typical cost for nanny share 4 days/week

[Anonymous]

We need childcare 4 days/week, 9-5. We are on a waitlist for a daycare that is $1550/month. If we get into that daycare, we'd pay for 5 days/week, but only use it 4 days. I'm trying to figure out whether a nanny share for 4 days would be more or less expensive. We live in NW DC.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Stick with your daycare plan.

[Anonymous]

Better off going with daycare nanny share will cost you about 1500, just for the nanny pay that's not including taxes or any other benefits. But on the other hand daycare will not take care of your child like nanny would.

[Anonymous]

In NW DC, a nanny share will probably cost you a minimum of $10/hr. That works out to the exact same monthly cost ($1560/mo).

However, as employers, you will need to pay taxes, which is another 10-12%, and provide paid time off (sick leave is mandated in DC, and two weeks paid vacation, plus paid holidays are expected). Nannies also expect yearly raises and occasional gifts (birthday, Christmas) and a yearly bonus.

You gain more control over how the day goes and more flexibility, especially if you're the host family. Your child gets more personal attention, and potentially less illness. But you also get the headaches that come with being an employer, and with a single employee, you need to be able to cover her sick days as well as your child's.

It will be more expensive, even in a share. As someone who has employed nannies for 7 years now, one of my biggest take-aways has been that it is a budget-buster, and you just have to be ok with that. There are always unanticipated expenses: meals out, money for admissions, costs for classes, etc -- stuff you won't be doing if your child is at daycare.

[Anonymous]

Is that all you are basing your child's care on - cost?

[Anonymous]

Just stick your kid in daycare.