Hello all. I recently came into a wonderful job that would allow me to bring my 9mos old daughter. I have my early childhood degree from NIU and teaching certificates through 9th grade. My husband and I just moved back to the area a few years ago and I have been subbing and assisting in a special education classroom. After the birth of my daughter I struggled, as most moms do, with sending her to a babysitter and not being able to give her my quality car. Well this school year I fell into an opportunity to work for a family I have been babysitting for off and on at nite time. The family needs a nanny 4 days a week from 7-6pm. That is 44hours in 4 days. I would be caring for triplet 1yr olds. The pay offer is 400/week. I have been going back and forth about it with my husband, because I know the quality of care I can give, the schedule I will provide for the children, and the activites that will be planned. The family has stressed their want for us to work together on developing a curriculum, and that they want it to be run like a little daycare center. I know that I would fill the day anyway because that is the kind of person I am, especially with my background. Do you think this is a fair price or how do I persaude them that I need at least $10/hr????? Please let me know your thoughts and any suggestions on becoming a nanny for the first time.
In looking into nanny's recently, the going rate for most has seemed to be $400-$500 a week that they are asking. I think thats too much for our family to pay, but too little for a nanny of triplets to make.
Hi S.,
I babysat for 3 children last summer only a couple days a week.. for like 3-5 hours a day and I asked for 12 dollars a hour and received it. I am a preschool teacher and have taught for over 12 years.. and have worked with children 18 months to 5 years of age.. the last 4 years I have worked with 2 and 3 year olds in a regular preschool setting.
.. but for the babysitting last summer I would bring little activities over for the kids to do, mainly arts and crafts and some educational games. Just keeping the kids safe, entertained, fed and changed.. putting down for naps.. it was a LOT of work!
Your prospective employer hopefully knows how fortunate they are to have someone with your qualifications and dedication and the children are in a much better setting being cared for at home. So that has to be of tremendous value to them.
I Don't know how old your daughter is, so you may be working with 4 young children. Gee, they want it to be something like a day care..?
well.. you would have an assistant for sure in that sort of setting.. I just think three one year olds are going to be quite a responsibility! just keeping them safe is going to take up a lot of your day let alone making it like a day care with a curriculum.
I remember caring for the three children last summer.. ages 4 months.. 2 years and 4 years and those kids kept me going ALL of the time. It definitely was worth $12 a hour. I think it was harder work than working in a regular classroom setting.
I definitely would ask for more money..I checked into 2 local nanny companies last summer to see what the going rate was.. and they were paying between $12 and $15-$16 a hour.. full time nanny work that is which is what you would be doing.
You could call the agencies like I did and ask the going rate and then use that as a bargaining tool with this family to get a better hourly rate. Granted it is unusual that as a nanny you could bring your own child so that may be worth it to you to accept less money. I doubt the agencies would allow you to do that.
But I would definitely think this over before accepting the position. A big responsibility on a daily basis. I think you may be pretty wiped out when you get home each day and probably won't have much time for one on one with your daughter during the day.. maybe when the triplets nap you can have one on one time with your child..
but if you are used to that sort of pace and have the energy level required.. then good for you! good luck!
Hmmmm..I am not a nanny and don't have a nanny but that seems a little low to me. That could just be me, though, as I am paying $225 for ONE child in daycare. I know that daycare is typically more expensive but you would be taking care of THREE one year old children.
Good luck.
All I would suggest is, whatever you decide make sure your happy with the decision and feel comfortable going into it. I would think for 1 yr old triplets, that is a little low, more along $12-$15/hr for 3 kids, but if it works for you and your situation then why not. I sit part time for a 9 yr old girl before/after school around 12-15 hrs/wk and charge $15/hr and along with my 3 yr old. I would talk to them and let them know how you feel. I think they would definitely be getting a great deal, especially with all your qualifications. Would you be mother's helper or would it be just you with 1 yr old triplets and plus your daughter?
Just a thought...find out what the going rate is for daycare in your area for 3 one-year olds, including sibling discounts. The ratio for that age is 5 to 1 I belive so you would still be providing care that is better than that ratio.
I was a nanny ( I have my ECHD degree now and was working towards it then) for 3 years and I made at least that much (I don't exactly remember the rate b/c we switched from cash to part cash/part on the books) to care for 1 child initially and then a second (a friend of the family's) part-time a couple of the days. I'd love to chat more if you have further questions. Feel free to email me directly ____@____.com
K.
(30 year old "soon-to-be SAHM" with a 4-year old son and baby on-the-way)
I am also not a nanny but I would say $10 an hour is fair and reasonable. People with your qualifications can often go up to $15 hr. That being said, if they are allowing you to bring your daughter with you every day you will want to weigh that considerably as that is a rare find.
