How did you find you nanny?

tyfrazi

Hello fellow working moms! My husband and I have a 2 1/2 yo and twins on the way. Our son is in daycare, but we won't be able to afford 3 daycare tuitions. This is why we have to go the nanny route. Is nanny.com reliable? Also, we plan to move to a new neighborhood, so we don't have the option of asking our current neighbors. Must say we are both reluctant bc we don't like the thought of a "stranger" in our house watching our kids, but we have to be realistic. It is not an option for one of us to stay at home bc we need the income. How long in advance should I start looking? Would like to have someone by may. Any info is appreciated.

scole1414

We had a not so good experience with the quality of nannies we came across on care.com - they were fine with the kids but inconsistent in showing up, which wreaked havoc on our working lives. 

We ultimately ended up getting a live in au pair which ended up costing ~$19000/per year or $365/per week for our family. The prices don't change if you have more children - which can tip the balance in affordability. 

The advantage to our family having an au pair has been great - she lives with us so she is always here to start work on time. She drives our kids to preschool, activities and play dates while we are at work. We are lucky that we have a great relationship with her and we have immensely enjoyed the cultural exchange aspect of the program. I realize not everyone has the room for a live in or wants someone in their lives day to day - we were skeptics too when we first heard about the program. But, if it is something you can see yourself considering, you can get a lot for your money - especially with 3 kids. Our au pair has become part of our family and my kids adore her. 

tyfrazi

Meant to write care.com