Anonymous wrote:OP, we have friends with four kids across a similar age range (1, 2, 3, 5, with 3yo in part-time preschool and 5yo in kinder). They went the au pair route and have been happy with it, although you have to watch the hours to stay within the mandated limits. For two full-time WOH jobs you will likely need to supplement that with a sitter but if one job is PT or has flexible hours, you might pull it off. For your own nanny you are easily in the $70-75K range. (We paid that just for a share for two kids--it adds up quickly once you roll in OT, taxes, vacation, etc.) And agreed to look at preschool for your twins--we know several families with twins and most have been able to negotiate tuition discounts for enrolling both kids. Good luck!

Wait you paid 70k a year for a share? What was the nanny making 140? That is completely insane.

I know someone said something about a car.

While I don't normally think a family needs to provide a car, in this case you probably will need to. 4 kids in a car, so 4 seats for young ones. Van or SUV with enough seating.

You will need to add in that cost as well.

Sorry that should be 1 kid. All of my young babysitters charge $20 for two, and my nanny charges $25/hour for 2.

Anonymous wrote:Wow I am a nanny and feel very underpaid now! I live in CT, a relatively wealthy state. My NK'S are 3.5 yr old twins and 2 yr old brother. I started with them 2 years ago. I have over 10 years of experience, a mom myself, and a background in the medical field. I am paid under 16$ an hr. It is not taxed however. I transport the 3 young kids in the family minivan to and from school ( twins attend a school for 4 hrs in the morning) and then care fir the youngest. MB and DB D decided to have myself and another nanny share the hours as family wanted care 7am-7:30/8pm. They were afraid of burn out and this way we can cover each other too.

When the youngest sleeps I clean the house including dishes, floors, toy organization, a bunch of laundry, adults too. I clean put their van of kid toys and garbage, take out their trash at times. Let them know of any supplies needed, and always engage with the kids.

Under 16$ an hr. I think I should be paid 18-20$ at least. No?

Yes, you are massively underpaid, especially if you are in Fairfield County. I paid $16 am hour in 2010 for 2 kid! No cleaning either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know nannies in this area who get $25/hour for one child. Can't imagine a nanny who'll do well with OP's boatload of a workload, unless she's super nanny AND a saint. Good luck with that.

OP here - Yeah, I'm getting the vibe that this won't work out well. I don't find handling them all to be much harder than just handling the twins alone, given that the older one helps with the little one, and the little one is just a cute little blob. Of course, I'm the mother.

Right now, but in a year the baby will have its own opinions and will be a pita to get in and out of the car.

Anonymous wrote:I love that there are three posters wanting to apply for this job that "no one would take."

Nanny here with 3 different twin families and one family with 2yo twins and newborn and another with 5 under 9.

This person exists. Yes, there are nannies out there making $$$ for one kid, but those jobs are rare and often have other drawbacks (long hours, difficult parents, special needs kid). But the reality is that is doesn't matter what a nanny for a single typical kid are making because those nannies were never going to apply for your job. The nannies who will apply aren't doing it because they think "4 kids? I bet I can make a crapload of money for that!" They are thinking "Oh, I love big families!"

Honestly at this point I could do 3yo twins in my sleep. The juggling of different ages and priorities is nbd either. My questions would be about whether the parents were reasonable and willing to trust me to mostly manage the daily schedule my way (not saying you can't have input but are they going to be constantly critical of everything I do that's different from former SAHM), and whether the housework load will be unmanageable.

This!!!

I love that there are three posters wanting to apply for this job that "no one would take."

Nanny here with 3 different twin families and one family with 2yo twins and newborn and another with 5 under 9.

This person exists. Yes, there are nannies out there making $$$ for one kid, but those jobs are rare and often have other drawbacks (long hours, difficult parents, special needs kid). But the reality is that is doesn't matter what a nanny for a single typical kid are making because those nannies were never going to apply for your job. The nannies who will apply aren't doing it because they think "4 kids? I bet I can make a crapload of money for that!" They are thinking "Oh, I love big families!"

Honestly at this point I could do 3yo twins in my sleep. The juggling of different ages and priorities is nbd either. My questions would be about whether the parents were reasonable and willing to trust me to mostly manage the daily schedule my way (not saying you can't have input but are they going to be constantly critical of everything I do that's different from former SAHM), and whether the housework load will be unmanageable.

Its funny how some people think $25 per hour is a high salary when I was a nanny in DC starting off was paid $15 but as time when on increase salary by end was $40 per hour. My children have an nanny and for what she does I wouldnt bat an eye at $25 an hour children age 4 , 3, 2 and 2 months. Noted she would care for all four but my youngest have baby nurse because of the level of care I expect and realizing that one person cant be expected to give one on one care for an infant while doing engaging educational plans for three preschoolers/toddlers. Single adoptive mom so a different story from most but nonetheless I pay both women well along with benefits packages.

If someone told me I would watch all four of my little ones for $10 per hour knowing level of care I expect wouldn't do it. Its no way to expect a good level of care for $10 or $15 an hour an uber driver makes more then that heck your average dog walker in dc make $17.35 per hour. You should not only want the best for your family but best for your nanny and you should make sure pay is inline with job you want performed & also living wage.

Think about if you have nanny spending all their time during week with your little one lets say he or she has dream family amazing kids and family which doesn't always happen they have a family of their own they have to support possibly even kids and if your nanny college educated he or she possibly have loans as well. Imagine you working 45 to 50 hour weeks with children you would need childcare in a normal position your pay would increase based on experience and market rate. If you see new nannies on care.com desiring $15 to $20 a nanny with five years of experience should demand more and tens years demand even more let alone your nanny with bonuses like foreign language,former teacher, Montessori certifications, newborn nurse , etc.

You should be fair to your nanny I hate it when I hear parents saying I want college educated nanny that speaks Mandarin and verse in xyz educational philosophy but you want to only pay $10 to $15 a hour to watch your two or three kids or even worst nanny share with three or two infants. Yes nannies loves children but you must be fair nanny shares are for families to be able to afford nannies with more experience not for you to then make their work double and then pay what you would a newbie.(yes I also know some parents use nanny share for socializing but people also love benefit of being able to split pay) You have to be fair and honest with your self if you want to pay a nanny to watch four kids at an lower wage or same wage to watch singleton then expect subpar service or nanny without much experience.

Anonymous wrote:Goodness, what a workload!

Here's what I suggest:

1. Adjust your hours so that you only need care for 45 hours a week, the maximum number of hours an au pair can work.

2. Hire an au pair whose primary responsibility during the day is your baby and then your older kids for just a few hours (3:30-6:30pm after school) till you guys get home. After placement fees, au pairs get paid $250 a week.

Or hire a nanny and pay a rate of $15-$18 an hour when she has baby solo and $25 an hour when she has all four kids.

3. Send your three year old twins to preschool. They'll learn more and socialize better and, frankly, it's money well spent.

4. Hire a sitter/mom's helper whose job is to pick the older kids up from school and bring them home or to activities and then home. The going rate for something like this is $15-$20 an hour. This person, frankly, need only work about 5-10 hours a week.

Best of luck!

These are all great suggestions for you OP.

Anonymous wrote:Goodness, what a workload!

Here's what I suggest:

1. Adjust your hours so that you only need care for 45 hours a week, the maximum number of hours an au pair can work.

2. Hire an au pair whose primary responsibility during the day is your baby and then your older kids for just a few hours (3:30-6:30pm after school) till you guys get home. After placement fees, au pairs get paid $250 a week.

Or hire a nanny and pay a rate of $15-$18 an hour when she has baby solo and $25 an hour when she has all four kids.

3. Send your three year old twins to preschool. They'll learn more and socialize better and, frankly, it's money well spent.

4. Hire a sitter/mom's helper whose job is to pick the older kids up from school and bring them home or to activities and then home. The going rate for something like this is $15-$20 an hour. This person, frankly, need only work about 5-10 hours a week.

Best of luck!

I agree. We had an Au Pair for infant twins, a 3yo, and a 7 yo, and she did great. But we had to interview 20+ people before we found a great person.
She worked 8am-6pm M-Th and 8-12 on Friday (DH was off afternoon)
My twins are 4yo now, and I definitely recommend a half-day preschool for them once they turn 3. It helped my twins develop a ton, and get out of their twin bubble.

Plus I could never afford $70K/year for childcare. An Au Pair only costs $24K/year and we get flexibility.

Wow I am a nanny and feel very underpaid now! I live in CT, a relatively wealthy state. My NK'S are 3.5 yr old twins and 2 yr old brother. I started with them 2 years ago. I have over 10 years of experience, a mom myself, and a background in the medical field. I am paid under 16$ an hr. It is not taxed however. I transport the 3 young kids in the family minivan to and from school ( twins attend a school for 4 hrs in the morning) and then care fir the youngest. MB and DB D decided to have myself and another nanny share the hours as family wanted care 7am-7:30/8pm. They were afraid of burn out and this way we can cover each other too.

When the youngest sleeps I clean the house including dishes, floors, toy organization, a bunch of laundry, adults too. I clean put their van of kid toys and garbage, take out their trash at times. Let them know of any supplies needed, and always engage with the kids.

Under 16$ an hr. I think I should be paid 18-20$ at least. No?

I think you'd need to hire both a nanny and a housekeeper. I would not go the au pair route, since they are rarely equipped to care for four children.

OP, we have friends with four kids across a similar age range (1, 2, 3, 5, with 3yo in part-time preschool and 5yo in kinder). They went the au pair route and have been happy with it, although you have to watch the hours to stay within the mandated limits. For two full-time WOH jobs you will likely need to supplement that with a sitter but if one job is PT or has flexible hours, you might pull it off. For your own nanny you are easily in the $70-75K range. (We paid that just for a share for two kids--it adds up quickly once you roll in OT, taxes, vacation, etc.) And agreed to look at preschool for your twins--we know several families with twins and most have been able to negotiate tuition discounts for enrolling both kids. Good luck!

I would guess at least 60k before benefits. That is a lot of kids, even the eldest needs 3 hrs of care.

Think how much you'd pay to put your kids in daycare, with aftercare costs for the eldest.

Wow. $25+ an hour. Plus benefits and a car big enough for all of them.

Our nanny just wouldn't tackle 4 because she admits it would be low quality care. She would only do 3 if at least one was in some sort of pre school some of the time.
I can't imagine how hard that job will be for one person. I
At least there are no additional duties.

You must be crazy having another child after having three in two years!