OP, I think anything under $12 for someone caring for your child(ren) in your home is absolutely ridiculous. I'm a Mom, kids are too old for nannies, but we have a regular babysitter ($15/hour to keep my kids alive, generally leave them fed, homework done, showered).

What I think might work for you if you really want someone in your home and a lower cost is to find a former nanny, now SAHM who brings her child to work with her. Then I think $12/hour is quite reasonable. You'll find people who are negative about that arrangement, but I've done it and it worked out really well. Obviously she would have to be living with a partner or family or something. If you wanted some sort of housework beyond basic kid care, like maybe kid laundry, quick vacuum of playroom twice a week, that kind of thing, I would consider more like $12.50-$13. On whole weeks off of school and in the summer, I would add on to show your appreciation of the fact that an older kid is a lot more work compared to just 2 young kids. And/or put older kid in 1/2 day camp or occasional week of camp just to break up the summer.

I think the $25-$30 nanny who just takes care of the kid, no housework, no household manager type of work, is either fiction or ridiculously rich people who also have their nannies sign non-disclosure agreements and be available 24/7. Of course there could be unusual situations such as multiples or such but just for a kid or 2, $15-$17 is reasonable.

I really don't think I could live with myself paying someone barely over minimum wage. I would just think about how I would feel if something happened to my kid because my $9/hour nanny couldn't communicate properly with 911 or didn't call because she was worried about immigration issues or was just young and frazzled.

You can pay that little at daycare and at least know that there's more than 1 person around, the daycare workers are licensed, and you have some level of oversight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend pays her live in nanny $25,000/year. They live in 3000 sq. ft home and she also cooks and cleans for them in addition to taking care of their 8 month old daughter However she also doesn't speak english properly (they are bilingual so they speak her language too). You can find nannies that accept lower rates but they usually do not speak proper english

Wtf is wrong with you people that you think its acceptable, and go so far as to brag, about paying someone so little to do so much? Seriously, how is this okay with you? You see these women every day. You know they can't afford decent housing in safe neighborhoods on that. You know they probably aren't eating well. You know they can't afford to go to the doctor. You think its some kind of perk to give someone barely making ends meet, 4 weeks of unpaid time off. But its okay because she doesn't speak English, can't do much better, therefore you feel free to squeeze her for all she's worth. Sick sick sick.

Did you miss the part where the woman is a live-in nanny? So she doesn't have to pay any rent. Or utilities. Or cable.

Or doctor/dental bills, right? Or let me guess. She never needs to go.
Sure.

Who pays for the soundproofing on her bedroom walls?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend pays her live in nanny $25,000/year. They live in 3000 sq. ft home and she also cooks and cleans for them in addition to taking care of their 8 month old daughter However she also doesn't speak english properly (they are bilingual so they speak her language too). You can find nannies that accept lower rates but they usually do not speak proper english

Wtf is wrong with you people that you think its acceptable, and go so far as to brag, about paying someone so little to do so much? Seriously, how is this okay with you? You see these women every day. You know they can't afford decent housing in safe neighborhoods on that. You know they probably aren't eating well. You know they can't afford to go to the doctor. You think its some kind of perk to give someone barely making ends meet, 4 weeks of unpaid time off. But its okay because she doesn't speak English, can't do much better, therefore you feel free to squeeze her for all she's worth. Sick sick sick.

Did you miss the part where the woman is a live-in nanny? So she doesn't have to pay any rent. Or utilities. Or cable.

Yep missed that apologies

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend pays her live in nanny $25,000/year. They live in 3000 sq. ft home and she also cooks and cleans for them in addition to taking care of their 8 month old daughter However she also doesn't speak english properly (they are bilingual so they speak her language too). You can find nannies that accept lower rates but they usually do not speak proper english

Wtf is wrong with you people that you think its acceptable, and go so far as to brag, about paying someone so little to do so much? Seriously, how is this okay with you? You see these women every day. You know they can't afford decent housing in safe neighborhoods on that. You know they probably aren't eating well. You know they can't afford to go to the doctor. You think its some kind of perk to give someone barely making ends meet, 4 weeks of unpaid time off. But its okay because she doesn't speak English, can't do much better, therefore you feel free to squeeze her for all she's worth. Sick sick sick.

Did you miss the part where the woman is a live-in nanny? So she doesn't have to pay any rent. Or utilities. Or cable.

Anonymous wrote:My friend pays her live in nanny $25,000/year. They live in 3000 sq. ft home and she also cooks and cleans for them in addition to taking care of their 8 month old daughter However she also doesn't speak english properly (they are bilingual so they speak her language too). You can find nannies that accept lower rates but they usually do not speak proper english

Wtf is wrong with you people that you think its acceptable, and go so far as to brag, about paying someone so little to do so much? Seriously, how is this okay with you? You see these women every day. You know they can't afford decent housing in safe neighborhoods on that. You know they probably aren't eating well. You know they can't afford to go to the doctor. You think its some kind of perk to give someone barely making ends meet, 4 weeks of unpaid time off. But its okay because she doesn't speak English, can't do much better, therefore you feel free to squeeze her for all she's worth. Sick sick sick.

My friend pays her live in nanny $25,000/year. They live in 3000 sq. ft home and she also cooks and cleans for them in addition to taking care of their 8 month old daughter However she also doesn't speak english properly (they are bilingual so they speak her language too). You can find nannies that accept lower rates but they usually do not speak proper english

Two able bodied parents who want to outsource their parenting work, is a luxury. You get what you pay for. As in every field.

Anonymous wrote:OP you can get a great nanny for $12/hour... Only on DCUM will you see nannies trying to saying $20+/hour is normal. You may have to go to other childcare sites to get real answers.

Oxymoron. A great nanny is smart and confident. She knows $12/hour is below market in this area. If she accepts $12/hour, I promise you she's not as great as you think.

Anonymous wrote:OP you can get a great nanny for $12/hour... Only on DCUM will you see nannies trying to saying $20+/hour is normal. You may have to go to other childcare sites to get real answers.

If it were opposites day.

OP you can get a great nanny for $12/hour... Only on DCUM will you see nannies trying to saying $20+/hour is normal. You may have to go to other childcare sites to get real answers.