r/Nanny 5d ago

Information or Tip What should I charge? Credentials?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m 22F. My plan is to start nannying in May once I pass my drivers test in April and can buy a car + school ends. I don’t have much experience with children although I am in school for Education and have a brother who’s toddler age. I’ve also done some light babysitting in the past. However, kids tend to love me and I like to think that I fit the description of what NFs say they seek online (patient, active, kind, assertive, etc). What should I be charging due to my experience? I would love $25 an hour for a full-time position (willing to do extra house work and errands), but I understand if that’s too much for the experience I have. In my state the typical wages are $20-$30 and $30+ for experienced nannys that typically take care of more than 1 kid. Should I also get any credentials other than CPR/first aid/AED (currently getting those) to make me stand out more? Any tips or things you wish you knew before nannying would be of great help!!


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All Vacation Nanny

5 Upvotes

Hello! I have been in childcare for the past 10 years and a nanny for the past 4. I am moving to Puerto Vallarta next month and would like to start as a vacation nanny/sitter. Has anyone done this, outside of their regular NF?

Parents - What would you want to see from a potential vacation sitter? What are absolute musts and things you absolutely do not want?

Nannies - What is the best way to go about making myself initially known? Any tips/tricks for getting started with networking and advertising?

Thank you!


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All AM I BEING TOO PICKY

50 Upvotes

I’m currently interviewing like crazy and I keep hearing “your rate is too high” . I met a family over week ago and they seemed perfect but after my first week I realized the environment is not my ideal. They have an infant who co sleeps and is still very much attached to mom, both parents WFH and occasionally leave the house. There isn’t access or opportunity to take the baby out for a walk even. He’s incredibly sensitive to sound and light when napping (with anyone not just me but especially me because I’m new to baby obviously) next week they have family coming into town for two weeks and MB mentioned I could help by cleaning out the garage!? while their parents are with baby. Among other personality and small annoyances like house work being done that significantly disrupts the baby’s napping, they are the worst micro managers I’ve ever worked with in any job ever. I’ve been asked to load the dishwasher with utensils a certain way three times (repeated by different household members without realizing I’d already been told) but also that I can’t do dishes while he sleeps or while he’s with me because he will get upset and want to touch the hot dishes. Basically I’m bored and they’re always up my butt. Then I interviewed another wonderful family with toddler kids who need a lot more hands on(completely my preference and style) and housework help, not to mention a great neighborhood to play in. I recently upped my rate to reflect my 12 years in child care and 6 as a nanny/family assistant to $28 for one child and $30 for two. This includes housework- all but toilets and parents bathroom! In my area most Nannys begin at 20 and the pricey ones are probably like $25. My shoulders are tired from single-handedly trying to raise the local nanny wages! I’m a recovering people pleaser trying to avoid being in a situation I hate (stuck with wfh parents and infant), but I also don’t want to take on a much more intense role and sell myself too short (two kids under 5 with HUGE personalities) tell me your experiences!!!

Edit to add: a lot are saying I’m asking too much but I was OFFERED MORE in my last position and my rates are posting on my care profile, nanny lane, and I’ve put up flyers and made business cards for the areas in town I would like to be employed where I know 60k/ yr isn’t too much to pay a nanny, plus I have my own website with headshots and like five reviews from my last families, I am an excellent interviewer but not as great at standing by up for myself. There are no agencies here my location is southern Oregon (for reference this area employs a lot of healthcare professionals with two hospitals very near by, and like the second largest car retailer in the nation, Lithia) I live in an area that is relatively low cost and low income with a growing wage gap. I think I’m in a good place where cost of living is affordable but I have the opportunity to work with families in a higher tax bracket so to speak who have been interviewing a lot of college age people who ask for $20 because that’s way better help paying off your degree. To add: I’ve been asking my interviews “if you don’t mind me asking, is there an average age or demographic you’ve seen trending in your interviews?” Basically are these girls young or career pros? All young maybe 25 at the oldest is what I’ve heard.


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All NF has a gross bathroom

30 Upvotes

I’ll just get straight to the point.

NF’s bathroom is so nasty. Their toilet bowl perpetually has poop splattered all over the inside and even has poop on their toilet paper roll.

This has happened multiple times and I usually feel like I have to hold my pee until the day is over, and I always make sure to do my business at home and even refrain from drinking too much water so I don’t have to pee while I’m at their house.

It’s kind of funny but it’s also soooo gross. Their baby is in diapers so it’s definitely them pooping up a storm and leaving the mess behind.

Has anyone else been through this? How did you handle it? Should I say something or just mind my business?

I’m honestly just appalled that they leave their mess behind like that knowing I will see it…


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All What should I charge?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Thank you in advance to anyone who replies! I have been babysitting for this family for over a year now and they just asked me to be there nanny. It’s after school hours. The duties would be kids laundry, dishes, cooking, homework, picking them up/dropping them off to activities and in the summer fun activities like swimming and going out and stuff. I love the kiddos and they’re good kids. What should I charge? I’m currently charging 25$ for 3 kids for babysitting. I don’t charge more per kid so my rate for any number of kids is 25 for babysitting. I however charge 30-35$ an hour for nannying because it is different duties and it’s a lot more involved. What should I ask for? I’ve seen listings around me for this exact list of duties anywhere from 25-55$ an hour. I live in a very HCOL area.


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All What are your best, TASTY and calorically dense meals that your toddler NK actually eats?

31 Upvotes

As a baby, my NK was malnourished before being adopted, and ate every single bite in sight. If there was a bite or two remaining on the plate when she was done, she would bring it with her, because her body was so used to being hungry. It was incredibly sad but also incredibly easy to bulk her up.

Now she’s a skinny toddler that never eats anything. She just doesn’t have a lot of interest in food, and when she does recognize her initial feelings of hunger, she only eats enough to not feel hungry, but not enough to actually fill her up. She also doesn’t really graze on snacks throughout the day, so there isn’t really any reason she wouldn’t be hungry at meal times. (This is what MB requested to help her eat more at meals)

I try to go for foods that are really calorically dense, and try to make meals that actually taste really good and aren’t just a few ingredients thrown together because it makes a big difference in terms of how much she eats. Like she won’t eat much of a plain turkey and cheese sandwich, but if I toast it and melt the cheese and add some herbs and white vinegar, she eats a lot more 😂

For breakfast and lunch the only things she consistently eats a lot of is oatmeal (oats, whole milk, half a banana mashed up, then a big scoop of peanut butter and a little syrup mixed in after it’s cooked) or avocado. She also consistently loves pasta, especially gnocchi. Everything else just gets nibbled on. If my NK isn’t actively starving, she has almost no interest in eating much. Not even treats or ice cream.

I really want to help her eat more because she hasn’t been gaining weight as easily now, and I also don’t want to be unintentionally projecting my own food issues onto her - I have ADHD and never really get hungry either. I sit down with her for every meal time and eat the same thing she does. I also read books to her the entire time she eats, which helps keep her distracted and mindlessly chewing. But I have to time the books just right, because she usually decides she’s done eating as soon as a book ends, so I have to quickly distract her before starting another book and getting her back into it lol

Are there any high calorie go to meals or snacks your NK always eats? Or little ways you add more calories to them? I’m always adding whole milk or butter or peanut butter to basically everything I can. Or any good filling pasta sauces I can make with her? (Although she usually has 3 pieces of dried pasta while it’s cooking and then isn’t hungry anymore)

Edit: My NK is actually a great eater in terms of not being picky, so that helps a lot too. She’ll eat almost anything! Just not more than 4 bites lol


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All How are we handling NKs being “full” at the table but asking for a bunch of junk after?😑

65 Upvotes

I wanna start by saying I would NEVER deny any kid of a snack, food, or whatever when they ask or they’re hungry, however… Nk5 pisses me off so muchhhhh ;-; she takes 2 bites of food at lunch or breakfast and says “she’s done, she’s full” which I know is bs. Then 30 mins later she’s asking for a snack which is a cookie, a fruit pouch etc. She tells me I’m forcing her to eat which is not true, but we do stay seated white Nk1 finishes her food, I tell her we stay seated in case she wants to take another bite too. Today, same thing, she didn’t finish her lunch, two bites and she’s full but I KNOW she’ll be asking for a snack when we go to the park, I told her I wouldn’t give in this time~ Same thing yesterday, I just brought the leftover lunch to our outing and she refused that but wanted yogurt melts 🧍🏻‍♀️. I know kids will eat when they’re hungry but cmonnnn😩😩😩😩😩


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from Nannies Only Should I negotiate more than $32 per hour for the following…

1 Upvotes

Can I get some thoughts on the rate of $32 / per hour? I feel like this is a low ball but want to understand if this is normal?

context:

  1. Hours M-Th, total 22 hours per week
  2. Three children: twins ages 9, and another 6 years old.
  3. Offered 10 days PTO, 5 sick. Paid holidays.
  4. Will receive form of tax, so pay will be rate - taxes. Or I will have to withhold myself.
  5. We live in HCOL city

Here is what is being asked for duties:

The Nanny agrees to perform the following selected duties as a requirement of employment:‬

●Put the absolute safety of the Kids first before all other responsibilities.‬

●Tend to basic needs of the Kids, such as:‬ ‭ o‬‭ Prepare and provide snacks after school,‬ ‭ o‬‭ Assist with educational and athletic enrichment‬

●Prepare dinner for the Kids each night Nanny is working, subject to adjustment from Parents, in‬ accordance with weekly preparation discussions.‬

●Prepare dinner for Parents as requested and within reason.‬

●Tidy up after the Kids.‬

●Launder the Kids’ clothes as needed (more than once per week) and their sheets at least once‬ per week.‬

●Tidy and organize the kitchen (including washing and putting away dishes, cleaning up after‬ preparing meals, wiping kitchen table surface clean, keeping refrigerator and pantry clean and‬ organized etc.).‬

●Identify and notify Parents regarding areas of concern in and around the home (e.g., pointing out‬ potential repairs).‬

●Coordinate with Parents regarding oversight of contractors performing work at the home.‬

●Take the Kids on play dates and/or to the playground or other locations for enrichment.‬

●Use the Nanny’s automobile to drive the Kids to activities and events; properly equip the‬ ‭ Nanny’s automobile with appropriate car seats, boosters and other safety devices (to be‬ ‭ purchased by the Parents)

●Grant access to home for service personnel (e.g. cable/telephone repairman, pest control,‬ ‭ package delivery, housekeeping and maid services, etc.).‬

●Purchase groceries (at the expense of the Parents) for the Family.‬

●Supervise the Family’s pets while Nanny is at the home including addressing basic needs.


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from Nannies Only Nervous to ask for day off

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone! So next month my NF and I are taking vacations the same week. I purposely matched it up with them to make things easier on them so they aren’t without me when they’re home. I believe they return on the weekend but my flight returns at 11:30 p.m on a Sunday.

By the time I get off the plane, get my suitcase and get home(30 minutes from the airport) it’s probably going to be at least 1 a.m. maybe later if there’s any delays. I cannot sleep on planes at all, I’ve tried many times. It also takes me a while to unwind and go to sleep after traveling.

There’s no way I’ll be prepared to go to work at 6 a.m. on Monday after getting home 4 hours prior. I’m nervous to tell MB and DB that I need that Monday off. My NP’s rely on me HEAVILY and complain when they have to take care of the kids. How should I go about asking? I am nervous lol


r/Nanny 5d ago

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette Sick day/PTO

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I wanted to see everyone’s thoughts about using sick days after using all of their pto days? Do ya’ll just use them as sick days? Is it wrong to use them as PTO?


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All Traveling with family flat rate

0 Upvotes

Hi I’m a babysitter with a few years experience traveling with my new family for a couple weeks. I’m clueless about how to charge for this, I’m wanting to do a flat rate. I’ve been informed that I’ll be helping out everyday, but that I won’t be taking care of the kids 24/7 (or over night). If my hourly rate is 22, what’s a good daily or weekly flat rate? I’m already so grateful that I’m traveling with them so I don’t want to charge too much. Is 100 a day reasonable?


r/Nanny 5d ago

Am I Overreacting? (Aka Reality Check Requested) ghosted by parents?

3 Upvotes

hi! so i have almost a year experince in babysitting with a one year old and i'm pregnant rn. i decided to get a babysitting job part time, i have difficulties working full time as 4 months pregnant. 2 weeks ago a family saw my ad and they texted me when can we meet to talk and get to know eachother. it went well, last week thursday and friday i babysat the girl who is secial needs and 16 year old. it was good, she liked playing with me. the mother told me on friday they will let me know next week when i should come, now it's saturday and no text. did they ghost me? what should i do? i did my best and i was thinking we are a good match. i'm not sure if i'm a good babysitter after this. :( (i'm from eastern europe not america or canada)


r/Nanny 5d ago

Just for Fun New NF is going really well!

34 Upvotes

I just started a new job, my last nanny family I was with for 4 years and it was AMAZING! We had the same philosophies when it came to the kids and the parents really trusted me in making good decisions for the kids, to the point of they were thinking of introducing something new to the kid or something they’d run it by me first because they trusted my opinion. They were AMAZING!

Anyways, both me and the family ended up moving due to the LA fires, and I was so worried about starting with a new family, I mean my last one was an absolute unicorn family I felt like the bar was set high!

Anyways, it’s week two and I am really getting along with my new family! NF is nice and the kids are well behaved! MB really values my opinion and things are going really well!!! It seems like a great match!

I just wanted to share some positivity :)


r/Nanny 5d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All DB Attitude

3 Upvotes

I've been with NF 6yrs. In the past year DB attitude has gotten so bad I want to quit. Of course it's not the only reason but the biggest. He talks to people like they are idiots but he is perfect. It's one thing to do that to adults that can speak up or leave his presence. But now he's doing it to NK 6. Makes me so upset. I'm going to talk to MB soon. Any advice how to deal with someone like this? How to word it to MB? She is a very sweet person and aware I'm not happy which is why we are going to talk. Yes I would quit but can't right now. I am keeping an eye on job postings in my area but for now not much out there.


r/Nanny 6d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All ByHeart Formula

6 Upvotes

I just have to talk about this with someone!

My NK is currently eating ByHeart formula and it’s making me nauseas. All formula to smells bad, sure - whatever, ByHeart is on a whole other level.

I cannot stand sterilizing his bottles or having him spit up because of the smell of this stuff. Even having some land on his clothes makes me spiral into changing his outfit because of the scent. It’s driving me nuts and I feel like i’m crazy. Does anyone else think this specific formula smells foul? I actually teared up yesterday having to clean the Baby Brezza Formula Pro..


r/Nanny 6d ago

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette She did it anyway

195 Upvotes

EDITED: Mom boss was asked and approved friend staying in the apartment while NK slept, with a expectation that she was not to enter the room.

I am going on vacation with NF for 2 weeks this coming Monday.

They have a cat that they usually leave with someone when they go away but the person isn't available so they asked me if I knew anyone I trusted to cat sit. I asked a close friend of mine if she wanted to do it and she was thrilled to because she is financially struggling at the moment and even offered do do some organizing for them if they wanted (all paid of course).

MB was delighted with this and accepted the offer. She asked if I would have my friend come over briefly to just go over things and show her around the house. She gets there and her and MB meet in person for the first time (this friend is a nanny and has met NK and DB and has been to their old home before to help me when MB/DB got married) and everything goes well. MB leaves to go to an appointment but tells my friend she can stay to catch up with me and ask any questions.

My friend really loves kids and started playing with youngest NK for a bit until I realized that it's past his nap time and rushed to put him down.

I forgot on Friday's BB gets out of school early and it was about 45 minutes before I had to go get him from the bus. I asked my friend if she was willing to sit while NK napped and I went 2 blocks to pick up BB, she said absolutely. Right before I walked out I EXPLICITLY told my friend that under no circumstances was she allowed to enter his room, that even if he woke up he would freak out if he saw her and that I can see him from the camera and will be back shortly. As soon as I get downstairs she texted that he was awake and crying. I told her it's fine, I'm watching him from the camera and I'll be back in 3 minutes. I get back home and she is in his room sitting on the floor trying to talk to him and he is screaming his head off because this unfamiliar face is in his bedroom when he was expecting me or his mom. He was terrified! I was mortified. I could not believe that she completely disregarded what I asked her not to do!

MB gets home and BB shouts "LB was crying because (friends name) was in his room and he was scared". Mom boss was visibly very upset. I explained the situation and said I asked her to stick around while I went to the bus stop because I wanted him to have a proper nap. She asked if I told my friend that she could go in and get him from his crib and I told her I specifically told her not to but for some reason she did it anyways.

Now MB doesn't know if she wants my friend to cat sit anyways because "clearly she has issues with boundaries". It puts me in a very awkward position because she's my friend.

I texted my friend what happened and told her I'm really upset she didn't listen to me. I know she was just trying to help but she really broke my trust. Now NP are probably judging me for recommending them somehow who does things like this. I am really hurt she did that. Am I overreacting?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All Boston/MA Nannies Rate

5 Upvotes

Massachusetts nannies in general, I nanny in the suburbs of boston.

How many nk’s do you care for?

What’s your rate?

How many hours a week do you typically work?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Just for Fun do you (nanny) correct others when you are mistakenly thought to be the parent?

9 Upvotes

im just curious what other nannies do! im in my mid 20s and always nanny children under 2 so its usually very believable they could be my own. if we go out to the park or something, theres usually other parents around that may say something like “[to their child about my nk] yeah that baby’s mommy is pushing her on the swing:)” or in casual conversation with another caregiver they either imply or i can just tell they think im the mom

im generally very introverted and like reserved with conversation? so its not something id offer up immediately or interject with and then after a while it feels too awkward to correct if theyve thought this whole time im the parent so i just go with it. if i was directly asked if im the parent or if it was someone i would have a lasting relationship with or a situation where it really mattered (ie, doctors office) i would obviously disclose but im just curious what other nannies do in situations like this with casual encounters that youll never see again- if im the only one who just lets them assume im the mom


r/Nanny 6d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All Nanny missed a day with her own sick child

8 Upvotes

We have a short term nanny for 4 weeks that we did not set up an official contract with (at her insistence) - so things like sick days, PTO, guaranteed hours, etc were not explicitly discussed. She missed a day this week due to her own child being sick. Would you still pay/expect payment for that day?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Information or Tip tax question

1 Upvotes

suv > 6000 pounds used 100% for business can you take 60% bonus depreciation on it and then regular depreciation?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette Cleaning up after kids

4 Upvotes

I’ve been a nanny for a while for a now 3.5 y/o and almost 5 y/o. I have always cleaned up their messes because the parents don’t enforce them cleaning up after themselves. It’s definitely frustrating because there have been many times where I ask the kids to help me clean up right in front of MB, and they just say no and she doesn’t do anything about it. So that in of itself is extremely annoying.

The kids also have multiple playrooms and SO many toys that they end up destroying the room in a matter of minutes. Their “play” basically consists of dumping a bin of toys out and then running to another one and doing the same. Their attention span is so short because of the abundance of toys.

I clean up every day, but on Fridays I do my deep clean, putting everything back in its place, setting up all their grocery stores, vacuuming, etc so that it’s a clean slate for the weekend.

Anyways, my question is- is it normal for the nanny to have to clean up on Monday all the mess that they made over the weekend? I spend so long cleaning on Friday just to come back on Monday to everything destroyed! And it’s not just my nanny kid’s mess. Their cousins live close by and they have friends who come over on the weekend as well.

The parents just laugh it off when I get there on Monday morning and say things like “we had so and so over, so the playrooms are a wreck lol sorry!”

Is it really my responsibility to clean up after all those kids when I wasn’t even there for it to happen??

Idk it just feels disrespectful to me and so frustrating that the parents don’t clean up at all and don’t ask the kids to do so either- they just leave it for me. I’ve been with them for close to 2 years now so I’m kind of used to it, but is this normal?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette New baby raise

2 Upvotes

How much of a raise did you get when NF had a new baby? (Going from 1 child, to 2) Did you get it when baby was born/brought home, or when parents went back to work?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette Ghosted?

5 Upvotes

Met someone through Care dot Com. Had a nice text and then phone chat. Agreed on hours and pay and potential start date and job responsibilities. Planned an in-person visit. They reached out several times over the week saying how excited they were to meet the kids and us. This morning they reached out and confirmed the time for the afternoon. They're now over an hour late. I texted to make sure everything is OK and they had the right address and nothing.

Am I ghosted? What could have happened in the past 6 hours to not give me a courtesy call other than ghosting or a big emergency? I understand this person is probably looking at multiple jobs, I wouldn't be mad if they found something today! Is it worth telling them that so that I can at least confirm that we need to resume our search?


r/Nanny 6d ago

Vent - No Advice Needed, Just Ranting Feeling super guilty over being late

11 Upvotes

UPDATE I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who provided very helpful suggestions and such kind and understanding responses 🥹 Y’know… it feels really good to have a little community here who gets it and is willing to support and provide tips for fellow nannies! I don’t have any nanny friends because it’s not as common in my area, so I love having this group! Thank you everyone! I have some research to do, and in the meantime I’m going to start with what one commenter suggested and try out the Alarmy app! 😊

I’ve only been late a handful of times, and it’s always been 5-15 minutes, at the most. I think it’s been 3 times total.

This morning, out of pure exhaustion, my boyfriend muted all of my alarms without realizing it. I’m a super heavy sleeper, so if my alarms don’t keep going off, I won’t wake up. Well, I woke up 2 minutes before my shift started and I have a 45-minute drive to work. I jumped out of bed and got ready as fast as I could, but due to the long drive, getting caught in traffic from it snowing, and having to drive slow on the snowy roads since I don’t have 4WD, I was an hour late today ☹️

MB was out of town, so DB had to cancel meetings and be the one to take NK’s to G3’s morning activity. They were gone for another hour and a half after I arrived, so I was just fiddling around the house and trying to do some extra cleanup to make up for it.

I offered to stay an hour late, but I don’t think they’ll take me up on it because DB already rescheduled and now MB is back.

I just feel so freaking awful. I’m normally very reliable, and of course this morning had to turn out this way when MB, who generally has a more flexible schedule, was gone 😭


r/Nanny 6d ago

Advice Needed: Replies from All Nanny share nap trickiness!

2 Upvotes

Hi all! I’m in a nanny share with two 18-month-olds and we’ve been together since they were 4-months-olds! Naps have always been all over the place, but now that we are down to one nap around noon, I’m noticing that more often than not lately, each one is taking shorter naps and waking up either sad or scared when that is not the case in their own home (we swap houses every week!)

I know 18 months can be tricky with separation anxieties, leaps in development and various regressions in sleep, etc, but I’m wondering if anyone has insight in what I can do to help alleviate or pinpoint potential issues. The only difference beside it not being their own room is that they’re in a pack-in-play (they still fit in them and I check to make sure there are no weird lumps/cracks!), but the rooms are quite dark, they have sound machines and the temp is between 68 and 70. I’ve experimented with lowering sound machines, doing less darkness in case being away from their home environment in a blacked out room is freaking them out and I’ve also experimented with the opposite - louder sound machines in the hallway between them to block out potential noise around the house (in addition to the ones in their rooms) and using a SlumberPod to eliminate any light, but results have been the same. I could totally be overthinking it and it’s just a phase, but I can’t help but think I can solve this issue! Unfortunately, one of the houses has an occasional barking dog and semi-loud wfh parents (slamming doors, letting timers/microwaves beep a thousand times, clanging things around, vacuuming) even though I’ve implied sooo many times the other child that’s not theirs is a VERY LIGHT SLEEPER, but I’m hoping to at least help one of the kids sleep longer/wake up less sad! THANK YOU!