PP, usually PT work pays more, especially if the job makes it difficult for a nanny to find additional work. And 3 infants might be too many, or might be fine - that depends on the caregiver.

For a 2 child share, around $10/hour per family. For a 3 child share, around $8/hour per family.

That seems insane and I know next to nothing about the nanny world! I thought maybe those posting to this topic could help me understand the price range for a nanny share in DC. I am expecting in July and am just trying to gather some information about costs of daycare vs. nanny share. For a hypothetical part-time (~32 hours/week) nanny share with 2-3 6 mo. - 1 yr. old children (and maybe 3 is too many??), what would be considered the "going rate" for each child? I'm sorry if this is a totally ignorant question or an impossible one, but any help anyone can offer would be great!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

Not a straw man. Her argument is legitimate. We hear constantly that something needs to be done about affordable childcare. My reaction is that so many providers of childcare already barely make enough to survive and can't afford to have a family themselves, so where exactly does the affordability come from? We have a problem with affordable health care in this country, but no one expects doctors to simply charge less, or to have "compassion" for low income people. There are childcare options for low income people with regard to childcare. They aren't the best options, and not the newest nicest centers, but that's capitalism. You are not entitled to private customized one on one care in your home, and the people who post these ads ARE being entitled. Expecting someone to watch your kid for next to nothing because you want it but can't afford it is insane. Insane. Let me go put in a laughably lowball offer on a multimillion dollar home that I can't afford, because I want it and everyone needs a home right? Should the owners show me compassion, or would they be offended at my audacity?

I think you're super uneducated in the argument that you're making. Yes, doctors and other medical providers are actually receiving less and less compensation from the government and insurance companies in reimbursement for visits/procedures and surgeries.

It is not entitled to place an ad looking for childcare. You are coming across as very naive in thinking that everyone who needs help will get assistance for childcare or that the centers that may be available are safe and some are shut down for not even meeting minimum safety standards. I sold my home recently and yes I had people putting in offers for less than half of what it was worth. I politely declined them. Sometimes a low ball offer is accepted in both real estate and childcare.

Look, you did not sell your house for 50% of its value. Take your nonsense some where else.

NP here. I think you missed the PPs point. She's not suggesting you TAKE the low paying jobs. She's saying you could stop complaining and have some compassion for those people though. No, she didn't take the low offer on her house but maybe she didn't go on an anonymous forum complaining about it either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

Not a straw man. Her argument is legitimate. We hear constantly that something needs to be done about affordable childcare. My reaction is that so many providers of childcare already barely make enough to survive and can't afford to have a family themselves, so where exactly does the affordability come from? We have a problem with affordable health care in this country, but no one expects doctors to simply charge less, or to have "compassion" for low income people. There are childcare options for low income people with regard to childcare. They aren't the best options, and not the newest nicest centers, but that's capitalism. You are not entitled to private customized one on one care in your home, and the people who post these ads ARE being entitled. Expecting someone to watch your kid for next to nothing because you want it but can't afford it is insane. Insane. Let me go put in a laughably lowball offer on a multimillion dollar home that I can't afford, because I want it and everyone needs a home right? Should the owners show me compassion, or would they be offended at my audacity?

I think you're super uneducated in the argument that you're making. Yes, doctors and other medical providers are actually receiving less and less compensation from the government and insurance companies in reimbursement for visits/procedures and surgeries.

It is not entitled to place an ad looking for childcare. You are coming across as very naive in thinking that everyone who needs help will get assistance for childcare or that the centers that may be available are safe and some are shut down for not even meeting minimum safety standards. I sold my home recently and yes I had people putting in offers for less than half of what it was worth. I politely declined them. Sometimes a low ball offer is accepted in both real estate and childcare.

Look, you did not sell your house for 50% of its value. Take your nonsense some where else.

Seeing these ads upset me as a nanny mostly because I know what you're going to get for that rate and I find it incredibly irresponsible of the parents. You could get lucky and hire a grandma simply looking for a way to spend her time, and that's awesome, but more likely, you'll get someone desperate who can't do better. Why? Why would someone not be able to get a job paying minimum wage? Criminal record, horrible judgement, all around bad employee, neglectful, lazy, irresponsible, or worst of, money isn't their motivation and they simply want access to your kids or your home. Its really very sad very scary. You'd be better off in a not so great center where at least there is some accountability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

Not a straw man. Her argument is legitimate. We hear constantly that something needs to be done about affordable childcare. My reaction is that so many providers of childcare already barely make enough to survive and can't afford to have a family themselves, so where exactly does the affordability come from? We have a problem with affordable health care in this country, but no one expects doctors to simply charge less, or to have "compassion" for low income people. There are childcare options for low income people with regard to childcare. They aren't the best options, and not the newest nicest centers, but that's capitalism. You are not entitled to private customized one on one care in your home, and the people who post these ads ARE being entitled. Expecting someone to watch your kid for next to nothing because you want it but can't afford it is insane. Insane. Let me go put in a laughably lowball offer on a multimillion dollar home that I can't afford, because I want it and everyone needs a home right? Should the owners show me compassion, or would they be offended at my audacity?

I think you're super uneducated in the argument that you're making. Yes, doctors and other medical providers are actually receiving less and less compensation from the government and insurance companies in reimbursement for visits/procedures and surgeries.

It is not entitled to place an ad looking for childcare. You are coming across as very naive in thinking that everyone who needs help will get assistance for childcare or that the centers that may be available are safe and some are shut down for not even meeting minimum safety standards. I sold my home recently and yes I had people putting in offers for less than half of what it was worth. I politely declined them. Sometimes a low ball offer is accepted in both real estate and childcare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was recently offered a position for a newborn and 19 month old, 50 hours a week and light housekeeping. They offered $220 week.

As a mom that makes me shudder. Who the hell are these shameless people?

1) People who work in fast food, retail, or any other position where they have to be at work before daycares are open.
2) People who don't have cars to transport their children to/from daycare or to/from a nannyshare - particularly if they have to be at work before daycares are open.
3) Single mothers who've been waiting years for the child support judgment to actually deposit money into their accounts, perhaps these single mothers get by without cars while also working the opening shift (wake up call at 3am) at McDonald's...

I get paid an exceptionally high rate as a nanny and I am by no means suggesting that anyone should work for so little - it is not your responsibility to starve/end up homeless/struggle to pay your heating bill because someone else is in dire circumstances - but it would be generous of us all to remember that most parents offering these kinds of rates are not well-off people trying to rip off the nanny; they are struggling too and probably have far fewer choices than most of us reading here do. The lack of affordable childcare, the lack of emphasis on family support, is a national problem and it is not going to do any good to say "people should think about the cost first." Yes, some people do, but many more people do not and that is simply reality - let's talk about how to make that reality better for our citizens, thus strengthening the entire country, rather than bashing those raising children in poverty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

Not a straw man. Her argument is legitimate. We hear constantly that something needs to be done about affordable childcare. My reaction is that so many providers of childcare already barely make enough to survive and can't afford to have a family themselves, so where exactly does the affordability come from? We have a problem with affordable health care in this country, but no one expects doctors to simply charge less, or to have "compassion" for low income people. There are childcare options for low income people with regard to childcare. They aren't the best options, and not the newest nicest centers, but that's capitalism. You are not entitled to private customized one on one care in your home, and the people who post these ads ARE being entitled. Expecting someone to watch your kid for next to nothing because you want it but can't afford it is insane. Insane. Let me go put in a laughably lowball offer on a multimillion dollar home that I can't afford, because I want it and everyone needs a home right? Should the owners show me compassion, or would they be offended at my audacity?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

I'm actually impressed that you know that term, as most don't.
I'm not ridiculing anyone. I am barely scraping by...so I get it. The situations presented in this thread involve people looking for their own nanny. Not a nanny share. Not in-home daycare. Not daycare. They want their own nanny for $200 per week.
It's the ridiculous entitlement of some parents that people are complaining about, not those who just want a safe place for their children to go while they're working.
Extreme low balling occurs so often. I have seen and have been offered so many ridiculously low-paying jobs by people who think they deserve the convenience of a professional, in-home nanny.
These are usually the people who want the nanny to have an ECE degree, 10 years of experience and fluency in 5 languages...all for the low, low price of $1000/month. They also want you to clean every inch of their home and drive their children everywhere with no compensation.
This has nothing to do with honest, hardworking parents who are realistic about what type of childcare they can afford.

Anonymous wrote:Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Straw man, no one said anyone should decrease their rates. Maybe just try and not ridicule people trying to scrape by though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what everyone is ignoring with regards to this topic is that affordable childcare is a real issue in this country. What are parents supposed to do who can't afford a nanny or a daycare center? The income limits for daycare assistance are extremely low in most states. What happens is parents leave their children in unsafe situations because of this issue.

You have no idea what this person's financial situation is so I think piling judgment and ridicule on them is very unkind. That may be the absolute best they can do and they may be desperate.

The thing is, "affordable" childcare is not a right. The expense of childcare is a reality that *should* be considered before having kids. Making a decent wage for honest work is a right that we used to value in this country. The real issue is how do we make childcare affordable, while also attracting and retaining quality caregivers, and paying them enough to maintain a certain quality of life. No one cares about the cost of childcare until they have to pay it, and no one cares about childcare workers in general.

I'm the pp you quoted. Of course, childcare isn't a right, but the lack of affordable quality childcare is a real issue that needs a real solution. It is ludicrous to believe that people should have to make 100 thousand a year to afford to have a child and provide decent childcare. I used to work in daycare and I'm fairly happy with the center that I now send my child to, but many many people can't afford good centers and it's naive to think that saying people who can't afford kids shouldn't have them.

So who should provide this affordable child care?
Should I just reduce my rates to accommodate the childcare needs of a low-income family?
Someone is going to have to take a loss to make affordable childcare possible.

I'm not suggesting anyone lower their rates. I am suggesting that you have compassion and empathy for those who struggle in trying to obtain safe childcare for their children. Why don't you try to stop taking this so personally and look at it from a higher level? Maybe we look at increasing the limit on dependent care FSAs....maybe we start public education at an earlier age.

Would you doctors or attorneys be willing to reduce your fees in order to make your services more affordable to lower income families?
Maybe the grocery store should lower the cost of it's goods for them too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what everyone is ignoring with regards to this topic is that affordable childcare is a real issue in this country. What are parents supposed to do who can't afford a nanny or a daycare center? The income limits for daycare assistance are extremely low in most states. What happens is parents leave their children in unsafe situations because of this issue.

You have no idea what this person's financial situation is so I think piling judgment and ridicule on them is very unkind. That may be the absolute best they can do and they may be desperate.

The thing is, "affordable" childcare is not a right. The expense of childcare is a reality that *should* be considered before having kids. Making a decent wage for honest work is a right that we used to value in this country. The real issue is how do we make childcare affordable, while also attracting and retaining quality caregivers, and paying them enough to maintain a certain quality of life. No one cares about the cost of childcare until they have to pay it, and no one cares about childcare workers in general.

I'm the pp you quoted. Of course, childcare isn't a right, but the lack of affordable quality childcare is a real issue that needs a real solution. It is ludicrous to believe that people should have to make 100 thousand a year to afford to have a child and provide decent childcare. I used to work in daycare and I'm fairly happy with the center that I now send my child to, but many many people can't afford good centers and it's naive to think that saying people who can't afford kids shouldn't have them.

So who should provide this affordable child care?
Should I just reduce my rates to accommodate the childcare needs of a low-income family?
Someone is going to have to take a loss to make affordable childcare possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what everyone is ignoring with regards to this topic is that affordable childcare is a real issue in this country. What are parents supposed to do who can't afford a nanny or a daycare center? The income limits for daycare assistance are extremely low in most states. What happens is parents leave their children in unsafe situations because of this issue.

You have no idea what this person's financial situation is so I think piling judgment and ridicule on them is very unkind. That may be the absolute best they can do and they may be desperate.

The thing is, "affordable" childcare is not a right. The expense of childcare is a reality that *should* be considered before having kids. Making a decent wage for honest work is a right that we used to value in this country. The real issue is how do we make childcare affordable, while also attracting and retaining quality caregivers, and paying them enough to maintain a certain quality of life. No one cares about the cost of childcare until they have to pay it, and no one cares about childcare workers in general.

I'm the pp you quoted. Of course, childcare isn't a right, but the lack of affordable quality childcare is a real issue that needs a real solution. It is ludicrous to believe that people should have to make 100 thousand a year to afford to have a child and provide decent childcare. I used to work in daycare and I'm fairly happy with the center that I now send my child to, but many many people can't afford good centers and it's naive to think that saying people who can't afford kids shouldn't have them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what everyone is ignoring with regards to this topic is that affordable childcare is a real issue in this country. What are parents supposed to do who can't afford a nanny or a daycare center? The income limits for daycare assistance are extremely low in most states. What happens is parents leave their children in unsafe situations because of this issue.

You have no idea what this person's financial situation is so I think piling judgment and ridicule on them is very unkind. That may be the absolute best they can do and they may be desperate.

The thing is, "affordable" childcare is not a right. The expense of childcare is a reality that *should* be considered before having kids. Making a decent wage for honest work is a right that we used to value in this country. The real issue is how do we make childcare affordable, while also attracting and retaining quality caregivers, and paying them enough to maintain a certain quality of life. No one cares about the cost of childcare until they have to pay it, and no one cares about childcare workers in general.

People need to consider the cost of children beforehand. Kids are expensive!
I told myself I wouldn't have kids until I was financially ready. Being single and a nanny I am not ready. I may never have kids at this rate. I grew up poor and promised my self (& future children) I would never do that to my kids.

Don't ask someone to watch your kids plus cleaning and everything else for minimal money.