where do you get your candidates, pp? Care.com? First thing a pro nanny would do before she holds child is to wash hands, and actually she should spend couple of minutes doing that. If your candidates are not doing it, you are not very good at vetting, or your rate does not attract the best and brightest nannies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: She came in and asked to wash her hands and then asked to hold my newborn. She held him happily for a two hour interview (standing and rocking when necessary).

That's basics, you are easy to please, LOL

Really? She was the only candidate we interviewed who did.

And do people still use “LOL”?

Just saw your response, good for you!!
Most Nannies do NOT wash their hands when entering a home or remove their shoes. So it is not basic at all, ONLY the attitude. Good for you that you have a wonderful long term Nanny.

Anonymous wrote:High? Have you looked at food prices recently? how about rent, healthcare cost? Nannies are not teenagers or college kids living with parents, they are often parents themselves, and have to pay their bills. And $30 with no benefits is not such a lot either.

This. How do they expect someone to afford rent in the area at the ridiculously low rate of $20/hr (before taxes) much less healthcare and everything else?

They want someone with a car that can drive but also lives close because they don't want someone calling out for inclement weather. Those things can't exist with one person for less than $30/hr.

Triangle of value for your expectations, people. The traditional Price - Value - Time which would be more like Rate - Quality of Care - Experience/Education for a nanny. You can only get 2 of the 3, you always have to sacrifice one to get the others. It's sad when even non-"educated" nannies know this yet so called educated parents don't.

High? Have you looked at food prices recently? how about rent, healthcare cost? Nannies are not teenagers or college kids living with parents, they are often parents themselves, and have to pay their bills. And $30 with no benefits is not such a lot either.

Anonymous wrote:Have had two nanny candidates now say that their rate is $30/hour for one kid. NW DC. At that rate, what should be the minimum qualifications? What would you expect if you're paying that much?

Are you looking for part time hours? That seems high for one child.

you can work in a very expensive private preschool without ECE degree, that's a fact. If you have years of experience with children. Maybe not in MD, but in other states, yes. Psychology? Not at college level, nope. Not good enough. I took psychology courses at university level just for myself, but to be honest, at certain age, you know most of stuff just from your life experience, so I was very disappointed. I think neuroscience degree would be more useful.