How much would you pay this caregiver?

By 78h2o Jan 7, 2013

I'm currently considering a number of options for childcare...

One option is a nanny/babysitter I found via Care.com. She is 23, married, and has a daughter of her own who is 4 months (so about 3 months older than my daughter). She seems pretty experienced, also uses cloth diapers, etc. She would come to my house with her daughter 3 full days per week. I live in the suburbs of a large city. She wouldn't have any duties other than caring for the baby (no cleaning, driving, etc.). She wants $12 per hour, but I don't know if that's high or low considering she'd have her daughter in tow. Seems like there are some babysitters/nannies without children who charge $10-12.

In-home licensed daycares are quoting me about $135-150 for 3 days/wk.

Centers will only take our daughter full time and range from $240-320.

Thoughts?

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10 comments

CupQuakeWalk
coconut / 8475 posts

Jan 7, 2013

If ladies without kids are asking for $12 or even less: then I'd make her go down in price. She's basically taking her kid to work which divides her attention and she doesn't pay childcare while she's at work...so she can't be expected to be paid the same (or more) than someone who isn't bringing an extra baby into *your* home.
I'd go for a sitter at home but not her (unless there weren't other options at all & she would have to lower her asking price).
Mrs. Pen
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts

Jan 7, 2013

I think $12 is great if she is experienced, I'm a nanny too and my pay didn't decrease just because I had a baby. I cared for the other children just as well.

I think it would be really offensive to ask her to take less. Maybe if she was asking something outrageous, but she's not. Just trying to give you a nanny a point of view... I once had a family ask me to take a $2 decrease and at the time I was antsy for a new job so I took it... Well I was there less than a month. I didn't feel valued and was depreciated. It didnt take long for me to realize I could do better because I knew I was worth more.
78h2o
grapefruit / 4441 posts

Jan 7, 2013

@Mrs. Pen: Thanks, I appreciate your perspective. I have a question that maybe you can answer - what is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?

@TurtleDoves: That's sort of what I was thinking... I received 30+ emails in response to my job posting and there were several applicants who sounded very qualified/possibly more qualified than this woman, who asked for $10-12/hr and did not have children. Honestly, I ahd gravitated towards the woman with the child hoping she'd charge less... it's going to be hard for me to sell my husband on $300/wk for in home or center vs. $150/wk for a home daycare.

Another mom replied and said she would watch my daughter in her home with her son for $25-40/day, but the hours did not quite work and the fit didn't seem to be quite as good as with this woman... but the price difference is huge... $12/hr equates to $108/day.
78h2o
grapefruit / 4441 posts

Jan 7, 2013

As a point of reference, I'm 34 and have babysat/nannied myself on and off since I was 13 years old...always as a part-time thing on top of school or other jobs. In the last 2-3 years, I watched twin infant boys once a week for a year (charged $12/hr), nannied (I say "nannied" because I was cooking, cleaning, and driving) for a family with 3 kids, age 5, 11, 13 (charged $12.50/hr), sat for a family with 2 kids age 1 & 2 (charged 12/hr), and sat for a family with one infant (charged $10/hr). I have a master's degree and am finishing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, worked full time for several years at a children's hospital (as a child behavior therapist), etc.

Most of the applicants to watch my daughter either attend or have attended the local community college. There are a few that attended 4 year schools.
Mrs. Pen
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts

Jan 7, 2013

@78h2o: a nanny is a consistent caregiver, a babysitter is a once every few weeks/months type of thing. I think a nanny is a more formal position. For example, I never reported babysitting gigs on my taxes because they were few and far between and never made a significant amount. Once I became a nanny, then I started filing. My first nanny job I worked 60 hour weeks, after that job I worked 35 hours and most recently I was only work 15 hour weeks, but still considered a nanny.

One thing you might consider is, in place of $12, can you offer any perks that might make it seem "worth it" to her? Things like gym memberships (nannies can usually be added to accounts for free or little charge), cell phone (often only $10 to add new phone to account), yearly membership to childrens museum, science museum (though the kids may be a little young for that)... just an idea..

The first nanny I officially nannied for got away with paying me VERY little because I was live-in; so room and board was paid for and I also had use of the car and they paid for gas, and they also paid for my health insurance. There were other perks here and there that made it worth it.
loveisstrange
pineapple / 12526 posts

Jan 7, 2013

@78h2o: I think that if someone without a child is charging less and they seem more qualified, I'd go for it. HOWEVER, I'd maybe interview a few of them first. You need to watch them interact with your DD before you commit to anything.

I worked as a nanny too, while I was in college. I charged $12/hr and worked for an extremely upscale agency.
78h2o
grapefruit / 4441 posts

Jan 7, 2013

@Mrs. Pen: Thanks for explaining the difference!

That's a good idea re: perks... I'll have to think of what we could offer. At first I asked if she'd watch my daughter in her home, hoping that would keep the cost down, but she said she lives in a small apartment and would prefer to watch the girls in my home. We have a pretty large home with a nice fenced yard, so when the weather is nice, she could have the girls out there on a blanket or something... but that's not really a huge perk or anything! I haven't met this woman yet, so maybe it will be clear what to do once I start interviewing some of the applicants.
MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Jan 7, 2013

I don't think it's at all unfair for you to expect her to be paid less if she wants to bring her child to work with her. Essentially it's a nanny share... Your child isn't getting one on one care. I would only be willing to pay what I would pay if I were sharing the nanny with another family. But honestly even if she does go down on price I don't think it's an ideal situation... If both babies cry her instinct will be to care for her own child first.
78h2o
grapefruit / 4441 posts

Jan 7, 2013

@MamaMoose: Yeah, the best bet would be 1:1 care, but I don't know if we can afford that. So, while a mom watching her own child plus mine wouldn't be ideal, I was thinking it might be better than a home daycare with one person caring for 3-5 children.... however, the price she quoted me was really no better, so I'll have to see...
mrskc
bananas / 9357 posts

Jan 7, 2013

I'm going thru the same thing of interviewing and searching for a nanny right now using care. Personally I think $12/hr seems a little much for her bringing her kid with her. If she has a lot of experience, then maybe that price is fair. If that's what she wants to get paid then maybe she isn't a good fit for you. Do some interviews and trial days. You may find someone else just as qualified who will take less. I'm looking to pay our nanny $10/hr. I think it will mean that I'll have to get someone with less experience.

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