Anonymous wrote:OP here: thank you both. Yes, that makes sense. WE have a total package we offer. But seems like all the nannies on this board complain about the low wages (15-20!!) plus all the benefits. Yet, i'm trying to think of another job where you can watch tv for 2-3 hours of your day and get paid to do it.

I'm glad I'm being reasonable.

OP, I'm one of the MBs above. Two cautions: 1) don't assume that the nannies on this board represent the nannies you will interview and consider hiring. This board is a subset of reality, and because of the anonymity does not accurately reflect the market or people's attitudes or behaviors. The nannies I interviewed were professional, appropriate, experienced, and within the price range I was expecting (and the range of $15-20/hr). They also all had a sense of the competitive marketplace, the value of the total package, and the various things about which they could be more or less negotiable. I think you'll find much more reason in the candidates you interview than the skewed view of a few angry posters here.

2) Please don't hire a nanny with the attitude that they will have (or choose to spend) 2-3 hours of tv time every day. The implied judgment there isn't good. It is a hard, relentless job. Surely you know from being the parent to your kid(s) just how much work it is. If you are hiring someone for whom this will be a 40+ hour a week position that is a major commitment. Some downtime is necessary and good. A good nanny won't spend 3 hours watching tv, but a good boss will support the nanny taking some downtime to recharge. Seriously. You need to be allies with your nanny - not suspicious of him/her. Try to start from a positive viewpoint, not the assumption that nannies are slackers being paid to watch tv for a chunk of the day.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thank you both. Yes, that makes sense. WE have a total package we offer. But seems like all the nannies on this board complain about the low wages (15-20!!) plus all the benefits. Yet, i'm trying to think of another job where you can watch tv for 2-3 hours of your day and get paid to do it.

I'm glad I'm being reasonable.

OP, if the above is the attitude you are bringing to the table as you search for a nanny, I think you might want to reflect a bit on how to feel more positive about your choice to hire a nanny, and on how to feel better about what your nanny will be doing for you each and every day. If you go into a nanny search with a negative attitude, many excellent nannies will sense your issues, and will choose to avoid the job you are trying to fill.

Here's one way to re-frame your thought process:

"I am excited to be seeking a nanny! I have decided what sort of benefits and salary I can afford to offer, and I am willing to be flexible in the salary aspect by cutting back on benefits such as paid health insurance if the nanny I want to hire is asking for more per hour than I can afford and isn't interested in that insurance benefit.

I will also be interested to see what candidates tell me they plan to do during nap time. I recognize that caring for children 10+ hours a day is mentally and physically challenging for everyone, and I want my chosen nanny to be comfortable taking a break during nap time if all her daily tasks have been done. I need to remember that a rested nanny can provide the attention and love my child needs during the time my child is awake!"

Also, write a job description, and choose what is essential, negotiable, and not that important from that list. Then, if the absolutely perfect candidate appears and says I would prefer not to do X from your "not that important" list, you won't risk losing a great nanny because you are stuck on that not-that-important task. Then determine your nanny budget, including all benefits, and start your search with a positive attitude!

It's usually not a good idea to resent the person you are going to employ before you hire them...

OP here: thank you both. Yes, that makes sense. WE have a total package we offer. But seems like all the nannies on this board complain about the low wages (15-20!!) plus all the benefits. Yet, i'm trying to think of another job where you can watch tv for 2-3 hours of your day and get paid to do it.

I'm glad I'm being reasonable.

Our nanny took a long break (about an hour) during one nap and a shorter break during another. We never had a list of chores for her to complete. The general expectation was that she would be working unless she was on break. We had a list of helpful things she could do like emptying the dishwasher, laundry, organizing kids toys. Our job had a lot of extra down time, so we made sure to hire someone with an excellent work ethic, and it worked well.

MB here. I can't speak to NoVa but we're in Mont. Cty just outside DC. I think the $15-20 range is more than wide enough to cover you, including nannies from agencies, unless you have many children, or multiples, or unusual schedule requirements or soemthing.

We found our nanny through neighbors. She isn't someone who would go through an agency or care.com etc... - she's always found her jobs through word of mouth and family referrals. She is not US born but is a citizen and she drives. We pay her legally. She quoted us a rate that was absurdly low and we pay her more than she quoted. We pay her a weekly salary (which breaks down into 40 hrs of straight time and 10 hours of overtime). The more time you're hiring for the more likely it is you can be at the $15/hr range, or possibly even a little lower.

Think about your total package (guaranteed hours per week, benefits, vacation, sick leave/holidays, health insurance contributions if you plan to offer any, use of a vehicle, etc...) For someone looking for a long-term position the total package can be more relevant than just the hourly rate. Also, for the employer (and the employee) a benefit like paying for health insurance (either in total or up to a certain amount for month) is not taxable - so it can be a way to offer a bit more compensation in a way that doesn't cost an additional amount in taxes.

In terms of what the nanny does when the kids are napping, she is responsible for maintaining the order and cleanliness of their areas (play space, bedroom, kitchen) and feeding them. She is free to do those things whenever/however she likes. If she has things well enough in hand she is more than welcome to nap or watch tv or read (or do whatever she wants) while they are sleeping. As long as everything and everyone is calm at the end of the day she can manage the work however she chooses. (She's been a nanny for 20 years - I wouldn't presume to dictate how she should manage her time, other than working with her on the schedule I want for the kids.)

We have twin toddlers and our nanny has been with us since they were 4 mths old. So they used to take 2 naps/day - not they're down to one. A chunk of naptime used to be taken up w/ cleaning bottles, preparing food, etc... Now the naptime might be laundry. On the rare occasions when I'm home I try to get her to nap. I've been unsuccessful in that but I know from my experience as their mother that the little downtime that is available is well spent in making sure the caregiver isn't utterly exhausted.

Most here like to say 15-20.

Nannies and trolls don't respond. This question is for other MBs:

What do you consider is fair pay for an experienced, legal nanny who drives? We are taking money out for taxes .

I'd like to be fair - located in N. Arlington.

Also - for those of you that have infants and babies that sleep more than one nap, what does your nanny do during the 3-4 hours the baby is not awake?