Do I Buy MB a Gift? MB Answers Preferred!

[Anonymous]

I started with a family almost 4 months ago. Everything is going wonderfully. MB bought me a gift card to and some teas at the 6 week mark just because. It was very thoughtful since I always drink tea at their house. For my birthday they gave me a $150 gift card and a card. MB's birthday is this week. Do I get them something? This is the first year I had a family give me gifts for my birthday. I was thinking of a fancy bottle of wine ( they love wine!) and homemade brownies or cupcakes. MB's, would you appreciate it or feel weird that your nanny gave you a gift?

[Anonymous]

I would think it was a lovely gesture as long as I didn't think the nanny spent too much. If it was an expensive gift, it would make me feel uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think it was a lovely gesture as long as I didn't think the nanny spent too much. If it was an expensive gift, it would make me feel uncomfortable.

Op here. I have about 5 bottles of $20-30 wines that were gifted to me years ago. I don't drink much. I would give them one and make something homemade. They are just very fair and generous. I want to reciprocate.

[Anonymous]

No. Help the children make her something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Help the children make her something.

The baby is 6 months old. He can't do anything.

[Anonymous]

I think it's really nice. I'm an MB and our nanny helped my kids make my husband a cake (she paid for all of the stuff, including a pan) and a painting. It was probably $20 total, but it definitely made us feel like the nanny was in it for the long haul (which we appreciated, because you just never know).

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and buying a gift wouldn't be necessary from our nanny. Perhaps you can create a hand or footprint craft or mold with baby's help? That would be cute. You can never go wrong with wine if she likes to drink, or perhaps offer a night of babysitting free of charge?

[Anonymous]

I always buy MB/DB a bottle of wine when it is their birthdays. I don't like them but it feels weird if I am working on their birthday and I don't bring them anything.

[Anonymous]

Op here. MB and DB have a mold to do the baby's hands and feet. They are waiting because it's a tree ornament. I know it's very special for them, so I don't want to take away from that.

[Anonymous]

I am uncomfortable when my nannies/au pairs spend money on my or my kids birthdays. If it's for the kids, a very small inexpensive gift is ok.
If it is for me, a homemade plate of brownies or something would be nice but not necessary.
If you give the wine (which I don't advise), be careful it hasn't gone bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and buying a gift wouldn't be necessary from our nanny. Perhaps you can create a hand or footprint craft or mold with baby's help? That would be cute. You can never go wrong with wine if she likes to drink, or perhaps offer a night of babysitting free of charge?

Free babysitting for4-6 hours is an expensive gift+-$20/hr. OP, the wine sounds lovely but please no free babysitting. This is how you make your living and I would not feel good about such an expensive gift.

[Anonymous]

I would not want my nanny to spend money on a gift for me. A nice card with a genuine sentiment or some grocery store flowers to brighten up the house would be plenty for me.
You sound like a very sweet person.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't give them a birth gift nor would I think they would expect it.

If it really bothers you though, you can always gift them something homemade by you such as a pretty platter w/freshly-baked cookies or brownies just for them.

If you enjoy crafts, I am sure they would appreciate something created just for them.

I wouldn't purchase them anything pricey however.

[Anonymous]

I agree that free babysitting should be off the list.

If they were your bosses at another type of job, would you honestly be willing to come in on your off time & work completely for free??!
This would be unheard of and possibly illegal.

Plz do not offer this.
It also may set up a bad precedent for future birthdays.

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and I'm always uncomfortable when our nanny spends money on me, but I also think it's lovely to have a b'day acknowledged. I think the idea of something homemade w/ a card is great, or something simple like some reasonable flowers you got at the grocery store. That's more than sufficient.

A card that wished me a happy birthday and said how much you appreciated working w/ us would mean more than anything else, honestly.

Nice to hear a story of a great nanny/employer relationship!