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PP, I appreciate the info you gave about your specific situation. Sorry if it sounds to you like I am leaping to conclusions. In my eyes, I am basing my answers to OP on the info she's provided, and on my experience as a nanny. Again, IMO, families who have to cut corners to afford nanny care tend to offer low or no raises, no bonuses, and eventually feel a bit resentful that they can't buy XYZ because nanny charges so much.
That said, it sounds like you have truly found a great nanny and are offering her generous raises. I'm glad you found someone stellar and that you have bent over backwards to keep her even when she was ill. That sort of appreciation and caring is often as valuable as additional pay.
I hope the OP finds the right childcare situation for her family.
That said, it sounds like you have truly found a great nanny and are offering her generous raises. I'm glad you found someone stellar and that you have bent over backwards to keep her even when she was ill. That sort of appreciation and caring is often as valuable as additional pay.
I hope the OP finds the right childcare situation for her family.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - this is why this forum is of limited value, and may scare you more than inform you.
I'm a local MB (montgomery county) who has a nanny we love, and who has been with us for several years. She is experienced, legal, totally honest, great w/ our kids, etc...
We love her and hope to keep her for years. She loves us too (loves our kids but also really appreciates the job and the way she's treated.)
We hired in your budget range. 9:59 (the MB above who got slammed) is totally right.
If you're reasonable and flexible and a good boss (and not a micromanager) you can find qualified, great nannies in your price range. If you have a long list of requirements and will be very particular in your parenting approach and demands then your price range is unrealistic.
This is what most posters have said, including nannies. Please stop trying to discount us. Most of you have hire one or two nannies. We have worked with and interviewed with countless families. Who do you honestly think has a better grasp on the market? Some of you have lucked out finding a nanny who undervalues her services, that doesn't mean its realistic. Just as there are some nannies who have lucked out and claim to make $30/hour. Doesn't mean its good advice to tell every nanny she should demand that rate.
I think OPs rate is fine if she has a basic job (she does) and realistic expectations about the kind of nanny she will get at that price point (not highly experienced or qualified). That doesn't mean she won't find a lovely young woman who, with some instruction and guidance can't be a great nanny for her family. At lower price points, as with all things, you simply have to work a bit harder or get lucky to find the quality, and you run the risk of getting precisely what you pay for; low quality.
I'm not trying to discount your opinion - you're certainly entitled. But you haven't hired a nanny. I have. I hired a very experienced nanny, not young. I hired a US citizen. I hired someone who drives, who has nannied w/ 5 prior families with an average tenure of 4 years in those positions. I hired in Montgomery County and I started her at what the OP is suggesting and that same nanny still works for us more than 2 years later.
Experienced, mature, qualified, legal - all for $700/week for 50 hours (plus a competitive benefits package.) The OP does not have to compromise on quality or experience. She won't find all of this for her rate from an agency nanny, but the odds of her having fantastic candidates from family/friend/neighbor referrals is excellent.
Have you offered raises to your amazing nanny? OP indicated $700/week is their max budget. That usually means no raises.
What sort of benefits do you offer? Keep in mind that 15 days PTO and federal holidays the parents don't work are standard. OP didn't indicate anything about any benefits at all, did she?
So I don't think you and op share much in common at all.
Anonymous wrote:nannydebsays wrote:Anonymous wrote:nannydebsays wrote:OP, if you have to cut other expenses to afford a nanny with more experience, you would be better off investigating a nanny share. You could stay within budget and still find a nanny with more experience. $1200/week for 50 hours in a share should get you good candidates.
Please share whatever you're smoking. That is an ABSURD rate for a share. Absolutely laughable.
Didn't say it was realistic, just that $1200 weekly would attract good -> excellent candidates. Actually, it's not all that absurd though. 1200/55 hours (so you can calculate OT) is $21.82/hour. High, but not insane, IMO.
It all really depends on what the OP wants. If she wants a nanny with years of experience and stellar references, $700/week in the DC area won't cut it. But if she's willing to accept less experience, possibly no actual nanny experience, she can likely get that for $600/week and leave herself room to offer raises and bonuses.
for a nanny share it is completely absurd. 1200$ x 4 weeks x 2 kids in the share =$9600 per month. Thanks for the laugh
Check your math.
There are 4.3 weeks in a month, so 1200 x 4.3 is $5160 per month. And that means nanny would make a gross wage of $61920 per year. That means each family would pay $30,960 per year to nanny, and an additional $3100 or so in their share of taxes.
OP wanted to know if wages of $700/week were appropriate for single family care. That's $36400/year in wages, plus about $3640 in taxes.
It's a hell of a lot easier to find outstanding experienced nannies to work a 2 infant share for 62K than it is to find the same quality of care for a single family for 36K. Especially in high COL areas like the DC metro area.
http://nnrw.blogspot.com/
I think one way to let employers know about National Nanny Recognition Week is to give them a little card thanking them for being great employers and saying, "It's National Nanny Recognition Week, and I wanted to let you know I am so happy to be your nanny!"
I think one way to let employers know about National Nanny Recognition Week is to give them a little card thanking them for being great employers and saying, "It's National Nanny Recognition Week, and I wanted to let you know I am so happy to be your nanny!"
Anonymous wrote:nannydebsays wrote:OP, if you have to cut other expenses to afford a nanny with more experience, you would be better off investigating a nanny share. You could stay within budget and still find a nanny with more experience. $1200/week for 50 hours in a share should get you good candidates.
Please share whatever you're smoking. That is an ABSURD rate for a share. Absolutely laughable.
Didn't say it was realistic, just that $1200 weekly would attract good -> excellent candidates. Actually, it's not all that absurd though. 1200/55 hours (so you can calculate OT) is $21.82/hour. High, but not insane, IMO.
It all really depends on what the OP wants. If she wants a nanny with years of experience and stellar references, $700/week in the DC area won't cut it. But if she's willing to accept less experience, possibly no actual nanny experience, she can likely get that for $600/week and leave herself room to offer raises and bonuses.
OP, if you have to cut other expenses to afford a nanny with more experience, you would be better off investigating a nanny share. You could stay within budget and still find a nanny with more experience. $1200/week for 50 hours in a share should get you good candidates.
OP, if you max out your budget just to hire someone, how do you plan to pay employment taxes (about 10% of the gross wages), or offer raises and bonuses?
IMO, your more realistic offer is $600 for 50 hours, or $10.90/hour and $16.35/hour OT.
If your heart is set on having a nanny, you will likely have the best luck with the wages you can offer seeking out a younger person who currently works in daycare. The rate you can pay likely is higher than her current wages. She may have decent childcare experience and no nanny experience, and will likely use your position as a jumping off point to a different job with higher wages. She may or may not stay for a full year.
It's possible you might find a true jewel, but you'll need to do some stringent screening, and you'll likely need to manage this novice nanny pretty closely.
Frankly, in your shoes, I would try very hard to find daycare or family daycare, or look into a live-in nanny, who may take lower wages in exchange for lower living expenses.
IMO, your more realistic offer is $600 for 50 hours, or $10.90/hour and $16.35/hour OT.
If your heart is set on having a nanny, you will likely have the best luck with the wages you can offer seeking out a younger person who currently works in daycare. The rate you can pay likely is higher than her current wages. She may have decent childcare experience and no nanny experience, and will likely use your position as a jumping off point to a different job with higher wages. She may or may not stay for a full year.
It's possible you might find a true jewel, but you'll need to do some stringent screening, and you'll likely need to manage this novice nanny pretty closely.
Frankly, in your shoes, I would try very hard to find daycare or family daycare, or look into a live-in nanny, who may take lower wages in exchange for lower living expenses.
OP, guaranteed hours mean that you pay nanny to reserve her time for you from M - F 7am - 6 pm.
If YOU choose to let her go home early, that is not something she should be penalized for when you run late.
And you need to figure out her hourly rate and her OT rate, since nannies are not legally able to be salaried.
Once you figure out her OT rate, see if PAYING her for an extra hour of OT every time you are even 1 minute late improves one of 2 things:
**Her mood when you show up late
or
** Your ability to get home on time or even <gasp!> early
If YOU choose to let her go home early, that is not something she should be penalized for when you run late.
And you need to figure out her hourly rate and her OT rate, since nannies are not legally able to be salaried.
Once you figure out her OT rate, see if PAYING her for an extra hour of OT every time you are even 1 minute late improves one of 2 things:
**Her mood when you show up late
or
** Your ability to get home on time or even <gasp!> early
OP, I am sorry you are struggling with PPD. I hope you can find a more supportive mental health caregiver to help you through this, and that you start to feel better soon.
That said, your nanny sounds like a bit of an entitled BRAT. I am given access to my employer's kitchen (and I do the shopping), and I would never even consider it to be OK to ask my bosses to make me some lunch daily. If I am working, so are my employers, and the idea that they would stop doing their work to prepare meals for me is so insane as to be ridiculous.
I think it's time for a sit down with your nanny. If you are not mentally able to do it, have your SO take the lead. "Nanny, I just want to reiterate that you are welcome to prepare your meals in our kitchen and eat our food. If there is a specific type of food that we can purchase for you at XYZ store, please add it to the list we keep on the frig. we are also fine with you taking DC out to get your lunch if you prefer to buy something for yourself daily."
That said, your nanny sounds like a bit of an entitled BRAT. I am given access to my employer's kitchen (and I do the shopping), and I would never even consider it to be OK to ask my bosses to make me some lunch daily. If I am working, so are my employers, and the idea that they would stop doing their work to prepare meals for me is so insane as to be ridiculous.
I think it's time for a sit down with your nanny. If you are not mentally able to do it, have your SO take the lead. "Nanny, I just want to reiterate that you are welcome to prepare your meals in our kitchen and eat our food. If there is a specific type of food that we can purchase for you at XYZ store, please add it to the list we keep on the frig. we are also fine with you taking DC out to get your lunch if you prefer to buy something for yourself daily."
Damn. I bet you could find a literate professional capable of doing her job who doesn't invite her family to come to work with her for what you're paying.
And I don't think you are asking anything from her that isn't a basic nanny responsibility, so IDK what PP means about housekeeping.
And I don't think you are asking anything from her that isn't a basic nanny responsibility, so IDK what PP means about housekeeping.
You could find local resources like PPD specialists, respite care agencies, and so forth, and simply type them up and give them to MB and DB, saying, "I am concerned about you both, and have risked overstepping my bounds because of those concerns. This is a list of some resources in the area that you might be interested in."
And then if they do nothing and the situation continues to worsen, you can always call in grandparents or DFCS.
And then if they do nothing and the situation continues to worsen, you can always call in grandparents or DFCS.
Tell them you will be going on your trip because you can't get any refunds for travel or lodging at this point. Offer to give them names of some sitters/nannies you know and trust that could cover your shifts.
If they fire you for their screw-up, get unemployment and find a new job.
Hopefully it won't come to that, but if you let them ruin your PTO there will be lasting resentment.
Good luck!
If they fire you for their screw-up, get unemployment and find a new job.
Hopefully it won't come to that, but if you let them ruin your PTO there will be lasting resentment.
Good luck!
You could also try to put together a budget based on $10/hour, minimum wage, and a 3rd higher rate. Seeing just how much money your potential nanny would be earning might help you decide what a liveable wage is. (Don't forget to include OT after 40 hours, and take some off the gross for taxes.)
Also, look at YOUR budget. How much do you want to pay for childcare? How much can you afford to pay? Often, if you meet in the middle of those 2 numbers, you find a good compromise.
Also, look at YOUR budget. How much do you want to pay for childcare? How much can you afford to pay? Often, if you meet in the middle of those 2 numbers, you find a good compromise.
I am not in the area, but my take on the difference in rates:
MH - are you considering a high school student or a college student? for HS, I'd go a little above minimum wage, so $8/hour. For a college student, maybe $10/hour. You're basically trying to attract kids who want to have a job but would rather not do retail or food service.
Sitter - High school, $10/hour 40 hour minimum. College, $12/hour, 4 hour minimum. Adults should set their own rates, likely around $14 and up
Nanny - a FT temp situation might pay a little more per hour, say $16/hr instead of $15. I would guess getting into a share would be tough unless you didn't disclose that you'd be switching to daycare - however, for a share you'd likely be looking at $10/hour per family.
<cue the posters claiming nannies work happily for either $8/hour or $35/hour, and GO!>
MH - are you considering a high school student or a college student? for HS, I'd go a little above minimum wage, so $8/hour. For a college student, maybe $10/hour. You're basically trying to attract kids who want to have a job but would rather not do retail or food service.
Sitter - High school, $10/hour 40 hour minimum. College, $12/hour, 4 hour minimum. Adults should set their own rates, likely around $14 and up
Nanny - a FT temp situation might pay a little more per hour, say $16/hr instead of $15. I would guess getting into a share would be tough unless you didn't disclose that you'd be switching to daycare - however, for a share you'd likely be looking at $10/hour per family.
<cue the posters claiming nannies work happily for either $8/hour or $35/hour, and GO!>
I would spell it out for her a final time OP. And I mean give her specific times when bib must be on and a list (naptime) when it can be off, as long as clothes are changed after nap if his torso is wet.
As a nanny, if a caregiver can't follow directions that are firmly laid out, they need to be replaced.
As a nanny, if a caregiver can't follow directions that are firmly laid out, they need to be replaced.
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