Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another mom of twins and a singleton here. I went with a live-in nanny, but one who was very competent and efficient. I would give here three young kids still in pjs at 8am and come home at 5:30 to a load of kid laundry put away, kids bathed and in jammies and bottles prepped/dinner on the table for toddler and I and a clean kitchen. So all I had to do was feed them all, brush toddler's teeth and do stories and tuck-ins. My nanny did often just sit around reading or watching tv but there was never a doubt in my mind that she had earned her down time and on the occasions that it was needed (DH out of town and kids throwing up all night), she stepped in and helped where she could.

Man, I want this live-in to move in to my house, and I don't have young children!

She is awesome! In many ways life with three kids and supernanny was easier than one in daycare. When we just had our oldest, mornings were chaotic as we tried to get ourselves ready, pack all the crap (change of clothes, bottles, snacks, diapers, papers etc.) we needed for DS and get him changed, fed, dressed in shoes and jacket and had to leave by 7:30 for dropoff before work. With the nanny, even with infant twins plus 3yo, I nursed the babies from 6:30-7, then changed diapers and got them settled in their bouncy chairs or later, high chairs, then helped DS go potty and I would eat breakfast with DS while the babies played and nanny came upstairs at 7:30 so that I could get ready in peace and leave at 8.

Anonymous wrote:Another mom of twins and a singleton here. I went with a live-in nanny, but one who was very competent and efficient. I would give here three young kids still in pjs at 8am and come home at 5:30 to a load of kid laundry put away, kids bathed and in jammies and bottles prepped/dinner on the table for toddler and I and a clean kitchen. So all I had to do was feed them all, brush toddler's teeth and do stories and tuck-ins. My nanny did often just sit around reading or watching tv but there was never a doubt in my mind that she had earned her down time and on the occasions that it was needed (DH out of town and kids throwing up all night), she stepped in and helped where she could.

Man, I want this live-in to move in to my house, and I don't have young children!

OP here. Thanks everyone for your advice and thoughtful replies. I think we've scrapped the Au Pair idea and plan to look for a nanny. Still undecided on live in vs. live out, but this at least helped rule out an Au Pair for the time being while the kids are so little.

Anonymous wrote:Another mom of twins and a singleton here. I went with a live-in nanny, but one who was very competent and efficient. I would give here three young kids still in pjs at 8am and come home at 5:30 to a load of kid laundry put away, kids bathed and in jammies and bottles prepped/dinner on the table for toddler and I and a clean kitchen. So all I had to do was feed them all, brush toddler's teeth and do stories and tuck-ins. My nanny did often just sit around reading or watching tv but there was never a doubt in my mind that she had earned her down time and on the occasions that it was needed (DH out of town and kids throwing up all night), she stepped in and helped where she could.

This!

The flexibility and efficiency of a good live-in nanny was what I was trying to explain to the OP both of this question and the question about the newborn, 3 year old, and live-in grandparents. Some parents want and need it, others don't.

I'd do a nanny and find part time preschool for the 2 YO. He doesn't really need to be in FT preschool, and that would free up some money to be able to afford the nanny.

Another mom of twins and a singleton here. I went with a live-in nanny, but one who was very competent and efficient. I would give here three young kids still in pjs at 8am and come home at 5:30 to a load of kid laundry put away, kids bathed and in jammies and bottles prepped/dinner on the table for toddler and I and a clean kitchen. So all I had to do was feed them all, brush toddler's teeth and do stories and tuck-ins. My nanny did often just sit around reading or watching tv but there was never a doubt in my mind that she had earned her down time and on the occasions that it was needed (DH out of town and kids throwing up all night), she stepped in and helped where she could.