Anonymous wrote:We are expecting another baby this fall. We currently have our 8 year old in school. We are only looking for someone to watch our baby, not older kid as she'll be in school. We don't want to pay for a nanny for two kids because the older kid is in school, but we will pay the nanny for the hours she is taking care of both kids, which might be some days, sick days, etc. I wanted to get advice from other parents on how they figure the costs for a nanny when you have children already in school or in daycare.

No one with a functioning brain would accept this job because they know that the other child will also be her responsibility:

1. Inclement weather and schools can be closed for a week or more.

2. Teacher work days and no school.

3. Sick days for children and she has to take care of an infant and a sick child or both children are sick.

4. She will be responsible for 8 yr. Old when kid gets home from school.

This job screams JOB CREEP!

Yeah, I agree with the PPs. You should just pick/negotiate a standard hourly rate with guaranteed hours that your nanny finds acceptable for this situation.

Not how that works!

While indeed your child is in school, it is important to understand that you are essentially asking or expecting your nanny to be an on call/standby nanny for your second child and that will likely mean when he is sick (which really isnt ideal for a nanny). If you are looking to avoid resentment, keep your nanny, and respect your nanny's availability, you'll pay guaranteed hours for one child and include an average number of guaranteed hours for your second child as well. Nannies often feel taken advantage of when they are expected to be available on standby for a second or third child with no knowledge on when that would be or how often it would be (and yes you dont know this as well but if you want standby coverage you should show that you value that convenience by paying some type of retainer).

Also when parents ay that their nanny will only care for one child because the other is in school, that almost is never truly the case. A lot of times nannies take on tasks related to older siblings who are in school like cleaning up after their breakfast, cleaning their dishes, laundry and picking up after then as often (and as expected) parents cannot separate siblings. So you will find that your nanny is only caring for one child. There will be times when you nanny will spend time with your child even if you view their interactions as "not caring" for your 8 year old...eg in the mornings or afternoons.

Also, take into account that days when your nanny suddenly has to take on both kids, it does throw off her routine with your younger child and since they have a significant age gap, your nanny has to go out of her way to prepare activities and routines that would be suitable for both children and also unique to both children- that is a lot of work especially at random times of the year. Taking that into account will cause parents who value their nanny's availability to abruptly take on a second child to pay for the value and convenience that brings to your family (vs hiring an on call babysitter).

Personally, I would pay her something and even ask other nannies what they find fair.

You pay for one child with guaranteed hours, and agree on different hourly rate when she has both and pay accordingly. Easy peasy.

We are expecting another baby this fall. We currently have our 8 year old in school. We are only looking for someone to watch our baby, not older kid as she'll be in school. We don't want to pay for a nanny for two kids because the older kid is in school, but we will pay the nanny for the hours she is taking care of both kids, which might be some days, sick days, etc. I wanted to get advice from other parents on how they figure the costs for a nanny when you have children already in school or in daycare.