I would like to start leaving cash for our nanny - I didn't really think of it before but I think it is a great idea!

What do you think is a reasonable monthly or weekly amount? Our nanny only has one of our children full time, but sometimes has two of them with her. We live in the Annapolis, MD area.

Yes, you should def pay her to go out once a week, to an inexpensive place like noodles and company, or chipotle. Nannies love to get out of the house once in awhile! And although I do get out of the house, it makes me feel awful that they don't offer to pay-I see it as very cheap.

My DB puts 4 $20 bills in a envelope every month that is used for outings, lunch, special treats, etc. We generally have money left over into the next month but sometimes we use it all and he replenishes as needed.

My nanny does this and I just reimburse her monthly, along with any other expenses.

Some times she doesn't tell me everything that she's spent (and I know that she's treating the kids) so I'll often just add $20-50 to whatever I'm reimbursing if I feel like she's spending her own money.

I have to be a little bit careful not to offend her (she likes to do fun things w/ the kids and frequently spends her own money on them in ways I don't feel necessary) but I try to walk the line between offending and reimbursing appropriately.

You can leave money for food every once ina while but if she's taking them out to eat 1-2 times a week then that's prob because she wants to go out to eat.

I'd leave petty cash for activities though.

Op here-Thanks for all the responses. This our first experience with a nanny taking our child out so much for lunch. As far as activities, we pay for any classes that our child does during the day.

Our nanny takes DDs out to lunch about once a week and I always pay for all of them. I give nanny a credit card for expenses like these and she always brings home the receipts. I would feel terrible if nanny paid for my children with her own money during work hours.

It would be really nice to offer this. My charge loves going out to restaurants and it's a nice 'treat' once in a while.

Your nanny is probably trying to break up the monotony of the week. It would be a nice gesture to leave her some cash to go out occasionally. Your child probably enjoys it too.

My former mb gave me money every Friday to take the little one and myself out to lunch after Gymboree class. I appreciated it.

I do this with all my charges. We go once a week to various places and they try different types of ethic food. My employers are thrilled by the variety of what they eat and how well behaved they are at resturants. I never ask them to pay for the children's meals but if they offered money that would be so nice.

Those who worry about non nutritious foods, you should hire a nanny that knows what's appropriate and healthy, or at the very least what you consider acceptable food. I've always noticed that I feed my charges more nutritious meals than their parents who often give processed foods.

MB, do you leave her money every week for outings/classes etc?
If not, you should be doing this. I don't mean that in an entitled way - just to have some 'petty cash' for unexpected outings.
I would tell her to start using that $ for lunch once/week - you seem okay with the fact that she does this, so why not?

Is this something you want your nanny to be doing every week? Depending on where she is taking them what they are eating may not be very nutritious. Yes, every child should learn to behave at a restaurant, but you have to consider what they are eating and why your nanny is taking them out so often.

My former MB did this, really any time I took my charges anywhere that involved food, she paid for all 4 of us. Honestly, it made me super uncomfortable, her paying for me. So eventually I just packed the kids lunches and we still practiced our courtesy skills, just not on MBs dime.

My husband and I are considering doing this maybe a few times a month. I have notice that our nanny goes out to eat at least once a week with my child and she always buys something for my child. We have told her that she welcome to anything in the house. All she has said is that it is good for the kids to eat out and learn to sit properly in a public and eat. She has never asked us to extra money, but I am starting to feel badly. We are thinking about leaving her an extra $20 a few times a month for lunch.
Anyone else do this type of thing? Or am I being crazy because it is her choice how she spends her money.