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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm on the fence, really, because of the posts by nannies here who seem so entitled.  I have unlimited funds for childcare but what I really need is someone to make my life easier, not harder. [b] While there's a perk of no drop-off and pick-up, someone is also in my house all day so that totally offsets that benefit.[/b]

Are there any WFH parents who have found their nannies to be worth it (assuming we are paying on the higher end of DC rates)?  I'm suspecting that most WOH parents have no clue what's going on anyways so not at all interested in those opinions.  I ask because I've had a few weeks off while my older toddler's school is out before summer session and it's been quite the eye-opener seeing the level of interaction and care provided by nannies.  I'm not deluding myself that daycare is better but at least many of them don't allow phone usage, and there are more people around at least.

I look like my toddler's nanny, so before anyone gets upset about how I'd know who the nannies are, it's because several approached me to chat and I pretended to be a nanny. [/quote]

Nanny hands down. The bolded is just false. I WFH. I have a desk setup in my bedroom. I have the kids' schedule setup so that I don't see the kids between 9am and 5pm (unless I want to). The nanny takes the kids to the park in the morning, I come down for a morning snack, and am back at my desk well before they get home. They come home and eat lunch and then all go play in my son's room (the biggest) at 1pm (per my request) and that's when I come down and eat my lunch. Then I'm back at my desk until 5. Them being there is not an issue at all. No pick up and no drop off is HUGE. Plus, I always come downstairs at 5pm to a cleaner house than I left. Nanny keeps the floors swept in the eating area, toys are put away (even if some were out in the morning). It's not like she's dusting or anything, but things are neat and tidy. I'm not washing bottles and packing lunch in the morning, she handles all that. She would even do the kids' laundry if I wanted, but I'm picky about laundry so I do it myself.

Plus you gotta factor in dramatically less illness, the fact that the nanny will come if the kids have colds, AND the fact that they can nap in their own beds on a schedule you set. The latter is actually the majority of the reason we got a nanny in the first place. My first kid WOULD NOT have slept at daycare. He is SUCH a finicky sleeper. Both my kids have fantastic sleep hygiene and take great naps, in their nice dark rooms, with their sound machines. Huge for them.

Yes, I know that at the park, the kids are playing and I'm sure the nannies are supervising, while chatting and playing on their phones. So what? The kids are safe and happy, and the nanny is WONDERFUL with the kids the rest of the day - morning, pre nap, after nap, she's engaging, interactive, on the floor playing with them. And I KNOW it because I can hear them. Some days, I keep my noise machine on so I can't, some days I keep it off, I always stop to listen when I go to the bathroom or get water, and I have literally never not heard obvious sounds of interaction/playing. I also walk very softly, and I have literally never walked into a room and seen the nanny on her phone. Never in two years. She can have her chiller time at the park. I can't be "on" with the kids for 8 straight hours either! Now, we do have an awesome nanny. But I would urge you not to draw too many conclusions based on what you see at the park. [/quote]

Thank you! This is so helpful.  I think as we continue interviewing we just need to set expectations that the nanny works when the kids are sick (to a reasonable degree) and limits phone use in the house.  We liked our nanny when we had one but she would call off about 7 days a month expecting to be paid because our kid got a cold and apparently passed it on, never mind that we were quarantining due to early pandemic and weren’t sick ourselves.  All of what you described sounds perfect and well worth the money.

Are you paying $35/hour or is that excessive?[/quote]

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