What's wrong with 1:52?

Sure, I don't see why not. I mean, parents can handle it right??!

Just make sure you keep the duties childcare ONLY however.

If you give the nanny too many chores to do as well, it can be too much.

[i]And[i] make sure you pay a decent wage.

Because that is hard work.

Do you watch your newborn and toddler alone? Of course a professional nanny can handle that. Professional nannies are on the pricier side, but you have the piece of mind that they've done this before, know how to handle a toddler screaming while the baby is crying, and will return them most likely happy and in one piece. I would aim for someone a bit older than the typical early 20's nanny though.

Thanks for the info (12:48)!

If you're in DC (and not reading, for example from NYC or LA), then you don't need to go up $3/hour. The starting going rate for a nanny with two kids in DC is usually about $18 (people will tell you differently, I'm sure, but that seems to be a reasonable point). If you went to $22/hour, putting aside that we don't know the other responsibilities, that would be very much on the high end. We pay $21/hour with two kids, and I know that we're on the high end. Most of our friends are in the $20/hour range with two kids.

Thanks to everyone for the input! Glad to have this forum to check these things.