Nanny for toddlet and infant

[Anonymous]

Currently have toddler in daycare but looking at hiring a nanny for when our infant turns three months and pulling the older one out of daycare. Parents have you done this and how did it go? Nannies how do yu handle working with kids on different schedules and ages and ensure the older one was stimulated aand that the younger one got cuddled? I am leaning towards double daycare but so many people suggested a nanny that I figured I'd look into it. Fyi we have been generally happy with daycare.

[Anonymous]

You should not do double daycare because it will likely be more cost-effective hiring a Nanny since you would be paying the same price.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. How old is your toddler? While I obviously believe a good nanny is the best option, after a certain age the child is better off in a known group setting.

[Anonymous]

Agreed with pp. If your toddler is 24-36 months, they’re in a phase where it’s harder to do those kinds of transitions. If they’re under 24 months or over 36 months AND they adjust well to changes, then find a good nanny who can answer open-ended questions about how to balance children’s needs when the younger child is 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

Look into a nanny share for your infant, to keep price down.

[Anonymous]

Agreed with PP. How old is your child? What's his/her personality like? My very active, social toddler would have hated being pulled from his program to be at home with the baby and the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. How old is your toddler? While I obviously believe a good nanny is the best option, after a certain age the child is better off in a known group setting.

+1. A good nanny who can continue to socialize and teach your toddler while caring for a newborn will be much more that daycare for two kids. Will they be in the same daycare? If yes, I would say stick with daycare. Just leave yourself all vacation time and PTO as you know how often babies get sick in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Toddler will be around 29 mo when we need care to start for the infant (they are ~25 mo apart). Toddler is active and social, hence the hesitancy in pulling DC out of daycare. Nannies, adjustment issues aside, how do you handle kids of different ages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! Toddler will be around 29 mo when we need care to start for the infant (they are ~25 mo apart). Toddler is active and social, hence the hesitancy in pulling DC out of daycare. Nannies, adjustment issues aside, how do you handle kids of different ages?

Nanny. I handle children of different ages the same way that you will for the most part. I engage the older child in talking and reading with the baby then have the baby watch as I engage the older child in art projects, books or games. You get into a rhythm - it’s hard to explain but you’ll experience it when your baby is born.

[Anonymous]

I think the hardest part about that age difference is the nap schedule. Our toddler is at all sorts of activities in the morning, which he couldn't do when he was younger because it was during his morning nap time. If he was with a nanny and an infant, unless that infant was napping on the go, then he wouldn't be able to go to those activities anymore and he really loves them, so that would be hard. How do nannies typically handle that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the hardest part about that age difference is the nap schedule. Our toddler is at all sorts of activities in the morning, which he couldn't do when he was younger because it was during his morning nap time. If he was with a nanny and an infant, unless that infant was napping on the go, then he wouldn't be able to go to those activities anymore and he really loves them, so that would be hard. How do nannies typically handle that?

How would you as a mother handle that?

The baby sleeps on the go.

[Anonymous]

Well, it’ll be a while until the baby is sleeping in actual naps. During that time, unless you’re at home or are okay with a baby under 3 months being drug everywhere? Everybody stays home. Once you start vaccinations and the baby has a predictable nap schedule, it’s easy to play with blocks with one hand and caress baby’s head (sitting on the floor, wearing baby). It’s dangerous for a baby to nap in the car seat, as the chin can tip and child can suffocate. Best practice is to choose activities that don’t require adult participation with your toddler and have nanny wear the baby.

[Anonymous]

If you're mostly looking at the financial aspect, just do double daycare, or maybe find a nanny share for the baby. Everyone says nannies are cheaper, which is a lie. Salary + taxes + benefits + vacation days + bonuses etc etc. Once they get to 2yo, the daycare price decreases, so I would gut it out. You'll have only 20 months at the expensive infant rate in a daycare, and after that, it's smooth sailing.

When we had a 2 year old and an infant in daycare, it was around $4000 a month. Nanny is closer to $5000/month, with taxes. Add in a year-end bonus of $1500...it's very expensive, plus vacation time and sick leave. It's super convenient that she comes to the house, obviously, but you pay for that convenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're mostly looking at the financial aspect, just do double daycare, or maybe find a nanny share for the baby. Everyone says nannies are cheaper, which is a lie. Salary + taxes + benefits + vacation days + bonuses etc etc. Once they get to 2yo, the daycare price decreases, so I would gut it out. You'll have only 20 months at the expensive infant rate in a daycare, and after that, it's smooth sailing.

When we had a 2 year old and an infant in daycare, it was around $4000 a month. Nanny is closer to $5000/month, with taxes. Add in a year-end bonus of $1500...it's very expensive, plus vacation time and sick leave. It's super convenient that she comes to the house, obviously, but you pay for that convenience.

+1

Lots of other costs - half-day preschool, kids activities, gas, etc. It adds up. Double daycare is cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Daycare is always cheaper.

[Anonymous]

I’m also considering this situation. My son will be 28 months when he would start his third year in daycare. His first year there was hard because of all the schlepping back-and-forth and the infant sicknesses that killed all of our leave time. I just fear that he would be very bored at home with the nanny. He should be able to start free pre-K at four. Any thoughts on whether he would be OK at home for the year? There are not very good part-time preschool options near us.