Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering whether I need to lower my expectations before setting out to find a nanny. Ideally I'd love to have a nanny who was fully bilingual, had early childhood education and CPR certification, a willingness to do children's laundry, pick up kids from school and perhaps start dinner. Is this too much to expect for $18-20 p/h? Do parents have to compromise on their nanny choices?

Nannies lower their expectations all the time.

For good reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering whether I need to lower my expectations before setting out to find a nanny. Ideally I'd love to have a nanny who was fully bilingual, had early childhood education and CPR certification, a willingness to do children's laundry, pick up kids from school and perhaps start dinner. Is this too much to expect for $18-20 p/h? Do parents have to compromise on their nanny choices?

Nannies lower their expectations all the time.

And so do employers. No one will be everything you want (or that you discover you want after employing someone for a while.) No one is perfect and there will be compromises. Put time into thinking about what are your true non-negotiables, versus the things you'd like to have but aren't as essential. And think hard about your parenting and management style - that can play a huge role in achieving a good fit with whomever you hire. Your rate range is very competitive - you should have plenty of applicants.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering whether I need to lower my expectations before setting out to find a nanny. Ideally I'd love to have a nanny who was fully bilingual, had early childhood education and CPR certification, a willingness to do children's laundry, pick up kids from school and perhaps start dinner. Is this too much to expect for $18-20 p/h? Do parents have to compromise on their nanny choices?

Nannies lower their expectations all the time.

In the DC area you can get a good nanny with all of these things minus the ECE degree starting at $15/hour, and even more easily at $18 or so/hour. IME an ECE degree is less useful than experience and nanny's willingness to engage in activities you suggest.

Our nanny has all those things except the ECE credentials (admittedly, a big thing), but is a college grad and former preschool teacher. I pay her $20/hr. She is bilingual in Spanish, for which families in my area do not pay a premium because it is so common, but I have noticed that nannies bilingual in other languages, French, in particular, can charge a premium.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, in my opinion, your salary offer is too low. I pay $27 an hour plus overtime (legally) for a college graduate who is fluent in French, an American and has completed all course work for anMA in Early Childhood Development. She was also a preschool teacher. She takes care of the baby's laundry, marketing and cooking.

My best friend pays $25 an hour for a bilingual nanny, also legally, who doesn't have a degree but has fifteen years of experience with twins.

Sounds like a nanny wrote this.

I think you would have trouble finding someone who is all of those things OP. Surely someone who has a few years experience, has a lovely character and is great with your kids will suffice? It's not about settling, just reassessing what is truly important amd essential in a nanny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who responded that she gave her Nanny just a dollar raise for a new baby:
This is outrageous considering how much add'l physical + mental labor that carrying for an infant constitutes.

Multiple feedings, diaper changes & holding.
Plus the crying stretches too.

I love how people keep telling mothers of babies how difficult it is to take care of a baby.

You would be surprised how many mothers haven't got a clue. Many have a day nanny and a night nurse.

Even if these people both work 50 hours/wk, that's still 68 hours a week that mom has the baby. I find it difficult to believe that people have no idea how much work it is to take care of their own child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She takes care of the baby's laundry, marketing and cooking..

I'm sorry...marketing?

Buying groceries for the baby. Marketing.

Shopping?

Anonymous wrote:Trilingual nanny here with ECE and a masters degree, my rate is $40/hr gross but I'm in LA. I wouldn't do a full time job for that rate, but I'd do evening babysitting if it was cash and the kids are asleep. I'm currently babysitting right now for $20/hr. Kids asleep.

If the kids wake up do you charge more?

Trilingual nanny here with ECE and a masters degree, my rate is $40/hr gross but I'm in LA. I wouldn't do a full time job for that rate, but I'd do evening babysitting if it was cash and the kids are asleep. I'm currently babysitting right now for $20/hr. Kids asleep.

Lemme just be clear so I understand correctly. You want someone who has a degree (so probably student loans to go with that) and you want to pay them less than what they would be making with that degree to clean up after you? A. You do not need a degree to do this job, you need common sense, and I can assure you that many people who have teaching degrees cannot be good nannies, and many of them don't want to be B. There's no such thing as perfect, how about you work on finding someone who will love and care for your family, regardless of what "credentials" they have. Sure having CPR and some references go a long way but this ridiculous expectation of having this crazy resume is just that. Crazy.

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering whether I need to lower my expectations before setting out to find a nanny. Ideally I'd love to have a nanny who was fully bilingual, had early childhood education and CPR certification, a willingness to do children's laundry, pick up kids from school and perhaps start dinner. Is this too much to expect for $18-20 p/h? Do parents have to compromise on their nanny choices?

Firvwhatbyouvwsntvto pay, you are dreaming. Minimum.of $30/hr.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got all that minus the early childhood education, and they didn't go to school (but we added willing to take the kids to activities). We started out paying $15 an hour. Raise by a dollar each year plus a raise by a dollar when the second kid arrived.

Your nanny is illegal, right?

Firstly a human being can not be illegal. It is never illegal to exist as a living being. But to answer what you meant, no. Duel citizen of the US and another country.

I don't believe you. She is undocumented and you are paying her in cash. Admit it.

And is "Firstly" the same as "First"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who responded that she gave her Nanny just a dollar raise for a new baby:
This is outrageous considering how much add'l physical + mental labor that carrying for an infant constitutes.

Multiple feedings, diaper changes & holding.
Plus the crying stretches too.

I love how people keep telling mothers of babies how difficult it is to take care of a baby.

You would be surprised how many mothers haven't got a clue. Many have a day nanny and a night nurse.