• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Products / Baby Gear
    • Best Mom & Baby Products
    • Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
  • Pregnancy
    • Prenatal
    • Breastfeeding
  • Baby
    • Month 1-3
    • Month 4-6
    • Month 7-9
    • Month 10-12
    • Second Year
    • Toddler
  • #MomLife
  • About Us
  • Nav Widget Area

Rookie Moms

Pregnancy > Parenthood

You are here: Home / Eating / Breastfeeding / Give thanks (a holiday bonus) to your regular caregiver

Give thanks (a holiday bonus) to your regular caregiver

31 shares
  • Facebook28
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

This post originally ran a few years ago.

I love our very sweet caregiver for Scarlett. She comes to our house three times per week, for five-hour shifts, to allow me to do some of the freelance writing and marketing work that I do.

Around here, it’s pretty common to set up what we call a “nanny share”. In our case, another mom drops her daughter off at my house and our nanny watches both girls. We each pay her two-thirds of what we’d pay if we had her all to ourselves, so she gets to make more money hourly, while we save money.

It is very important to me to keep our sitter happy. If she’s happy at work, she’ll have more patience with my daughter, more flexibility towards me, and we’ll all be happier.

how-much-to-tip-nanny
It’s time to start thinking about a holiday gift for all of our caregivers. (We have a different sitter for Friday nights.) Before I had experienced as a mom who employs a nanny, I thought options might be a thank you card, a photo of baby, money, or a gift card for groceries or Target. Now I believe that money is a must.

Money fits everyone.

It gives the person you value the option to do what they want. A gift certificate is thoughtful, but it takes control out of the hands of the recipient. In this special relationship between a parent and a household employee, it’s nicer to just give her the choice.

How much do you give a nanny for a holiday bonus?

If you’re new to this game, here’s what I’ve gleaned from my city’s parenting online community. One to two week’s salary is an appropriate holiday gift. You can pro-rate this for the year, so if you’ve only employed the nanny for 6 months, give half that amount. If she only works 20 hours, adjust accordingly.

Other tokens of appreciation

My friend Lisa has a picture of her nanny with her child displayed among the family photos on their mantle. From an ethnographic study of nannies I did many years ago as a Sociology student, I know that this particular meaningful gesture that is appreciated.

More info about hiring a nanny

For those who have smaller babies and are going back to work in the near future, your relationship with your child’s caregiver is one that you’ll want to take care of. In Oakland, CA there is a wonderful organization called Bananas that provides help to both parents and caregivers. Among their online resources (good for parents in any area of the country) are the following handouts:

  • Employing a Limited-English-Speaking Caregiver:
    Ideas to help parents hire and retain caregivers who are not fully proficient in English.
  • Sample Employment Agreement for Parents and In-Home Caregivers
    I call this a “nanny contract”.
  • Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Employer of an In-Home Caregiver
    How to hire a nanny; how to interview a nanny.
  • Breastfeeding and Working
    Ideas to help plan a schedule to combine nursing with working.

November 19, 2015 12:12 pm Whitney Filed Under: Breastfeeding, How to, Month 12

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter

Primary Sidebar

Search our site

10 Best Strollers In 2023 – For Every Mom’s Needs!

10 Best Strollers In 2023 – For Every Mom’s Needs!

The 15 Best Nursery Gliders for 2023! [Traditional to Unique]

The 15 Best Nursery Gliders for 2023! [Traditional to Unique]

The 50 Best Toys for 2 Year Old Boys in 2023! [+ Toys of the Year]

The 50 Best Toys for 2 Year Old Boys in 2023! [+ Toys of the Year]

The Best 20 Stay at Home Mom Jobs in 2023!

The Best 20 Stay at Home Mom Jobs in 2023!

10 Amazing LGBTQ+ Children’s Books to Celebrate Pride Month

10 Amazing LGBTQ+ Children’s Books to Celebrate Pride Month

Toddler Won’t Stay in Bed? 6 Must-Know Tips for Toddler Sleep Regression

Toddler Won’t Stay in Bed? 6 Must-Know Tips for Toddler Sleep Regression

Join our Rookie Moms Facebook Page

Rookie Moms

Disclosure

Review Policy
Privacy Policy

This site is an Amazon affiliate.

Popular Articles

150 Unique Middle Names for Girls

Footer

Browse By Age

  • Pregnancy
  • Month 1-3
  • Month 4-6
  • Month 7-9
  • Month 10-12
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler

Problem Solving

  • Sleepy
  • Eating
  • Breastfeeding
  • Home
  • Baby Registry
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler
  • Baby Gear
  • #MomLife
  • Holidays
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Holiday Entertaining

© Copyright 2016 · Pretty Lifestyle WordPress Theme by: PDCD