Pls help with nanny pay rate?

HawaiiBrideGrm

So, we tentatively hired a nanny to watch DD 4 days a week while I work (yes, she's legal). MIL will be there with her every day, b/c she's retired, but she cannot lift DD any more. She still cooks her meals and puts her down for naps, etc. She was a friend of a friend's recommendation and we like her. She's been with us for 2 days and DD loves her, my DH likes her, MIL and Mom like her, etc. Anyhow, I have a few questions, given that we've never employed anyone like this before.

1) How much do you pay your nanny? She works from 7:45am-545pm, will do light housekeeping and will (hopefully, in my dreams) cook us a simple meal for dinner (time is short for us). You see, she never gave us a price and although we insisted, she kept saying she "didn't know". So today I demanded a price and told her that I wanted to know if I could afford her or not. She said $80 cash per day. ::choke!!!:: Our old nanny currently makes $200 per week, 5 days a week, is a live-in, and cares for 3 kids, light housekeeping and cooks all of the kids meals. Yikes! My mom is a sub-teacher in h.s., has a college degree and only makes $90 TAXED per day. Ugh. That sounds like a ton to me. By the way, I am pregnant and am due in 02/10, so she would eventually partially care for 2 kids with my MIL present helping out. What would you offer?

2) Is it bizarre to ask her to cook us dinner (a no-big-deal dinner)?

We live in O.C. near Imperial Hwy and the 57 fwy, if that helps any.

Thanks so much!

bp7806

I don't know anything about nanny's and their rates, but if she is working 10 hours per day (7:45-5:45) then that works out to be $8 an hour, which is minimum wage.  That doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, but like I said I don't know what the going rate for nannys are.

Luckiest13

Our nanny works 8-4 and we pay her $12/hour. SHe does light housekeeping when time (i.e DD) allows. I think $8 is actually low, compared to what i know nannies to get. If she's willing to cook dinner then that's a great deal.

FD

I don't have a full-time nanny, but I have many friends that are. They all make between $100 - $120 per day! So I think you're getting an amazing deal. I think it's fine to ask her to cook dinner if she has time.

mland75

I agree with PPs...I have a girl that helps me 3 days a week, for 5 hours a day.  I pay her $10/hr and she doesn't cook or clean, she just plays with Noah, takes him for walks, etc while I cook, clean and assist with my husband's business.  Because your old nanny is a live-in, I'm sure the pay difference is due to not paying rent.

When you break down the hours, then she's not making a lot.  However, I think she's also "aiming high" for herself...since you said she didn't know what she should get paid at first, this is probably a starting point in negotiations in salary for her.  That being said, I would feel bad paying her any less than what she's asking.  If you're not able to swing that payment, then I'd discuss it with her.

As far as dinner...I don't know.  I know a lot of nannies are asked to cook, so it's probably not a big thing to ask.  For me, I feel weird asking my helper to cook...it's a just weird personal hang-up.

Calips

$80 a day is a steal.  We pay $90 a day for a shorter day - $10 an hour and that is the best I have seen -- no she is not legal.  I used to pay $13 an hour.

Live-ins are much cheaper because you provide room & board.

My nanny does lt housekeeping and cooks for my DD.  I don't have her cook for us but I don't think it is strange.  I just make them all requests NOT requirements because caring fir my daughter is #1 -- and if dinner doesnt get prepared -- oh well