Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

Does anyone have a situation where the person caring for your child or children also has her own young child that she cares for as well along with your child(ren), either in your home or hers?

If so, are you happy with that situation?

And if you had a choice between two nannies that you liked equally well except one would also have her DC tagging along but was asking for considerably less pay and used to work as a teacher, which nanny would you choose to hire?

TIA!

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

Awhile ago i posted on care.com for a mothers helper and a few people responded back that they needed to bring either their child or another child they were watching. To me that is a deal breaker. I am paying you for you to pay undivided attention to MY child.(ren) If i liked both equally Iw ould go with the one who would be avilable only to me hands down. Besides the attention factor. I would worry about if the child was sick or getting sick. I would worry that the kids would not get along, or if its her child if she would favor her own child ( i would think that would be natural but still)

Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

Well I have a sitter. It's my good friends sister who I've known for 10 years and she recently took classes to becomes certified for a home day care, but she's not watching any other children other than her own. She has 3 kids but 2 are in school so it's just my baby and her 2 yr old for the most part at her home, which is set up like a day care center. I bring my child to her so I feel very comfortable with that. If it were just someone I didn't really know too well but just hired off care.com or something I wouldn't be as comfortable with them bringing their own kids to my home...

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

The woman who watches DD 3 days a week has a newborn baby and a 7 year old. I am totally fine with it. She takes excellent care of DD and frankly we would be lost without her. She is my best friend's sister and someone I have known for close to 20 years so that skews things.

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I guess it really depends on your back up plan. For the babysitter with kids, she will probably need to take more sick days along the way. The positive is that your do will have a playmate and the mom would probably take he kids out more- park, library programs, etc...

Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I watch triplets several days a week.. I also have my DS who is a few months younger than the triplets. There is a family member avail if my child should get sick. But I always leave it up to the parents. I let them know in the am that my son is sick/under the weather, what would they like to do. If they did not want me to come, I would completely understand.
Also, as the sitter in this situation, my son always comes last, unless it involves being hurt. It's hard sometimes, but I am being paid to watch those children, not my son.
As for which to choose, that depends on your personal level of comfort. Each has its own pros/cons and there is no right answer.

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I have someone who watches DS 3 days a week (he is 4 months) and she has 2 girls ages 2 and 3 and I have no problem with it. The girls love him!

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I am looking for someone PT and don't want them bringing another child. The attn factor alone (I have 2 to begin with) and then germs, etc. (they may be more apt to bring a sick child if they are just watching them anyway)

Message edited 2/20/2013 1:54:25 PM.

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I have never had a nanny but, I have been watching my friends child on and off for 3 years now. (Off after I had ds2 and when they have family available for a few months out of the year) I am not just saying this BC I am the sitter, but I know my friend would have me be the ft sitter if I agreed again. (I now do just 2 days a week)

IMO there are drawbacks of course but there can be alot of positives too. Their DD basically grew up with my boys like brothers, they all love each other(friends DD is an only child). Their DD learned to walk trying to chase my son. Kids learn best from their peers so IMO there can be good tat comes from it.

Also having a former teacher, she will probably doing crafts and teaching your DD during the day, just as she would with her own.

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I have a babysitter who comes 1 to 2 times a week and brings her 2 year daughter.

I love both of them (the babysitter and her daughter!)

My older son (4 years old) goes to preschool and she comes with her 2 year old daughter to babysit my 2 year old son.

My son and her daughter are like brother and sister. They play, socialize, she does arts and crafts with them, when the weather is nice she takes them for walks in our red wagon which they both love.

She sends me pictures all day!

When she and her daughter walk through the door, my 2 year old is so happy, runs up & hugs them. I love knowing he is happy, learning, and socializing.

Then my Dad picks up my older son at preschool and brings him home around 2:30 - 3 pm and the babysitter and daughter leave and my Dad stays until my DH gets home around 5 - 5:30 pm.

For our situation, it worked out good. But I can see how it wouldn't in some situations. I think because they are the same age, it really worked out nice.

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

Depends on the age of the child that they are bringing along and if they get along with your child. Honeslty I would probably give it a trial run and see how it works.

I work from home some days and have someone who picks up my child from preschool and bring her here and then watches my 3 little ones along with her own for 3 hours each day. Her child is the same age as my DD and they all get along.

I also watch the other neighbors children after school. I have about 5 bigger kids- age 5-10 who come to my house. Basically the kids who get along can stay and the ones who cause problems, their parents have found childcare elsewhere. If they all get along its great!

Re: Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I met with a few moms in our initial search. I was originally looking for someone flexible to come while I was working from home.

I tried out one mom and I felt she was scolding her child the entire time she was in my home. She would have been great if she came solo. Her child was also older (~4). I was wondering why he wasn't in preschool. I felt bad for the child.

When I was looking, I was open to SAHMs and met with several. They usually were willing to work for a few dollars less. I did not think it was worth it to save a few dollars. I'd rather have individualized care.

Question for parents who have a nanny/babysitter

I would be ok with them bringing their own child, but I would likely be willing to pay them less since my child isn't getting one on one care. With that being said, I do think it's great because my child would have the opportunity to be in a social setting with another child. While I love day cares for the social interaction and my child learning how to share, play with other kids etc, the abundant amount of children in a day care setting certainly increases the risk for germs and illness. I highly doubt that their one or two kids are going to have way more germs than your own kid since they will likely all be exposed to the same elements. I have had several friends or family use someone that also had their own child there and they had nothing but good things to say. If that persons child got sick, they would call ahead and say hey little Johnny has abc (start of a cold etc) and let the parents decide if they wanted their kid exposed. In all honesty, unless the child had strep or some severe contagious illness, I would still let them come. Not to say hey come get my kid sick, but to face the reality that at that point my kid is was already exposed before they had symptoms, the mom is probably already going to get whatever her kid had and ultimately when my kid gets sick I will still need someone to care for my child. ( I would obviously take off from work if it was something more serious, but unfortunately I am working because I can't afford to stay home a week plus because my babysitters kid got a cold, then she did, then my kid did and I wouldn't let them come until everyone was all healthy again' )