Our nanny is pregnant!

[Anonymous]

I'm so excited for our nanny who is pregnant and due at the end of May.

She's been with our family for 5 years and she's wonderful. I want to get a really nice baby gift, or thinking a generous cash gift. I know she and her husband don't have a ton of $$ and I want her to be able to stay home for at least a couple months with the baby before trying to go back to work.

Ideas/thoughts appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Are you holding her job, whether or not she can bring her baby? That would mean more than a baby gift.

If not, then 5 weeks of pay, minimum. She’s been with you five years, and you said she’s amazing. Is she worth that much or more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you holding her job, whether or not she can bring her baby? That would mean more than a baby gift.

If not, then 5 weeks of pay, minimum. She’s been with you five years, and you said she’s amazing. Is she worth that much or more?

I was thinking about 6 weeks would be a good amount.

I am not sure if she'll come back once she has the baby. I'm open to it, but I'm not sure how it'll all work logistically. Both boys will be in school starting in the fall, so we were going to have to have a conversation about what comes next anyway. We have a meeting set up to discuss plans / options after Thanksgiving so I'll learn more then.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a wonderful employer who will keep this nanny in your children’s lives.

As for a gift, only you know what she will need. Did you hang on to any baby stuff? A good high chair is always a good and generous gift that people rarely think of since the baby won’t need it for months.

[Anonymous]

I echo the above - you do sound like a wonderful person and MB.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, OP for treating your nanny as you would wish to be treated.

[Anonymous]

I was in the same position- I got pregnant after 4 years with my nanny family when the twins were set to enter full time school. I took 8 weeks and came back with my baby. I morphed into a nanny household manager role 20 hours per week. So I work 1-6pm. From 1-3pm I do grocery shopping, meal prep, packing lunches, laundry, or errands. Then school pick up, snack, play, dinner, and I leave. I keep a pack n play in their spare room and my daughter takes her afternoon nap while I work. She is now 2 years old and we are still going strong.

My MB bought a beautiful handmade bookcase and filled it with hand me down books that I used to read to my nanny kids. It was the most perfect thoughtful gift I received at my shower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in the same position- I got pregnant after 4 years with my nanny family when the twins were set to enter full time school. I took 8 weeks and came back with my baby. I morphed into a nanny household manager role 20 hours per week. So I work 1-6pm. From 1-3pm I do grocery shopping, meal prep, packing lunches, laundry, or errands. Then school pick up, snack, play, dinner, and I leave. I keep a pack n play in their spare room and my daughter takes her afternoon nap while I work. She is now 2 years old and we are still going strong.

My MB bought a beautiful handmade bookcase and filled it with hand me down books that I used to read to my nanny kids. It was the most perfect thoughtful gift I received at my shower.

Wow! That is an fantastic gift! So moving!

I love hearing things like this about truly good employers and good nannies. No craziness, no jealousy, and promises kept.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I think paying your nanny for maternity leave is the best possible gift (and a truly rare benefit) you could offer. Good for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in the same position- I got pregnant after 4 years with my nanny family when the twins were set to enter full time school. I took 8 weeks and came back with my baby. I morphed into a nanny household manager role 20 hours per week. So I work 1-6pm. From 1-3pm I do grocery shopping, meal prep, packing lunches, laundry, or errands. Then school pick up, snack, play, dinner, and I leave. I keep a pack n play in their spare room and my daughter takes her afternoon nap while I work. She is now 2 years old and we are still going strong.

My MB bought a beautiful handmade bookcase and filled it with hand me down books that I used to read to my nanny kids. It was the most perfect thoughtful gift I received at my shower.

Did your get paid during those 8 weeks?

And when you came back as a nanny/house manager for only 20 hours per week I'm assuming you made way less than you had before?

I'm asking because I imagine we'll be in the same boat in a year or two (I know our nanny and her husband are trying to conceive but our kids will start K next year - also twins).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the same position- I got pregnant after 4 years with my nanny family when the twins were set to enter full time school. I took 8 weeks and came back with my baby. I morphed into a nanny household manager role 20 hours per week. So I work 1-6pm. From 1-3pm I do grocery shopping, meal prep, packing lunches, laundry, or errands. Then school pick up, snack, play, dinner, and I leave. I keep a pack n play in their spare room and my daughter takes her afternoon nap while I work. She is now 2 years old and we are still going strong.

My MB bought a beautiful handmade bookcase and filled it with hand me down books that I used to read to my nanny kids. It was the most perfect thoughtful gift I received at my shower.

Did your get paid during those 8 weeks?

And when you came back as a nanny/house manager for only 20 hours per week I'm assuming you made way less than you had before?

I'm asking because I imagine we'll be in the same boat in a year or two (I know our nanny and her husband are trying to conceive but our kids will start K next year - also twins).

They paid me at 50% for the 8 weeks which I thought was fair because I fully understood that they were also paying for a temp to fill in. My hourly rate stayed the same, but yes I was only being paid for 20 hours rather than full time.

For sick days, we agreed if my daughter is sick, I will find alternate care and still go to work (hasnt been an issue as my MIL is close by). They've also given me the freedom to bring my NKs to my house if I ever need to which I really appreciate and do maybe 1-2 days per month. My NKs LOVE coming over and I live by MBs work so she just grabs them on her way home. We've all diligently upheld our ends of every agreement and talk about situations as they arise which makes everything go smoothly.