Anonymous wrote:We interviewed with a nanny, we told her that she was wonderful and then we had a test day with the kids. They loved her and she really clicked with them. We then interviewed another woman, who lived about 10 minutes closer to our house. We called the first woman and told her that we were going in another direction. Well anyway, 4 days later the "closer nanny" pulled out and decided not to accept the offer. Anyway, we called the first candidate back and told her that we wanted to hire her. She told us that he rate would now be increased. Is that fair or is it a red flag?

If me I say the some thing ,because this is not right what you did with her.i think she not trust you anymore.

Anonymous wrote:You liked her, thought she was great, and then let her go because you found someone better.

Not even better but "10 minutes closer to our house."
If I was the nanny, I'd also raise my prices. To have some savings for when OP kicked me out for another nanny that lived closer in a few months.

10 minutes closer?
Better qualified, yes. Clicked better, yes. Better references, better with the kids, more experience, yes. An hour closer, heck yes. If you noticed new nanny was constantly late because she isn't able to schedule her commute, yes go for a nanny that lives closer next time. But if you have found somebody you love why even go on looking? And why decide on another nanny because she lives 10 minutes closer?

Anonymous wrote:$18/hour is reasonable for two children, the first rate is reasonable for one child.

I am willing to take a position when I know that I'm the second choice, but I would continue my search for a better position, because I wouldn't trust the family to not terminate me with no cause.

Oh, and if you didn't pay for the test day, I would never accept it.

Exactly

You're lucky she's considering working for you at all. You turned her down for someone else when it sounds like she did a perfectly good job on her trial day. How would you feel if your job did that to you? You probably wouldn't want to accept their offer to return.
She did a smart thing asking for more money.

$18/hour is reasonable for two children, the first rate is reasonable for one child.

I am willing to take a position when I know that I'm the second choice, but I would continue my search for a better position, because I wouldn't trust the family to not terminate me with no cause.

Oh, and if you didn't pay for the test day, I would never accept it.

As a Nanny myself, that would be a sort-of, "iffy" red flag for me.

It sounds like she now sees her true value to your family & is more than willing to have you pay for it.

It would have been nicer for you to offer a higher rate since you didn't hire her from the get go.

Personally, I couldn't work for a family that had hired another person over myself. It's just how I am.

I would ALWAYS feel like someone's Plan B., + would wonder often if I would be on the chopping block any time in the future.

Anonymous wrote:She may have really, really liked you and offered you a rate lower than what she normally would. The rejection probably changed her mind.

Yup. She's giving you the brush off. I've raised my rate when a family has annoyed me.

She may have really, really liked you and offered you a rate lower than what she normally would. The rejection probably changed her mind.

Did you pay her for the trial day? If not, she may have realized that you might be an employer who will nickel and dime her. Also, the trial day might have offered her insight into just how much work your family is; perhaps more than she expected when she quoted $16/hr?

Anonymous wrote:Her starting rate was going to be $16/hr for a toddler and a school aged kid. Now she is requesting $18.

If she's any good, you'd still have a steal at $20/hr in this area.