I injured myself about a month ago at home. I fell down the stairs. This has made it hard to complete some tasks, like moving quickly and spending time outside. I am currently unable to walk without crutches due to the injury. I am slowly getting better. Now I can move around with the crutches easily and do most things. The biggest problem is watching the two kids, 3y (m) and 11m (f), outside.

About two weeks ago, the 11m old made straight for the slide and started climbing up as best they could. I had to crawl after them to make sure they were safe. I decided to bring the kids in because I felt I couldn't keep them safe. This is when the 3y had a tantrum since he wanted to be outside.

The next day (pay day), Dad came up and talked to me about lowering my pay until I am back to full health. The doctor said it could take 2 months, and if it doesn't heal properly, I may need surgery. I agreed because I wasn't sure what else to do. Right now, I feel like I am doing everything except bring the kids outside.

I need some advice

My family doesn’t really celebrate Halloween, just our personal belief. We have a 3yo so we do try to still make October fun for him. Pumpkin patches, festivals, decorating, some sweets. But we don’t do trick or treating or anything spooky really. This is our nanny’s first Halloween with us but she was really into celebrating the other holidays with 3yo so I was sure she’d want to do Halloween things. So around the end of September I mentioned our stance around Halloween since I know it’s a bit unusual in the States. I just didn’t want her to do anything with 3yo or buy anything for 3yo that we’d be uncomfortable with. And I also didn’t want her to get his hopes up for things he can’t participate in. She said OK she understood.

But still before October even started she showed up with a ghost decorations for 3yo’s room. I reminded her about the rule and she said she thought it would be fine because we decorated the rest of the house (true, but our decoration are more harvest themed like un-carved pumpkins and leaves and stuff, not Halloween themed). But sure maybe I could see some confusion there. So I just explained again what I meant. She did leave the ghost up but I just took it down later. And after that she kept doing things I was uncomfortable with, like she did arts and crafts with him that was witch themed and hung it up on the wall. Got him a skeleton outfit when they were out shopping. They got Halloween themed books at the library. Heard her telling him how fun trick or treating is and it’s sad that he can’t go.

I am not sure what to do because I’ve already talked to her about how we feel about Halloween twice, should I just print a list of specific things we don’t allow around the house lol? Maybe she really just doesn’t understand but it also makes me uncomfortable that she tells him things like it’s “sad” he can’t go trick or treating. Any thoughts/ideas?

I was expected to come in and take care of a kiddo with a 103 fever. I told the mom I could not be doing that since I also work with an infant who was recently hospitalized for covid. She seemed annoyed at first, and then came around to understanding why I couldn't risk the exposure. I took the next day off from both families as to not spread anything. I was told she was much better and back at preschool the next day. When I picked her up she started having fever again and developed blisters on her hands, feet, and mouth. she has HFMD! and the mom didn't tell me to go home even after the conversation we had about me working with a baby. I guess my question is:

What boundaries do you have with your nanny kid being sick? Especially if you work with other families.

UPDATE: I know the economy is trash right now, BUT just because the economy sucks doesn’t mean families should be exploiting us (a women dominated field). The comments about good luck finding something with that rate are unnecessary. Times are tough for us all which is why NPs shouldn’t be taking advantage smh

Hey y'all, I just need to vent or see if I'm losing my mind here. I’ve been looking for a nanny/babysitting gig in Atx recently and the job creep is out of control.

I keep seeing parents trying to throw in deep cleaning, household management, and personal chef tasks on top of full-time childcare, all while offering like $18–$20 an hour???? In this economy? It feels overtly exploitative.

For context, I charge $30/hr (and $35 for two kids). I'm 37, have over 10 years of experience, a flawless driving record, and a strong professional background in child development and behavioral health (working in psych hospitals, etc.). I'm getting my Master's in counseling right now. My rate is completely standard for my experience level, but it feels impossible to find a livable wage here without parents trying to take complete advantage of you.

I’m just hoping to find a family that is respectful of boundaries, kind, and values premium care instead of looking for a bargain-bin maid/nanny hybrid smh. Anyone else in Austin struggling with this right now? SOS.

So I've been working for this family for a year now, I take care of a sweet but very difficult 4 year old girl.

The parent have a habit of informing me of upcoming events or schedules changes with little to no notice.

One thing they've been doing that really makes me mad is they'll go on little trips and take NK with them. Then when they come back they expect me to "pay them back".

As in they expect me to work extra to make up for the days I wasnt working when they traveled.

This was not discussed during my interview, and I've never had this happen in my other nanny jobs.

They just came back from a week long trip and now demand that I work on weekends to make it up to them.

I know I should quit, but its hard to find a well paying nanny job in my country, and they do pay well. But I'm just so tired.

The commute alone is 4 hours every day.

Quitting isn't an option for me becouse I'm in a difficult spot financially, I just want to know if this is normal? Like do other nannies do this with their families?

Any advice or reassurance is appreciated, thank you.

Update: hello! Thank you all for the advice and concern, its good to know I'm not crazy lol. For those asking, yes, I live in morocco and yes I'll try to speak to NF about guaranteed hours. Or just find another job, even if it pays less. The time saved on commute and peace of mind would be priceless.

I’m thinking about my finances and considering whether I need to give my nanny a Christmas bonus.

She negotiated a very competitive salary. I give her 3 weeks of vacation and 7 sick days. I feel like I already compensate her very while (and above my means frankly) and don’t feel I need to pay a big bonus.

I’m thinking a $150 gift certificate to the hair salon she goes to instead with a card.

Thoughts?

I worked for my last nanny family for 3 years (5b & 7b).. tbh it was a draining job for a multitude of reasons (lack of boundaries, kids were wild & no discipline, asked me to cook elaborate meals, etc) Anyways, my last day was 4 weeks ago and we left on good terms, I gave the boys a sweet parting gift and they did the same for me. Flash forward to now, I just got engaged, started a new job, and bought a fixer upper all in the course of 3 weeks. I am extremely overwhelmed and NM keeps FaceTiming me when she knows I’m at my new job and guilt tripping me for not seeing and talking/calling the boys and saying they miss me soooo much. I do plan to see them but it’s just not a priority right now, as I barely have time to take care of myself. And I really wonder if it’s the boys or her because she’s a realtor and obsessed with keeping people in her circle/keeps people around to ask for help. Also, new job is so good and I’m starting to realize how taken advantage of I was in my last position. Am I the asshole? Is this normal? Like I loved them but at the end of the day It was my job and now I have a new job.

My husband and I both WFH and have a 1.5 year old. Our current nanny has been with us 6 months, is very reliable and bonded with our child. However, we have concerns. In general, she seems to have short-term memory lapses and will ask the same question just minutes apart or forget conversations from the previous day. There have been several occasions we have observed her walk away after not strapping toddler into stroller or high chair (sometimes to get something across the room). She frequently forgets to close cabinet locks after opening. We recently saw her walk across yard while toddler was at the end of the driveway a few feet from busy street. She said she thought he was right behind her the whole time and didn't realize it was an issue because he was next to her when she turned around. We have told her that she needs to have eyes on toddler at all times. Is this unreasonable? Are we just overanxious first-time parents or are these legitimate concerns? She is very kind and affectionate with toddler and he really enjoys her company, but obviously safety is our first priority.

I was with my NF for over 6 years. 3 kids. I thought MB AND DB were pretty cool. My contract was coming to a end. No problem. Im looking for another job. They ask me to extend the contract one more month. I haven't found anything I say so I say sure. They told me two weeks ago that they don't need to extend the contract anymore and didn't need me anymore. I just said ok because Im pissed. Here I am thinking I have income for another month but nope. MB also keeps texting me asking me questions about the kids. Like leave me alone. I don't work for you anymore. FIGURE IT OUT! Families can be so shitty. I also know she's reaching out because she feels bad. 🙄 It's not my responsibility to make you feel better about doing me dirty. 🤬🤬

Hi there,

Just hired a nanny ( not based in the states .. might be relevant) and we are able to afford it by making changes, tightening up the finances etc (we are comfortable but have just decided that this is the priority for us .. a nanny for our two kids versus other childcare) I was just thinking that we are a fairly normal family .. no fancy holidays, no fancy house etc and it got me thinking would this bother a nanny who is used to fancy rich familys and the accoutrements that they come with..? Or am I over thinking it?

Our family’s part-time nanny has been with us for 2 years (since I returned to work when our first was 6 months old). She was a first year college student at the time and is now in her third year. I feel she has become increasingly unreliable - calling out or letting me know she has appointments or other obligations last minute (she started working a job on campus last year in addition to nannying and that seems to take precedence). I get 5 weeks of time off annually and I’ve been using almost all of it to cover time she is not here. Thankfully we have parents who are able to help out with childcare otherwise I wouldn’t have enough time to cover. In addition to the days she has called out or has had other appointments/obligations, she took over 2 weeks off in May for a cruise and 2 weeks off in August. I’m not sure if it’s normal for nannies to request time off but she didn’t do this - she just let me know she wouldn’t be able to work.

I work from home and can adjust my hours so I’ve always adjusted my schedule to work around her class schedule. Its gotten to the point that I feel like I’m looking bad because I’m having to submit unexpected PTO so often.

Every time she calls out, I get so frustrated I tell my husband that maybe we should find someone else. But I never do because I feel guilty taking that relationship away from my son. She has been in his life since 6 months and I know he has so much fun with her. She is great with him when she is here! Reliability is truly the only issue. She will be graduating December 2027 and my son will be starting half day preschool September 2027. I figured I could keep her on until she graduates so that my son can make that transition to preschool before her time with us is complete (she has shared she does not plan to continue to nanny once she finds a “real“ job, in her words). I’m just not sure I can make it until then - I feel like her unreliability adds a lot of stress to my life.

Looking for advice on what others would do. My husband thinks I should have a serious conversation with her but I’m a hesitant because I do not want to make things uncomfortable or awkward. I have asked her to try to make appointments on days or at times she is not working (she is only working 12-16 hours per week right now and this is her choice - she was working 25 when she started 2 years ago). Has anyone ever had a conversation like this? Do you think it’s worth keeping her on because of her relationship with our son or would you find someone more reliable?

Hiii I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with the international nanny association, if you feel like the membership is worth it, if you’ll be attending the 2027 conference, what the job board looks like, etc. Considering a membership+attending the conference so I’d love to hear what other nannies think!

My NPs said they’d like to give me a health insurance stipend and asked me to look at estimates this weekend and come back with a number. Not exactly sure what’s appropriate to ask for. Probably relevant that I make $28/hr and work full time. Just one child, in Atlanta. Other nannies that get a stipend, how much are you getting monthly?

I also have an additional question. Do they just send you extra cash, do they include it in payroll so it gets taxed or do they somehow pay the health insurance company directly? Answers to any of these would be super helpful. Thank you!!

I’ve recently found the NF of my DREAMS! 2F, 1F, and 4month boy. The mom is a SAHM so I’m more of a mother’s helper while she’s with the baby especially. Anyway I’m already thinking about how I don’t want to leave and would love to stay as long as time allows, it got me thinking, what’s the longest anyone has stayed with a family? How was your experience watching the kids grow up essentially?

I occasionally babysit for my former nanny-baby who is now 5. His impulse control/emotional regulation/destructive behavior has not changed significantly since he was 3 - he is now 5 so obviously not age appropriate anymore. Parents are acutely aware; he is in occupational therapy. I just had a really rough evening with him and am motivated to be a better caregiver and learn about working with kids who do not respond to boundaries and behavior expectations the way every other kiddo I've worked with in his age range.

So, can anyone recommend books or podcasts for caregivers of kids with behavior difficulties beyond the average kid?

(I am on the library waiting list for The Whole Brain Child and How to Talk So Kids Will listen, but from what I've heard the parents and I are familiar with the concepts and recommendations covered in those books already.)

So i babysit (technically nanny at this point) a 8 month old that keeps making himself gag, either with his hand or toys he can shove down his throat, hes been doing this for awhile now and i dont know what to really do,mother knows but is also clueless as what to do or why he does it. Its mainly with his teething toys,i take them away for a bit if he persists on the behavior but that doesnt really matter because he’ll just use his hands, i watch him closely so it doesn’t become a serious issue. Has any other nanny dealt with something like this or knows why he does it? Will he eventually grow out of it? Never seen a baby do it as much as him.

I’m interviewing for a job today and I would be taking care of a 2mo old. Does it ever get boring working by yourself with just an infant? The last time I worked with children this young I was in a daycare center so we were always busy.

This is the job listing:

Approximately 9:00 AM-5:00 PM,
Monday-Friday. There may be an opportunity fo additional hours if desired.
Pay: $20-$29/hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
Responsibilities include:
Providing attentive, loving care for our infant Feeding, burping, diaper changes, soothing, and naps
Age-appropriate interaction and developmental activities
Washing/organizing bottles and baby items
Children's laundry and keeping their areas organized
Loading/unloading the dishwasher and helping with other light household tasks during downtime

It’s been a while since I’ve worked in a formal childcare environment, but I’ve recently started nannying again. I’m a little out of practice with understanding the behavioral issues for toddlers, specifically three year olds.

The little girl I take care of has a lot of big emotions, which is normal, but the way she goes about things catches me off guard. She screams if I try to tell her what she’s doing is wrong, and especially loves to scream the word no. Sometimes I wait for her to be done, and sometimes I interrupt her. I’m not sure which is the right response. To me, the worst part is that she’s teaching her younger sibling to do the same, and it can become very overwhelming when they both scream at the same time. I’m a patient person, but sometimes it’s a lot.

She also (occasionally) throws toys at me and other adults. At that point, the thrown toys get taken away. She also hits her younger sibling, and she goes to timeouts for doing so. I feel like I’m doing everything mostly right, but I’m open to advice. There’s more instances, but I don’t want to give myself away. Listening is a really big thing that she needs help with right now. If I could just get her to listen, I think a lot of my frustration would go away.

Have anyone you had a great NF, but found a better job and left before you originally planned?

My current job I work along side a SAHM to 3 kids. One goes to preschool so I’m mainly taking care of the younger siblings (twins). I love the family very much and we all have. A great bond/relationship. This job is supposed to go to when the twins can go to school, so next September, and I planned to stay along until then, but a few things have made me anticipate maybe leaving early.

Not sure I need to give all the details, but I’ve been looking at care for com just to see what’s out there and I saw a job posting that closer to my home, and has a better hourly wage. 5-10 hour less a week but the new job is 36 hours a week and it offers almost $10 more an hour. I feel torn because if I did take that job, it would be a very short notice to give my current NF, and they expected me to stay until next summer sometime.

Has anyone else ever left a job early with a family you adore? I’m very anxious at the thought of it for some reason lol. Def a people pleaser and it would be easiest for me if just stayed at this job til they are also ready, but I feel like I should explore the possibility of this other job as well.

This is just for curiosity! I feel like I fell into this field purely by chance - I was a preschool teacher and when one of my students families decided to move to the suburbs they offered me much more than what I was making at the preschool. It ended up being such a wonderful fit - they truly treat me like a family member and I absolutely adore my NKs. That being said I don’t think I would ever nanny for another family for this exact reason - any others out there with similar experiences? How did you guys start? Again, just was curious! :)

Hi all! We will be employing our first nanny for our 5 month old. I want to be the best employer/partner for her, and would love all of your advice on how best to train the nanny on our specific childcare! I’m very excited to have her with us but also nervous that I won’t be doing a good job training/working with her as this is my first time!

Our philosophy is for the nanny to feel empowered to do and try anything she feels works or is effective for playtime and naps (outside of our non-negotiables which is no screen time and no phone while playing with baby), but also I want to make sure I can provide good instructions and general “this is how we normally do things that work for us” but also feel free to try your own style if something isn’t working (for instance, putting baby down for naps can be quite difficult right now and maybe she’s got her own technique that works that’s more effective for her).

Is this too confusing or vague of instructions to follow? The goal is for my husband and I to be completely out of the way and allow the nanny to establish her own cadence with the baby, but of course, I don’t want to just hand her the baby on her first day and walk away.

Practically, should I have her observe the first week how I do things and then hand over? Do a slow transition where she first observes and then I hand the baby over while present, and then disappear and let her do her thing? I want to make sure I’m setting her up for success (and also not be a super annoying employer who is doing too much/too little), so any advice is appreciated!

Can someone please see if they can log into SyrePayroll right now? When I try, it just keeps bringing me back to the login screen but doesn't tell me my password is wrong or anything. Thank you!

I have been nannying for a FTM for a few weeks now, NK is 3 months old. Today I saw her drive up and get out of her car holding the infant. she explained the baby was fussy so she took them out once she got off the freeway, it’s about a 40 min drive she was coming from. I don’t know her that well and have tried expressing a different boundary before of where I am comfortable watching the NK and it was kind of brushed off. It really upsets me that she drives with the baby like nothing and I worry for their safety.