I currently have a sitter come to my home 2 days a week to watch three of my children from 8:00am to 4:30pm. 1 boy age 5, 1 boy age 3, and my little girl nine months. I pay my sitter $13/hour and don't expect and house cleaning - just clean the dishes used and keep the toy room relatively walkable. What is a reasonable amount of expectations in this arrangement? When I come home I find out that most days the boys have eaten nothing but junk food and have usually gotten into something they shouldn't have. Only the baby is totally content. My 5 year says my sitter for the most part sits and watches TV all day. He also has begun to cry when he knows she's coming over - because he says she doesn't play with him. I trust her in my home and to watch the baby - but I am concerned that she does not engage the guys and they just run around the house and do whatever they want and eat whatever they want. Is it unreasonable to expect my sitter to be able to handle all three kids, feed them lunch and snacks, and once or twice a day sit down with the older ones to color or play a game? WOuld love to hear anyone's thoughts on this - do I need to pay more? should I go to an agency? any ideas? I have resorted to posting my work number on the refrigerator at home for my 5 year to call me whenever he wants and then talking to my 5 and 3 year old 3-5 times a day to make sure they stay out of trouble. Thanks for any feedback.
Wow, sounds like you should be paying your 5 year-old instead.
He's the one who seems to be in charge while you're gone.
I would look for a real babysitter to replace your couch potato. Good Luck!
My babysitter only sits my daughter who is a handful of a 17m onth old but I can still say that your babysitter is not doing a good job. She should be interactive with your older boys despite having your 9 mos old. My sitter does chores too, and I make a daily schedule of what I want done in the house, so she knows what is expected. I think for 13/hr she can definately do some simple chores. U are paying her very well. You should not have to have your child call you at work, this is a bad sign. Put your foot down with her and communicate what exactly you want her to do. If she is reluctant then you need to find another one. www.helpersabove.com is a great nanny agency. Good luck.
Hi S.,
Regardless of how much you're paying, she's not engaging your kids and feeding them junk...not acceptable. It's not too much to expect her to feed them properly and have her play with the 5 and 3 year olds in addition to watching the 9 month old.
For reference, I pay 13/hr for a nanny who watches my 2 year old daughter. She also cleans. They spend most of the day playing and doing activites and then she does laundry and vaccums/cleans up while my daughter naps. When my second arrives I'll be paying her 14/hr. We also give her a week's vacation and bonuses, etc. I let her bring her kids to my house when they're not in school...little perks like that. I think your gut has already told you this person isn't working for you and your kids. You could try talking to her and asking her to correct the things your not happy with if you think she's just not getting it but would be willing to adapt...you shouldn't have to worry this much about them while your not there...just my two cents!
Hi S.:
I teach preschool during the school year and I was a nanny last summer for 3 children.. 4 years.. 2 years old and a baby boy.... 4 months.. I was paid $12.00 a hour.. I wasn't expected to do any cleaning per say but I did keep the toys picked up and cleaned up any dishes in the sink.. I brought a little art/educational activity each day and did floor play with the baby. They need just as much attention as the older ones and they love it too!
I have so many materials from teaching for 12 years. We also played a board game or two.. we went for walks.. played chalk on the driveway.. things like that.. I discussed with the mom ( whose daughter had been in my preschool class)what I would be doing with the kids.. and she loved it.. there was no grey area.. perhaps if you hold her a bit more accountable by letting her know that you would like certain things done..whatever it is that you want.. and give her an opportunity to do it.. if she then doesn't live up to your expectations.. you certainly have grounds to let her go. You have every right to get quality care at the pay you are giving her! Just my opinion.. hope that helps.. I was going to work for a professional nanny service and they wanted to hire me.. I just didn't want to work all day every day in the summer.. their pay range.. depending on how many children and how many hours and responsibilities ranged from $12-$18 a hour.. They were based out of Schaumburg. (just to give you an idea.. ) I think what you are paying is very fair!
Get rid of this sitter. Yes, you are underpaying her, but she seems so bad that I doubt she'd improve with more pay. Also, don't let your older children be under the stress from her being with them. They are too young to be in charge. With a sitter like this, you might as well stay at home!
Perhaps you should let her go. Is she an adult? If she is aware that you are asking these things, then maybe you should talk to her first, see how she responds. You want your kids to be well taken care of first and foremost! You don't want problems with your kids and babysitters whenever you go out.
Good luck!
You need to talk to her!!! You are paying her to take care of your children, that includes doing DAILY activities. Since you are not asking her to do any housework, her only job is to take care of your children. Children need some free time during the day, but they also need planned activities. Maybe you could write out a schedule to help get her on track. She might just need some suggestions. There are many great websites for preschool activites.
If things do not improve I would find a someone new. One place to check is your local college.
Good luck,
Cheryl
I used to watch 3 kids and my own as well. I started when the youngest and my child were about 1 and the oldest was 4. I worked there for a year and a half. I was paid about 14 dollars an hour. That's pretty good pay, considering I was able to bring my child along. They didn't expect me to do any chores, just basic cleaning up after ourselves. I did make sure the kids got a good breakfast lunch and snacks. We also did activities, but not daily. When the younger kids were sleeping I tried to do activities with the oldest. I did have some trouble with the boy (2 to 3 yrs old while I worked there.) He often cried when I arrived, didn't want his daddy to leave, and misbehaved for me a lot. I did play with him too, but I couldn't focus all of my attention on him, and he needed a lot. I think what you are paying is "fair," but I also think child care workers are underpaid in general. But, no matter what financial arrangents you agreed on, she should be at least performing her basic duties. I think you need to talk to her and if things don't get better, find someone else. Good Luck!
