, we need someone to get the kids up and out the door (and at least drive the preschooler to school). No one has before care that starts early enough for DH to do it and still get to work. He cannot take leave in the mornings every time I travel for work.

If you have someone who fills such a role as this, how did you find them?

I'm in loudoun county and elementary starts before high school. I work out super early 2 days a week and have a high school girl come to my house and work from 530am-7:30am and walk them to school. I pay her $100/wk. You have to pay well to motivate someone that early.

I found her through my neighborhood list serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH leaves for work at 6:45. I normally take the kids to school and preschool, but when I travel, we need someone to get the kids up and out the door (and at least drive the preschooler to school). No one has before care that starts early enough for DH to do it and still get to work. He cannot take leave in the mornings every time I travel for work.

If you have someone who fills such a role as this, how did you find them?

I'm in loudoun county and elementary starts before high school. I work out super early 2 days a week and have a high school girl come to my house and work from 530am-7:30am and walk them to school. I pay her $100/wk. You have to pay well to motivate someone that early.

I found her through my neighborhood list serve.

Thanks for responding. Unfortunately, we are in MoCo, where HS starts first. Plus, the preschool is 3 miles way. I'll start with our neighborhood listserv, though. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH leaves for work at 6:45. I normally take the kids to school and preschool, but when I travel, we need someone to get the kids up and out the door (and at least drive the preschooler to school). No one has before care that starts early enough for DH to do it and still get to work. He cannot take leave in the mornings every time I travel for work.

If you have someone who fills such a role as this, how did you find them?

I'm in loudoun county and elementary starts before high school. I work out super early 2 days a week and have a high school girl come to my house and work from 530am-7:30am and walk them to school. I pay her $100/wk. You have to pay well to motivate someone that early.

I found her through my neighborhood list serve.

Thanks for responding. Unfortunately, we are in MoCo, where HS starts first. Plus, the preschool is 3 miles way. I'll start with our neighborhood listserv, though. Thanks!

If you post a listing with a high rate, then they will come.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, PPs are right about paying an obscenely high hourly rate - you have to make it worth someone's while to be up that early on a daily basis, otherwise you'll have someone who will say they will and then they'll be constantly calling out last minute because it's not worth dragging out of bed for $20.

If you want someone for two hours every morning, something in the area of $25/hour is going to be needed just to keep someone unfortunately.

Market rate would be more do-able if you're not too concerned with consistency.

[Anonymous]

I agree with offering at least $25/hour. Can you swing that, OP?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Does it really matter if I can swing it? Please explain why you ask? Would you like to apply?

[Anonymous]

OP, I would like to apply! Im a nanny who starts in the early afternoon and could do mornings. What's your email

[Anonymous]

OP, I have done this before. I worked with a family who had a regularly before/after school nanny, and I filled in for the AM shifts 2-4 weeks per year when their regular nanny wasn't available. They had one son, 8 years old, and he just needed to be walked to the bus stop (I had my own car, but no driving was needed), the hours were 5:30am to 8:10am, and I was paid $45 each morning, which works out to about $16.85/hr. This was in the suburbs (Fairfax, VA), about five years ago, so I imagine the rate should be slightly higher now. The rate should also be increased because:
A) you have more than one child
B) driving is required (you need a nanny with a car and presumably a good driving record, so you pay more for that, PLUS gas/mileage expenses)
C) your children are younger and so require a higher level of care
D) rate might be higher if you live in DC proper, etc

One important factor you haven't mentioned is what time nanny will be off (what time the kids can be dropped off at school). You say you need someone by 6:45 (although you might consider 6:30 just so DH won't be late if sitter is a few mins late). Are the kids dropped off by 7:30? 8? Later?

If you need the nanny for only one hour, then the hourly rate needs to be VERY high to make this worth her time (consider her commute, etc). If you need nanny for one hour or less, I'd do no less than $25 per morning. If you need nanny for 1.5 hours $30, or if 2 hours then $35. Factor in her commute time for the school as well, and add in money for gas and wear and tear on her car on top of the hourly (depends on how far the drive is, maybe an extra $5 per morning?).

I know this sounds like a lot, but you NEED someone dependable at an early hour, so you need to offer this type of compensation to retain anyone worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. If you need nanny for one hour or less, I'd do no less than $25 per morning. If you need nanny for 1.5 hours $30, or if 2 hours then $35. Factor in her commute time for the school as well, and add in money for gas and wear and tear on her car on top of the hourly (depends on how far the drive is, maybe an extra $5 per morning?).

I know this sounds like a lot, but you NEED someone dependable at an early hour, so you need to offer this type of compensation to retain anyone worthwhile.

PP here. Wanted to mention that the numbers I've given (1hr or less $25, 1.5 hrs $30, 2 hrs $35) are WITHOUT the extra $5 per shift for gas and mileage, and are meant to be the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM you should be offering to a qualified candidate you'd like to work with long term. I'm sure you could find someone for cheaper, but then don't be surprised when that person is frequently late or just leaves you high and dry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have done this before. I worked with a family who had a regularly before/after school nanny, and I filled in for the AM shifts 2-4 weeks per year when their regular nanny wasn't available. They had one son, 8 years old, and he just needed to be walked to the bus stop (I had my own car, but no driving was needed), the hours were 5:30am to 8:10am, and I was paid $45 each morning, which works out to about $16.85/hr. This was in the suburbs (Fairfax, VA), about five years ago, so I imagine the rate should be slightly higher now. The rate should also be increased because:
A) you have more than one child
B) driving is required (you need a nanny with a car and presumably a good driving record, so you pay more for that, PLUS gas/mileage expenses)
C) your children are younger and so require a higher level of care
D) rate might be higher if you live in DC proper, etc

One important factor you haven't mentioned is what time nanny will be off (what time the kids can be dropped off at school). You say you need someone by 6:45 (although you might consider 6:30 just so DH won't be late if sitter is a few mins late). Are the kids dropped off by 7:30? 8? Later?

If you need the nanny for only one hour, then the hourly rate needs to be VERY high to make this worth her time (consider her commute, etc). If you need nanny for one hour or less, I'd do no less than $25 per morning. If you need nanny for 1.5 hours $30, or if 2 hours then $35. Factor in her commute time for the school as well, and add in money for gas and wear and tear on her car on top of the hourly (depends on how far the drive is, maybe an extra $5 per morning?).

I know this sounds like a lot, but you NEED someone dependable at an early hour, so you need to offer this type of compensation to retain anyone worthwhile.

I thoroughly agree posted up thread about the HS girl I pay $25/hr. I pay this because I KNOW she will show up for that money. Plus when I posted the rate on the list serve, DESPITE needing someone at 5:30AM, I had a flood of responses. A lot of working professionals reached out to me who wanted the extra money before going into work. My hours are also guaranteed. If I cancel less than a week out, I pay anyways. My 16yr old girl has never flaked out on me.

This cannot be done on the cheap.

[Anonymous]

If you can find someone who lives very close to your home, perhaps they would be willing to assist your husband.

Because it wouldn't make any financial sense for someone who doesn't live in your neck of the woods to drive over for such a small amount of time. Plus the time frame is extremely EARLY as well.

Perhaps a retired stay-at-home woman who is eager to earn some extra pocket money. Or a neighbor seeking to earn some spending cash as well.

You can look on Care.com or Sittercity.com.

I wish you only the best!~

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH leaves for work at 6:45. I normally take the kids to school and preschool, but when I travel, we need someone to get the kids up and out the door (and at least drive the preschooler to school). No one has before care that starts early enough for DH to do it and still get to work. He cannot take leave in the mornings every time I travel for work.

If you have someone who fills such a role as this, how did you find them?

ON those days, your DH is going to have to alter his work schedule. You can't hire someone for this position because it's sporadic - only when you travel.
The alternative is to find a nanny service that can provide a nanny day of. But remember, things happen, the person you hire could get sick, have car trouble, just not show. So as the parents, you ultimately have to know that you might need to alter your own schedules last minute.