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I don't know any FT nannies with a charge in preschool who is NOT responsible for getting them to and from school. And I know a lot of nannies. 
I also know that by the time a 2nd child arrives, nannies are often doing more around the house because many employers have slacked off. At the start of a job dishes/trash/etc. might have been a shared responsibility between nanny and parent(s), but often that sort of "dirty work" becomes nanny's job alone.
So suggesting that a nanny to a 3 yo in preschool 6 - 9 hours a week who is currently working 11 hours a day M- F doing standard nanny tasks plus some household assistance like dirty work and groceries/errands can easily and simply add infant care to her plate for an additional $50- $100/week is, to me, ludicrous.
And I have been through this transition 5 times over the years.
I also know that by the time a 2nd child arrives, nannies are often doing more around the house because many employers have slacked off. At the start of a job dishes/trash/etc. might have been a shared responsibility between nanny and parent(s), but often that sort of "dirty work" becomes nanny's job alone.
So suggesting that a nanny to a 3 yo in preschool 6 - 9 hours a week who is currently working 11 hours a day M- F doing standard nanny tasks plus some household assistance like dirty work and groceries/errands can easily and simply add infant care to her plate for an additional $50- $100/week is, to me, ludicrous.
And I have been through this transition 5 times over the years.
Anonymous wrote:We are expecting our first baby in mid-July, and have a few questions for other moms out there about nanny shares. We are new to this and just trying to get a sense of costs.
-What is the going rate for a nanny these days?
That depends entirely on what sort of nanny you want. Do you want someone with education, experience, or both? Do you feel comfortable with a daycare worker who is changing jobs and becoming a nanny, or do you want a career nanny? To be blunt, you can likely find a person who speaks little English and whose legal immigration status is questionable, and pay her $10/hour to clean your home and "watch" your child, or you can try to find a British nanny with years of experience, a degree from Norland, an absolute aversion to any work not directly infant related , and an hourly rate of $30+. Many nannies of all stripes fall in the $15 - $20/hour range. Virtually all nannies are legally entitled to overtime pay after 40 hours of work per week.
Once you have determined your budget for childcare, start advertising with the low end of your rate. See if the candidates you find are people you would willingly leave your child with. Then adjust your starting rate up as needed.
-How much for 1 baby?
The above numbers are for a single child.
-How much for 2 babies (if doing a nanny-share)?
A smart nanny will charge each family about 75% of her single family rate in a share. That means if a nanny would work for you alone for $16/hour, she will charges around $12/hour per family for a share.
-How much for full time vs part time?
Part time work commands higher rates, because nanny then has to either survive on PT hours, or has to find a second family whose schedule fits exactly in to yours.
Do you have to pay for the nanny's healthcare? If so, what percentage?
IMO, assistance with healthcare puts an employer in a position to find the best possible nanny at the employer's price point. Of course, that assumes that the basic and secondary benefits are also in place - 15 days PTO, Major Holidays off, mileage compensation at the IRS rate, and guaranteed hours/guaranteed pay.
-Recommended paycheck companies?
Use and love HomeWork Solutions myself.
Thanks so much!! Any information or suggestions are welcome!
Anonymous wrote:I think that's pretty standard OP, and yes - adding to the gross pay, not net.
Also, it's fairly common for 3 yr olds to start going to some level of preschool so that can offset some of the additional work.
Yeah, because running the 3 yo to and from preschool 3 times a week is easy-peasy and preschools never have days off. And the 3 hours of the day the 3 yo is at school makes it even easier to get baby on a good schedule AND add household chores to make sure nanny stays busy! Because having 2 - 2.5 hours "free of caring for" the preschooler 3 days a week 35 - 40 weeks a year completely offsets the addition of an infant to the mix.
OP, are you paying nanny at or slightly above the market rate for a nanny with her education/experience? If so, $2 - $3 more gross per hour might work. If not, you need to offer a larger rate hike if you want to keep nanny.
OP, I wrote out a huge post and lost it. Here's the short version. Let her sleep when she needs to for a week or 2. 10 - 11 and 2:30 - ??. That is a normal sleep schedule for a 13 mo. Try shifting the DS toward a 1 pm nap.
Then:
1) 10:15 - 11 and 2:15 - ?? for a week
2) 10:30 - 11 and 2 - ?? for a week
3) 10:30 - 11 and 1:45 - ?? ..week
4) 10:30 - 11 and 1:30 - ?? ..week
5) 10:45 - 11 and 1:15 - ?? ..week
6) 10:45 - 11 and 1:00 - ?? for a week
7) quiet time with you if acting tired in am and afternoon nap between 12:30 and 1 - ?? along with DS
Then:
1) 10:15 - 11 and 2:15 - ?? for a week
2) 10:30 - 11 and 2 - ?? for a week
3) 10:30 - 11 and 1:45 - ?? ..week
4) 10:30 - 11 and 1:30 - ?? ..week
5) 10:45 - 11 and 1:15 - ?? ..week
6) 10:45 - 11 and 1:00 - ?? for a week
7) quiet time with you if acting tired in am and afternoon nap between 12:30 and 1 - ?? along with DS
Ask DB and MB what exactly they do as the nap routine. Ask to watch them go through that routine.
They are not communicating something to you. Either they are fibbing about how well the babies sleep because MB simply wants things done her way and doesn't care about the children's actual needs, or they have some sort of special magical methodology for naps.
Either way, you need to be let in on their secrets!
They are not communicating something to you. Either they are fibbing about how well the babies sleep because MB simply wants things done her way and doesn't care about the children's actual needs, or they have some sort of special magical methodology for naps.
Either way, you need to be let in on their secrets!
Powder of some kind in his shoes every morning and evening might help with the smell, as would having him wash his feet as soon as he comes home each day.
Did any of the employers who gave you references say she had cared for multiple infants while in their employ? If not, that, coupled with the developmental appropriateness issues, would make me start looking elsewhere.
A log isn't that tough. Make a chart with 15 minute intervals, down one side and ate/slept/played//diapers across the top then fill in the times of each activity.
A log isn't that tough. Make a chart with 15 minute intervals, down one side and ate/slept/played//diapers across the top then fill in the times of each activity.
If nanny is still responsible for the 5 yo when there isn't any school, or when he/she is sick, then the cost difference is null.
in your situation, Care suggests $16/hour for someone with no experience up to $22/hour for someone with 10+ years experience.
Generally, to retain a nanny, one needs to add at least 20% to the rate care suggests, so you would be looking at $19 - $27/hour.
in your situation, Care suggests $16/hour for someone with no experience up to $22/hour for someone with 10+ years experience.
Generally, to retain a nanny, one needs to add at least 20% to the rate care suggests, so you would be looking at $19 - $27/hour.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have older friends that have wonderful women who have been a part of their household for 10+ years -- first as nannies for their children, then as more of a driver/cook/household manager/housekeeper as the children aged. They are respected members of the family who play such a critical, and evolving, role for the family. How do I find that?
If you start a nanny at the common DC area wage of $20 an hour and offer $1 raises each year (which is fairly a low amount for a raise) you would be paying, AT A MINIMUM, $30 an hour when your kids are 11 or 12 years old for a woman who is just doing some cooking and driving the kids around.... does that sound like a smart investment to you?
Plus, if you were to have another baby during that time, you would have to add $2 an hour right there, so that would put you at $32 an hour after 10 years plus the sudden bump during whatever year you had the baby.
OP is looking for someone who will do more than cook and drive occasionally. She is looking for someone to manage her children's care and eventually manage her household as well.
Once OP's infant is a toddler, and not in need of multiple naps/feedings per day, OP can add grocery shopping to Nanny's job. Then add Target runs/other Errands. Presumably Nanny already does kid laundry, but if she is willing to add on adult laundry at some point, that's another chore OP can pass off. As the years pass, Nanny will be driving kids to schools/sports/activities, keeping the home organized, managing the kids schedules, dealing with vendors, doing light cleaning, and on and on.
OP wants a nanny to do what OP would do if she didn't work. That is possible as long as the nanny knows going in that OP is seeking that sort of person, and as long as OP adds tasks gradually, so Nanny can focus on the kids needs, not "light cleaning" all day long.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can we please stop calling her a nanny?
She isn't a nanny. She's an illegal. Do you think the parents didn't want to pay more for a legal person who is a nanny?
What does her immigration status have to do with her title as a nanny? You just sound ignorant.
If she calls herself a nanny, she is. Plain and simple. Until there is a professional governing board, certification, or license required, ANYONE who says they are a nanny is one. Continuing to argue the semantics of it is just tiring and does nothing to address the real issues here.
So if I say I am a Senator, or a horse groomer, or an illegal bookie, or even a mother, does that make me what I claim to be?
Yes, any sad sack can call themselves a nanny. Doesn't make their claim valid. That's why parents with a decent level of savvy don't think a care.com $10 "background check" is sufficient, why they don't just blindly believe all the "references" are legitimate, and why they hire people who are in the country legally and then PAY them legally as well.
If you wouldn't trust a lawyer who was an illegal immigrant and wanted to be paid in cash to do your legal work, why the ever loving H#{{ would you trust someone like that to care for your children?
Anonymous wrote:I have older friends that have wonderful women who have been a part of their household for 10+ years -- first as nannies for their children, then as more of a driver/cook/household manager/housekeeper as the children aged. They are respected members of the family who play such a critical, and evolving, role for the family. How do I find that?
How old are your kids now? What is your game plan for maintaining a great relationship with your nanny/manager through the years? What would your expectations be regarding wages as hours started to decline, while responsibilities remained at a high level?
For me to remain with a family for years and years, I would have to genuinely like and have common ground with the parents. We would have to be terrific at communicating, and have a mutually respectful relationship. I would also expect that as the number of work hours declined during the school year that my wages would not decline as well. In other words, I would expect to continue to earn raises and bonuses based on current job responsibilities, and not lose ground financially.
Of course, I would also have to be good with kids of all ages, and happy to work with kids of all ages. I'd need to be willing to expand my skill set to encompass being a "family manager", a tutor, a chef, a driver, and so forth.
If you can find a nanny who has triplet experience, and IF all 3 sets of parents can agree that Nanny will be running the show when it comes to schedules, including feeding times, nap times, outings, and everything else, then you might be able to make this work OP.
Of course, before finding a nanny, all 3 sets of parents need to agree and understand that their parenting choices with their single baby may not mesh at all in any way with what a nanny to "triplets" has to do to retain some control over her day.
But a nanny with triplet experience is going to be hard to find and she will also be able to demand a high hourly rate. If a nanny for a single baby charges $15/hour, I would expect a nanny with the experience and knowledge to take on a 3 family infant share to cost $12/hour PER FAMILY, plus OT.
That means that you'd be saving less than $150/week of the cost of a nanny for your child only. ($12 x 47.5 vs. $15 x 47.5 is a difference of $142.50.) IMO, that's not really worth the hassle of a share, especially a 3 family share.
Of course, before finding a nanny, all 3 sets of parents need to agree and understand that their parenting choices with their single baby may not mesh at all in any way with what a nanny to "triplets" has to do to retain some control over her day.
But a nanny with triplet experience is going to be hard to find and she will also be able to demand a high hourly rate. If a nanny for a single baby charges $15/hour, I would expect a nanny with the experience and knowledge to take on a 3 family infant share to cost $12/hour PER FAMILY, plus OT.
That means that you'd be saving less than $150/week of the cost of a nanny for your child only. ($12 x 47.5 vs. $15 x 47.5 is a difference of $142.50.) IMO, that's not really worth the hassle of a share, especially a 3 family share.
There is a standard, OP, whether you want to hear it or not. That standard is that you either give notice or severance in lieu of notice. Severance allows your nanny to maintain her standard of living while she job hunts or waits for unemployment to start.
If your nanny walked out on you without any notice, would you be in a world of hurt? Would you want her to be decent and give you notice if she planned to quit? Then you do the same for her.
And if you "can't afford" to pay nanny and daycare for 2 weeks, then you let nanny know right now that you are planning to start daycare ASAP, and you take your chances that she will find a new job before you find a daycare.
If you choose not to give your nanny any notice or severance, be ready for karma to kick your a$$ repeatedly.
If your nanny walked out on you without any notice, would you be in a world of hurt? Would you want her to be decent and give you notice if she planned to quit? Then you do the same for her.
And if you "can't afford" to pay nanny and daycare for 2 weeks, then you let nanny know right now that you are planning to start daycare ASAP, and you take your chances that she will find a new job before you find a daycare.
If you choose not to give your nanny any notice or severance, be ready for karma to kick your a$$ repeatedly.
IRS rate per mile. Covers gas, maintenance, wear and tear.
Anonymous wrote:nannydebsays wrote:I know nannies who charge a fee for texts and a higher fee for calls that happen when the nanny is off work. Seems to help parents stop the habit and act independently.
Of course, you have to charge enough to make your employers unhappy to spend that amount of money...
HAHA you are hilarious nanny deb. You get more and more out there every day.
I respond to the very occasional text or call from my employers. I have never had to institute a "pay-per-contact" clause in a contract, because I have never had employers call me 10+ times in 12 - 24 hours of time off the clock to ask idiotic questions. I know nannies that have experienced that insanity, and they did charge their bosses. Sorry if that blows your mind!
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