Comments on: Your thoughts: nanny fees?

By: JR

JR — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:01:48 +0000

I am a graduate student with extensive experience with kids – both babysitting and coaching in sports. I love taking care of kids and have always had the best references and even a waiting list at one point. I realize the reality of financial crunching that many people are dealing with – but isn’t it a truly unmatched priority to make sure your kids have the most devoted, loving, skilled, fun, and level headed caregiver when you, the parents are not available? If you want Mary Poppins for Dollar store prices – and yet most employed parents who may have important office jobs but have left others to the daily nourishing of their little ones mind, heart and bodies would never accept, or would be incredibly bitter, constantly if their work was devalued. So why, do this to one of the most important people you will ever work with? Do you want your kid to thrive? Hire accordingly and remember that if you demonstrate you value the care and attention your nanny showers on your kids, likewise, she/he will not feel pinched and shortchanged and will feel free to to just be the best nanny for your kids. It is disgusting the way nannies are continuously financially exploited in Canada. I offer devoted, loving care. The last family I worked with appreciated this concept, paid me $18/hr. (which is the higher end for sure, ) they respected my boundaries for when I needed to do my work and so forth and we had a great working relationship! When their 2 boys got old enough, I continued to do tutoring, and accompany them on business trips so the boys would swim and hike, and not play video games all day. They respected my need for sleep, normal meals, to go out in my own life and do my school work. I felt compensated and appreciated and as such I really valued the position and enjoyed it.
They had to sacrifice and prioritize, but their kids, now grown, are the better for it.

By: J.

J. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:10:46 +0000

omg! if that’s the price for a nanny, that’s alot of money! that’s almost more than I make a day (tax free). No way. If that’s how much it costs to have a nanny (or daycare) I don’t know if I want any children. :S

By: Carly

Carly — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:50:44 +0000

Chiming in a little late, but better that than never?

We’ve had a live-in nanny here in the Ottawa area for almost 6 months now and it’s a dream come true. She cooks, cleans, does laundry and cares for our 2 year old, working 5 days a week for about 8.5 to 9 hours a day.

She nets about $1000/month and our out of pocket actual expense is about $1400/month (you have to contribute to EI and CPP). That’s $88/day. Oh and the rates do not change based on the number of kids you have. God willing we’ll have another while she’s still with us and the costs will be cheaper than Daycare. And did I mention she does laundry?

We are not legally responsible for her (i.e./ we are not sponsoring her), though we do have to provide a room with a door that locks. She’s loving, unobtrusive (sp?) and quiet. She works hard and has made a ton of friends in the neighbourhood – so much so that she no longer stays with us over the weekends, giving all of us some welcome privacy as we’re in a small 3-bedroom townhome.

Good luck with your search!

By: Annika

Annika — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:20:44 +0000

Sounds verrrrrrrry reasonable, especially if it includes some meal prep and light housekeeping. Keep us posted!!

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:59:17 +0000

Ha ha – I enjoyed Andrea’s comment that she thinks that $30/day is out the butthole. Sounds cheap to me!

My Ottawa fees are $40/day per preschooler, $63/day for under 2-1/2 for in a daycare. You have 3 kids. The math for $100 day in-house care is in your favour. Plus, if they are in your home you don’t have to wake them up, pack them up and rush around with them. A friend with 3 just switched from daycares to a nanny and she said the quality of life in the mornings and evenings has really improved for her family. Plus, her nanny will start supper if she leaves her instructions.

I think it’s most important you have someone you, your spouse and your kids all like. She will become part of your kids family.

Remember, this woman will be working for a $800 paycheck, and then have to pay taxes out of it. I think she is offering you a low price for the most important service she will be providing for your family.

Good luck!

By: smothermother

smothermother — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:08:09 +0000

I pay $40 a day for a day care (I live in Ottawa as well). $100 for a live out nanny, for 3 kids? Sounds lieka steal to me.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:54:23 +0000

You know I think it’s worth it! I pay $85 a day for a live-in nanny for 2 kids. I’d pay her twice that if I had to. She makes my life so much easier. I get up in the morning, have breakfast with the kids and then go to work–no hassles. I come home, dinner is ready. We all eat together and then after dinner I play with the kids while she cleans up. She also keeps the house tidy, does the laundry, writes a grocery list etc. She is WONDERFUL!

Go for it! You will not regret it!

If you’d be interested in an international nanny, let me know. I can help. Arlene’s friend is looking for work, and since her sister lives here, she may accept a “live-Out” arrangement.

By: daysgoby

daysgoby — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:28:08 +0000

If she’s good and loves your kids, 100.00 is pocket change.

If she’s bad? Why on earth would you pay someone 100.00 a day??

By: Theresa

Theresa — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:23:19 +0000

I’m interested in knowing what level of ECE she has??? Level one being a short (usually free) course… or say a 2 year certificate?? (I think that is considered level three) And IF she has level three – consider asking her why she is interested in private care rather than a roomful of noisy kids…(put it that way and private care DOES sound better….) just so you know – anyways.

I’m sure you’ve been down this road before – but make sure to get a criminal rec. check AND ask about a child welfare check…

Unfortunately the $100 per day does sound reasonable…stay strong girl!!

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:13:18 +0000

I think if you have 3 kids and she is coming to your house, it’s a bargain. I had a nanny for my two boys for 9 hours a day and I paid her $13/hour which worked out to $117 a day. We had such a great experience with our nanny, I keep telling all of my friends with kids to consider it!

By: DaniGirl

DaniGirl — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:48:01 +0000

These have been extremely helpful comments. Thanks, y’all! I’ll keep you posted!!

Trixie, that chicken and salsa thing sounds pretty good. Share the recipe?

By: Nanny

Nanny — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:06:02 +0000

The most important question to ask when looking for a nanny is whether or not you feel safe leaving your kids with her. Also, keep in mind what services they offer. 100$ a day seems a little steep, but once again, what price are you willing to put on the safety of your children?

By: Natasha

Natasha — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:17:13 +0000

I provided part-time childcare to a family a year and a half ago and although I don’t have my ECE, I have about 10 years experience doing childcare, and I charged $12/h for three kids. ($8/h for the first and $2/h for each additional one). So you can figure out how long she will have each of your boys and see if that seems reasonable. (Although I don’t know what daycare/nanny fees are like now). And with that childcare I didn’t do any housecleaning, cooking, etc. besides cleaning up the mess I made with the kids.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:37:09 +0000

And don’t forget you can write some off thanks to the Canadian Tax System!

By: Costo de las guarderias en Canada | Los Ziegler en Canada

Costo de las guarderias en Canada | Los Ziegler en Canada — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:05:22 +0000

[...] En Canadá no sé. Pero en Ottawa, tener una persona en tu casa que cuide a tus tres hijos, te pede salir 100 dólares por día… Si no me creen, vayan a leer este post y sus comentarios, de una persona que se pregunta si ese monto será correcto o no. [...]

By: cinnamon gurl

cinnamon gurl — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:35:22 +0000

10 years ago I knew a nanny who made maybe $350 a week for five days a week and she didn’t have ECE. I’d say with inflation since then $100/day sounds fair, especially with ECE. One of Swee’pea’s teachers at the daycare babysits independently at people’s houses evenings and weekends and she charges $10 an hour. Which isn’t far off $100/day by the time you get to work and home again.

By: trixie

trixie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:09:48 +0000

Oh, for sure! Esp. if she’d agree to throw chicken and some salsa, corn and black beans in the slow cooker every day (OK, maybe I’m the only one who could eat it every day, but the point holds!).

Are you nervous, though, that your young, educated prospect is biding time until the daycare job she really wants pops up? How gun-shy are you about being left in a lurch? …. (am I mean to ask right under the big font that reads “Comments make me happy!”?) I guess I’m wondering what your gut reaction was, too.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:50:03 +0000

I’ll add my vote to everyone else’s — I think it sounds like a reasonable rate, and well worth it for the convenience of having someone come to your home.

By: liz

liz — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:11:38 +0000

I think it sounds perfectly reasonable.

By: Ernesta

Ernesta — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:10:37 +0000

We are in the process of looking for a nanny- live in’s run about $1500 a month which includes light house cleaning – live outs are generally more. Your candidate has her ECE which is a huge bonus and you said she is young which means she has lots of energy, which in my opinion is even more important. It all boils down to whether you think she has good sense.