[Emily Louange]

Great question, Caroline. There are several routes you could take. You really could start looking for a share family at anytime. Then you could look for a nanny together. Typically nannies looking for new positions to start within a month or so of the start date because they are in between jobs. But you never know, you may find a nanny sooner who is employed with a family that is moving or something and they are looking for a new position with a later start date.

[Emily Louange]

Thanks to all for participating! A bunch of smarties! Scenario #2 it is and Roxanne D is our winner! Roxanne, please contact Emily@viathevillage.com to confirm the best address to mail you your gift card.

We are trying to spread awareness of domestic employee rights. Taxes are usually a confusing topic for all. We would appreciate you all spreading the information. Please share:

https://viathevillage.com/nanny-taxes/

[Emily Louange]

I just learned this one…apparently if you put a large clean towel in the dryer with your wet clothes, it cuts down significantly on the drying time. Haven’t tried it yet. I’ll report back 😉

[Emily Louange]

A raise when you have a child is usually 10-15% or at least a couple dollars more per hour.

Annual raises should be based on cost of living adjustment (COLA) and merit. COLA is anywhere from 1-3% increase per year.

According to the International Nanny Association (INA): “On average, it’s common to see a nanny’s salary rise by 3%-6% each year when both
merit and COLA adjustments are combined.”

Here is a link to their handbook for parents: https://crm.nanny.org/cmfiles/ina/fileManager/public/files/INA_Nanny_Employer_Handbook_8_16.pdf

I always recommend that families work out a single family rate and then figure the share rate from there. The share rate will be about a 33% discount off each family’s single family rate.

When you do it this way, it is easier to figure the math with share families where one family has 1 child and the other family has 2 children.

Ex.

Family A (with 2 children)- Single Family rate $18/hour. Share Rate $12/hour
Family B (with 1 child)- Single Family rate $16/hour. Share Rate $10.72/hour

Of course, it is common to round up or down, but you see my point. The family with two children always contributes a little more.

That is my 2 cents but I’m sure others have theirs and it all about communication and negotiation.

Don’t forget there are free nanny and nanny share contracts (you can download and edit) here on viathevillage.com to guide the process and put things in writing to protect your relationships.

[Emily Louange]

I am sure it can really vary by expectations of the hire. Are they typically allowed to sleep when baby does?

As I understand, rate also really varies depending on whether you hire a night nanny, a post partum doula or newborn care specialist. But I don’t think I understand the differences between them…

[Emily Louange]

You are right Monica, your employer should be paying you hourly not a flat weekly rate.

Even though paying a flat rate “seems the simplest and most efficient way to do things; however by law a nanny is an hourly employee and entitled to pay for all hours worked at the hourly rate, and may be entitled to overtime. The Fair Labor Standards Act specifies that household workers are to be paid hourly”

This is my source I quote from: http://info.homeworksolutions.com/blog/offering-a-nanny-a-salary-what-you-need-to-know

Anytime over 40 hrs per week, you should be getting time and a half, so a flat weekly rate would likely not be in your best interest.

Yes, they could be suggesting a flat rate in order to pay less or they may not know. I would approach it by trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and share information and resources with them. Yes, it is their responsibility as domestic employers to do due diligence and know their responsibilities but there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Hope this help 😉

[Emily Louange]

Great advise Shenley! Thanks for your input!

I think I often say “no” out of reflex. Then she asks again and I sometimes will think “why not, what’s the big deal?” and change my answer to “yes”.

I know changing my answer probably perpetuates the problem because she thinks she just has to keep asking, begging, whining and then she will get what she wants.

Your suggestion about more consistently using a phrase like “that was my final answer” or something is something I will try!

[Emily Louange]

Hi Maxime. Thanks for your post! Once Via The Village launches the nanny share and care web app early next year, families like you will have a much better experience finding a nanny share family.

Until launch, we have been using our city specific Facebook groups to post ads. You might have better luck there. We just started one recently for NYC. It is small, but we welcome you to join and add other friends who may be interested in the group to help grow it. That is how we grew our Chicago group to 3800 members 😉

Here is link for NYC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/189378771580470/

For others to know, we also have a group for San Francisco, Grand Rapids, Denver, Houston, Portland, Atlanta, Berwyn/Oak Park, and Metro Detroit.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 9 months ago by Emily Louange.

[Emily Louange]

Ooo. What is your homemade slime recipe?

[Emily Louange]

Oh my gosh Kimberley! You are a gem! I have never even heard about this contraption. It will be an investment because we have to buy 2 since he alternates hands.

Then I will just have to get up the courage to use it! Lol. He is going to have a absolute fit (just like he does when we put mittens on him) when he can’t get to his fingers. Oh boy, he is going to follow me around whining all day.

I wonder if I could just start with using it during the day and keep it off at night, as this is how he pacifies himself to sleep or if it has to be cold turkey. It needs to come with a tranquilizer for mama! Hahha

[Emily Louange]

Woof. Devin, I feel your pain.

Story time at libraries and in some areas there are community centers that have activities for kiddos that are much less pricey than those play places. Like in Chicago we have Hyde Park Neighborhood Club with tot land.

Also, playdates are great for variety. Excited for Via The Village to launch the feature where we can look for those nearby interested in meeting up with for playdates 😉

[Emily Louange]

Wow. Great question Brittany!

Maybe baby wearing? Nanny could wear one carrier and carry the other baby in his or her arms, wear two carriers, or there is baby carrier for twins.. twingo.

[Emily Louange]

Following! Our son who will be 2 in Dec sucks his two middle fingers. So cute but it has got to stop, especially with winter on it’s way. So many germs.

I have also heard of the Tabasco trick. Aww, so cruel. Would love to hear some other suggestions! Thanks

[Emily Louange]

Thanks for posting Devin. I have heard your question quite a bit.

Obviously the expecting family will need to increase the rate they pay the nanny. You shouldn’t have to. Nanny share rate is typically about two thirds the single family rate.

I find it easy to agree on single family rate and work backwards….

So if single family rate is $15 per hour for one child, then it might be $18 per hour for two children. Family with one child would pay a share rate of $10 per hour (two thirds). Family with two children would pay a share rate of $12 per hour (two thirds).

Or something like that. It is all about compromise and negotiation. Hope this helps!

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