Are you sure that you wouldn't still want the nanny over the summer? With 4 kids--and one needs to be driven to/from camp, another wants to go to the pool with their friend, the baby needs to stay home and nap, etc. it would be helpful to have an additional adult around.

OP here,

I spoke with DH, and he said he imagines that he'd continue to take some time off when the kids are out of school, so we'd use a nanny for the older kids for partial days more often than full. So, he thinks we should make an addition to the hourly rate, rather than a flat fee like $100.

If so, what's a fair addition? Let's say I'm paying $20/hour for the baby. Does $2 per hour per kid make sense? $3? Does it make more sense to add a flat fee? Something like $5 if one or more older kid is is there? Older kids will be 7 - 11 and are pretty easy going, well behaved kids, if it makes a difference.

OP here,

I just wanted to add that I'm really grateful for all of your thoughts. It helps me as I try to sort this out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think its reasonable to offer one pay for the baby but you need to be willing to pay more if even one of the other kids is home for a sick day etc. What happens on snow days when you are home? Or school days off for in service training, half days, Presidents Day etc?

And where do you live? The rate changes depending on location.

Guaranteed pay for the school year, including your vacation and snow days.

What happens when YOU are sick? Nanny takes kids to/from school in your car, so she needs to be on your insurance.

You won’t find anyone willing to do any prep or cleaning related to the older kids if they’re only being paid for the baby. Otoh, the nanny can do snacks, lunches, water bottles, wash masks and clothes, strip/wash/remake beds for the older kids, if she’s compensated.

How are you planning to handle conference weeks? Are you part of kindergarten round up? How many summer days before school do you go in? Does your school do early release or late start to accommodate in service hours, or do you have in service days? The nanny will need as many dates and times BEFORE hire as possible.

My husband could take the kids to/from school if I were sick, that's what happens now. We're in a pretty walkable community, so a nanny who doesn't drive would be fine. In the longer term, if a nanny wanted to drive, we could work on figuring that out.

Early release or late start, they'd just go to before/aftercare at my school. I'm not involved in kindergarten round up, and I don't know what conference weeks are.

Anonymous wrote:I think its reasonable to offer one pay for the baby but you need to be willing to pay more if even one of the other kids is home for a sick day etc. What happens on snow days when you are home? Or school days off for in service training, half days, Presidents Day etc?

And where do you live? The rate changes depending on location.

My assumption is that I'd structure their pay the way mine is structured. I get paid over 10 months. During those 10 months, unless there's something specific outside school hours, it doesn't vary. So, if school is closed because of a snow day, or a holiday, or a vacation day, then the pay wouldn't change. Nanny would get the benefit of that (e.g. never having to drive in the snow, 2 weeks paid leave at Christmas, all federal holidays), and also the downside (e.g. vacations are tied to the school calendar, no real flexibility in hours). Of course I'd pay for sick leave, or enough personal leave to cover urgent things, but not enough for a vacation that doesn't align with school vacation.

My kids stay in the aftercare at my school on days when I have a meeting after school, or a half day.

Anonymous wrote:And makes sure the nanny knows that summers are off and unpaid. You’ll need to look for a new nanny every summer, just in case.

It would be in the original contract, I'd be clear that this was a 10 month contract, and if someone was interested, I'm in a good position to help them find a summer job if that's what they want. I guess the job might also be appealing to a parent with school aged kids who wanted summer job.

My thought was that I'd offer something like 1/4 of the pay they'd miss over the summer, payable when they return, or a fraction of that if they let me know they aren't returning in time for me to find someone else without a scramble. I realize they might not come back, but even in a 12 month position you don't have that guarantee.

Anonymous wrote:OP, your best bet is to look for a share with another teacher. Make sure they’re ok with your older kids being there on a few days (haven’t you thought through the days over the summer when you go in?), but the nanny would NOT be doing much with or for them.

OP here,

I don't think I want a share. I think I want 1:1 care in my own home.

We usually have a few days of preservice, and a few days of time after school lets out. This fall, I'd miss preservice, since the baby is due in July, but I could see asking the nanny to take the older kids during the time after the kids get out. I'm still unclear how much extra I'd expect to pay for that. My school is also fine with the kids coming in while I work in my classroom, and there are usually a few parents who do that, so if a nanny found having all 4 kids overwhelming, I could do that.

As for days during the summer, if I'm paying for 10 months, then I would need to do something else during the other 2. In the past when I haven't been available to the kids in the summer, my husband took leave, or a grandparent watched the kids, or I used summer camp. I imagine that I'd continue to do something similar. If it happened that I had a nanny who was working at another job and had some time off, I could offer the hours to them, in case they were hoping to earn a little money, but it wouldn't be a requirement, they'd be free to turn me down.

18-20 per hr with guarteed pay . 100 extra per day when extra kids are there . 1000 bonus if she cones back after the summer and a raise .

Anonymous wrote:I think its reasonable to offer one pay for the baby but you need to be willing to pay more if even one of the other kids is home for a sick day etc. What happens on snow days when you are home? Or school days off for in service training, half days, Presidents Day etc?

And where do you live? The rate changes depending on location.

Guaranteed pay for the school year, including your vacation and snow days.

What happens when YOU are sick? Nanny takes kids to/from school in your car, so she needs to be on your insurance.

You won’t find anyone willing to do any prep or cleaning related to the older kids if they’re only being paid for the baby. Otoh, the nanny can do snacks, lunches, water bottles, wash masks and clothes, strip/wash/remake beds for the older kids, if she’s compensated.

How are you planning to handle conference weeks? Are you part of kindergarten round up? How many summer days before school do you go in? Does your school do early release or late start to accommodate in service hours, or do you have in service days? The nanny will need as many dates and times BEFORE hire as possible.

I think its reasonable to offer one pay for the baby but you need to be willing to pay more if even one of the other kids is home for a sick day etc. What happens on snow days when you are home? Or school days off for in service training, half days, Presidents Day etc?

And where do you live? The rate changes depending on location.

And makes sure the nanny knows that summers are off and unpaid. You’ll need to look for a new nanny every summer, just in case.

OP, your best bet is to look for a share with another teacher. Make sure they’re ok with your older kids being there on a few days (haven’t you thought through the days over the summer when you go in?), but the nanny would NOT be doing much with or for them.

Anonymous wrote:No, not reasonable. Plan for at least $18 an hour.

Which part is not reasonable? How much would you add to the $18 on days when the older kids were there?

No, not reasonable. Plan for at least $18 an hour.

I have 3 kids and am expecting my 4th. I work not quite full time at my older 3 kids’ school so we leave together on the morning and come back together in the afternoon.

I am thinking of getting a nanny for the new baby, and am trying to figure out what is realistic. I imagine there might be a couple days like PT conferences when it might be convenient for the older kids to stay with the nanny, but probably no more than 5. Could I pay a one baby rate, and then pay extra on those handful of days. If so, what is the going rate for 40 Hours for one child, and what would be a fair add on for 3 more?

Also, I wouldn’t need a nanny in the summer. I had a thought that perhaps I could help the nanny find a summer job, and then offer a bonus if they came back to us in the fall? Would that be reasonable?