About to embark on the search for a nanny...

I have decided to return to my teaching position next month. I have had enough of being a SAHM--God knows I love my kids, but I really need to be working again.

I am about to start trying to find someone to come to my home to watch the kids. I do consider myself VERY lucky because my DH works from home, and has the ability to set up cameras throughout the house so he can see what's going on at all times. That makes me feel a million times better.

My DS will be 7 weeks when I return to work, and my DD will be 20 months. I have decided to enroll my DD in daycare for 2 mornings a week so that she can get out of the house and interacting with kids her own age. She has been to this daycare before and absolutely loved it, so we feel good about this decision.

Those of you who have hired nannies, I have a couple of questions for you:

-Do you allow your nanny to drive with the children?
-What do you give your nanny in terms of paid vacation/sick days?
-Do you have a written contract with your nanny?
-Would you make the nanny aware of the cameras throughout the house in this case? Obviously they will only be in common areas, such as the livingroom, kitchen, and the childrens' rooms. No bathroom cameras
-If you don't mind me asking, do you pay your nanny hourly or weekly? What do you pay?
-How did you find your nanny? (Took out an ad, word of mouth, nanny service, craigslist?)
-Do you ask your nanny to perform tasks such as doing the childrens' laundry or cleaning up the childrens' toys?

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Message edited 7/16/2010 12:59:49 PM.

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

I have a nanny for my 11 mos old. We live in the city so rates may be different but I figured I would try to answer your other questions. I would allow my nanny to drive my DD if she has a clean driving record and if she drives often. My nanny gets two weeks paid vacation. One week is when we are away and one week is whenever she chooses to take it. I also pay her for all vacation days that I have (Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc) We have no policy for sick days. She has been with us for 5 mos and she hasn't been sick yet. We do not have a written contract. We do not have cameras. I would not let her know about the cameras. You are not obligated to do so. My nanny works 4 days a week from 8:30am-6:30pm and we pay her $600 a week. If I need her to stay late one night I pay her $20 hour. I found my nanny through an agency. It is customary for a nanny to do the baby's laundry, clean the baby's room and keep the play area tidy. I never thought I would find a nanny that I would be comfortable with but I did and we are both very happy with our arrangement. She really and truly loves my DD. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!!

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

I don't have personal experience but I know my co-worker scoured craigslist and aslo put her own add there and found someone.

Good luck!

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

Thanks so much to both of you!

And a shameless bump as more of the working moms start coming home

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

I would also try Care.com

I've never used them but I've heard good things.

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

I have a part-time nanny/babysitter and I wish I was smart enough/proactive enough to ask all the questions you are asking.

You're definitely on the right track!

-Do you allow your nanny to drive with the children?

Mine does not drive, but if there was a way to check her driving record, and it was clean, and I trusted her, than yes, but not from the very beginning. I would wait to see how comfortable I was with her on other things first.

-What do you give your nanny in terms of paid vacation/sick days?

Most of my friends give 2 weeks paid vacation, plus all national holidays. I would do one week when you were off, one week of their choice.

-Do you have a written contract with your nanny?

Not currently, but DEFINITELY if I were to get another one, I would have a contract. That way there is no confusion.

-Would you make the nanny aware of the cameras throughout the house in this case? Obviously they will only be in common areas, such as the livingroom, kitchen, and the childrens' rooms. No bathroom cameras

Yes, I would mention that they will be taped. That way they know from the get-go, no funny business. If they have a problem with it, then I wouldn't want to hire them anyway. you should have nothing to hide.

-If you don't mind me asking, do you pay your nanny hourly or weekly? What do you pay?

The going rate for Queens is about $12-$14/hr.

-How did you find your nanny? (Took out an ad, word of mouth, nanny service, craigslist?)

Word of mouth. She used to babysit for a friend.

-Do you ask your nanny to perform tasks such as doing the childrens' laundry or cleaning up the childrens' toys?

I did not with my current babysitter and I regret it. I would ask them all light cleaning and picking up related to the child, such the children's laundry, bottles, anything related to feeding the child, picking up toys/etc.

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

If you find someone on craigslist, I would do a background check on them...you can do it online.

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

-Do you allow your nanny to drive with the children?

yes, but she needs to call me before she leaves the house and when she gets where she is going and same on the way back. Also, this is an occasional thing, not every day and not for her personal errands. More of just to get out of the house every once in a while.

-What do you give your nanny in terms of paid vacation/sick days?

we only have ours for 6 months, cause my mom watches DD the other 6 months. She started mid - May, so we gave her Memorial Day, the 4th and Labor Day paid, and one week off paid (when we will be away), anything else she takes is unpaid.


-Do you have a written contract with your nanny?

she's a distant relative, so no. BUT I have an example of one if you need it FM me.


-Would you make the nanny aware of the cameras throughout the house in this case? Obviously they will only be in common areas, such as the livingroom, kitchen, and the childrens' rooms. No bathroom cameras

not sure what I'd do there.

If you don't mind me asking, do you pay your nanny hourly or weekly? What do you pay?

pay her hourly, and pay her every Friday. As to amount, we have a good deal, because again, she's a relative, but going rate out here in Vegas is $12-13 an hour for 1 kid.

-How did you find your nanny? (Took out an ad, word of mouth, nanny service, craigslist?)

family

-Do you ask your nanny to perform tasks such as doing the childrens' laundry or cleaning up the childrens' toys?

Absolutely. My thing is that she is there #1 to take care of DD, entertain her, etc., and #2 to make my life easier. So she is responsible for cooking for DD and feeding her (which right now is making a bottle and baby food, but if she was older it would include making dinner), doing DD's laundry and putting it away, and keeping DD's room/toys organized and put away at the end of the day. For the rest of the house, I don't ask her to clean etc., just that the house be in substantially the same condition as it was when I left that morning.


HTH! FM if you want more info.

Re: About to embark on the search for a nanny...

-Do you allow your nanny to drive with the children?
-What do you give your nanny in terms of paid vacation/sick days?
-Do you have a written contract with your nanny?
-Would you make the nanny aware of the cameras throughout the house in this case? Obviously they will only be in common areas, such as the livingroom, kitchen, and the childrens' rooms. No bathroom cameras
-If you don't mind me asking, do you pay your nanny hourly or weekly? What do you pay?
-How did you find your nanny? (Took out an ad, word of mouth, nanny service, craigslist?)
-Do you ask your nanny to perform tasks such as doing the childrens' laundry or cleaning up the childrens' toys?

Thanks so much for your help!!!