Nanny rates? (Chantilly: spring break, daycare, home)

[campbetc]

I'm curious about what the "going rate" might be for a nanny in this situation.

We live in Chantilly and we're planning a third child. Older children would be approximately 3 and 5. We'd be looking for a live-out nanny who would come 4 days a week for approximately 9 hours each day (7 am - 4 pm). We would need the nanny to:

- Take the oldest child to kindergarten (walking distance, full-day)
- Watch the two younger children (3 years old and newborn); 3-year old would probably go to a half-day preschool a few days a week, so they'd need to do pickup and dropoff for that.
- Pick up oldest child at kindergarten
- Light child-related housekeeping

I am at home on Fridays so we wouldn't need a 5-day-a-week nanny. Has anyone here been in a similar situation? What did/do you pay on a weekly or monthly basis?

Thanks!

[Espressoo]

Wow, what you've outlined is a very daunting daily chore. Unless both spouses each makes a handsome salary, perhaps one of you could considering staying home at least until your youngest reaches 6mos-1yr. Logistic wise, I don't know how one person is expected to care for a newborn while shuttling the other 2 around via walking.

[smokemaster]

I think that you could get a qualified person for 400 per week. It's ironic that people will be bring in someone without medical coverage to provide care their kids. I wouldn't go through an agency; you will end up with an underpaid worker.

[Denton56]

Do you need an English speaker? Can they bring along their own young children? Are you on a bus route or will they need to have a car to get to you?

My neighbor has been trying for months to find someone to watch her 4 kids part time. Nannies want to work full time. It's nearly impossible. But we live out in the boonies, so you might have better luck. I would figure on at paying them a full time rate, $500 a week, $2,000 a month, with holidays and vacation, workman's comp, unemployment, social security, etc. I would probably pay an agency to do the background checks or go through a nanny agency.

[smokemaster]

don't they have standard fingerprint cards in VA? for camp workers, etc....

[campbetc]

Thank you for the input. I wondered about it being too much to expect a nanny to do. And I would want the pay to be fair and to cover the holidays, taxes, etc. Definitely everything legal and on the books.

I think we're close to a bus, but a car might be easier. And they don't HAVE to walk to all those places; I just meant that the elementary school is very close by.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

That's not an unreasonable request. We have a 1/2 time nanny, 30 hrs per week that cares for our 5 yo and 18 mo. She takes the 5 yo to pre-k each day and cares for the 18 mo. I pay her $250 a week. She does get to bring her own 18 mo with her. We pay taxes, mileage, federal holidays off, spring break, and two weeks at Christmas. It's been working GREAT for us this year and our girls LOVE her. My husband spoke to an accountant prior to hiring her to make sure we had all of the details covered. We did not go through an agency, but DID do a full background check on her. I interviewed another gal that I LOVED, but she was much more (~$150 a week more). I think we were able to get the gal that we have because she is able to bring her son with her. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. I was so nervous at first, but it's worked out great.

[info781]

$8.33 per hour for a nanny is very,very cheap. Expect to pay $12-$15 an hour depending language skills,ability etc. Also they should get some paid sick days, vacation, holidays. Other benefits are up to you.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by movingtodcfromseattle

That's not an unreasonable request. We have a 1/2 time nanny, 30 hrs per week that cares for our 5 yo and 18 mo. She takes the 5 yo to pre-k each day and cares for the 18 mo. I pay her $250 a week. She does get to bring her own 18 mo with her. We pay taxes, mileage, federal holidays off, spring break, and two weeks at Christmas. It's been working GREAT for us this year and our girls LOVE her. My husband spoke to an accountant prior to hiring her to make sure we had all of the details covered. We did not go through an agency, but DID do a full background check on her. I interviewed another gal that I LOVED, but she was much more (~$150 a week more). I think we were able to get the gal that we have because she is able to bring her son with her. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. I was so nervous at first, but it's worked out great.

I am glad it worked out for you but I can't help but wonder how someone supports themselves and a child on $250 a week. That's only $12,000 a year!

[movingtodcfromseattle]

Originally Posted by Denton56

I am glad it worked out for you but I can't help but wonder how someone supports themselves and a child on $250 a week. That's only $12,000 a year!

It actually works really well for their circumstances which I'm not willing to post here. I guess I should have made it clear that it's not a normal situation. The OP will definitely have to pay more than I do, but the requests that the OP has for care are not unreasonable if the compensation is there. When you are trying to provide daycare for multiple children, it can be cheaper to have a nanny than paying for them to attend daycare outside of the home. Not to mention less illnesses, days off of work for parents, etc.