Bringing a nanny. Anyone done this? How much, etc?

[AdventurerKat]

We are in pre-planning for about a ten day trip next May with my husband's family (I can't believe I agreed to do this a second time. LONG STORY) In any event, we were thinking about taking along the woman (she's 30) who we do a nanny share with to watch our will be 4 year old and 1 year old on occasion while we are down there. My MIL insists that she doesn't mind watching the kids once in while, but in past experience from the 2002 trip it is evident SHE DOES mind watching the kids once in a while and I would much rather not have to deal with the whole drama again.

I know we could get a sitter down there but I am thinking this might be a better way to do it, at least for us. We wouldn't have her down there the whole time nor would we use her the whole time. Probably a couple of evenings so we can have dinner out and maybe a couple of afternoons so we can do a park or two alone. We have also been very lucky to have this woman take care of our children as she is wonderful and she has extremely reasonable rates and takes them so many places, I almost feel like I just want to give her a vacation down there.


My thought was this. We would have her come down for maybe five or six nights of the trip on our dime, i.e. we would get her her own room (we are thinking about a 2 bedroom at OKW with the closed off studio for her and a friend if she would like), get her a park ticket and pay her airfare. We would pay the price we normally pay for a week for our two kids plus pick up the cost of what she would have been paid for the other child she watches (we have done co-planned vacations with the other family before so this should not be a problem but in the event it was, I would not want her to lose out on that money)

So it would be a partially working vacation, partially not. Is my plan to pay fair? A full weeks pay for half the work? Should we pay for meals? If we have the two bedroom I know we plan to cook sometimes and have sandwich fixings and stuff so that would be available.

Right now we are just trying to figure out what we should offer and what is reasonable for both of us. Any suggestions are appreciated. I know it is an expensive endeavor but I think for our family at this point, it would be worth it.

 

[lurontravel]

I think that it's a great idea. We've done a different variation of this ( we've brought several of our teenage nieces), and we take care of their room, transportation (we drive 2 1/2 hrs), all food and tickets (we get our niece an annual pass, just like we do for ourselves). We don't pay them too, because they aren't trying to make a living, but if they babysat for us full time as a living, I'd definitely pay them as well. I think you're handling this very well the way that you suggested it. Food should beon her own unless she is eating with your family, or in the room. Just my opinion.
Enjoy your time alone, we find having "our" babysitter with us is so cofortable for all of us, and our nieces get a great time too, with minimal babysitting involved for the trip! We have used sitters that we have hired locally (though not in Orlando), and have had very wonderful sitters each time. One of my girlfriends has used a sitter at WDW from "Fairy Godmothers" and was very pleased. I think it'd be a little less costly then what you're proposing, but if it meets your needs better then a local sitter for some reason, it's definitly worth it.

 

[tinaw]

Speaking from a nanny's point of view...


Can I be your nanny? I'm willing to relocate!

I think what you have proposed is an excellent plan. I really can't find any flaws. I think it is great that you are willing to let her bring a friend so she can have some fun on her personal time and that you are planning on paying her for any hours she may miss with her "other" family. I agree with luron travel, please pay for her meals when she is with you. I would not expect more than that.
Will you strictly be using her services in the evening or to help out at the parks also?
My only suggetion would be to make sure you both know exactly what to expect for the trip. When I have traveled with my family (I have been with them for 9 years) I have found that sometimes the lines between when I am working and not working sometimes become blurred. There have been a few times when I have expected to have free time and suddenly I am asked to watch the kids for a while. It's not usually a problem, but trust me when your boss is asking you for "extra" time after taking you on vacation, you feel obligated to do what ever is asked of you. If she is to be on call please make that clear or stick to scheduled times. Try to plan your schedule as much as possible and give her a schedule of when she is expected to work just as you would when you are at home.
oops, I lied one more suggestion. I don't know if you pay her hourly or weekly etc. but when I travel I am paid a day rate. normally I am paid by the hour and when I travel this would n't work for either party so we agreed on a day rate that fair for both parties.

 

[EthansMom]

Your plan sounds great! I've heard of people taking their nanny on a cruise with them -- that would be nice too.

I agree that you should be up front about how much you would expect from your nanny. Would you want her to go to the parks with you? How many and which evenings would you want her to watch the children?

Also, I don't think you have to pay for food since she would have to eat if she were at home, but if you expect her to watch the children during a mealtime or invite her to go out for a meal with your family, then I would offer to pay for her meal also.

We're also meeting the in-laws in WDW (first time). My SIL and I are laying bets on how many fights break out between everyone. I'm a planner and everyone in DH's family flies by the seat of their pants (for instance, they skip meals -- just totally forget to eat dinner!). So, basically, I spend a lot of time organizing and the in-laws do their best to blow my plans all to heck -- drives me insane! Of course, now I have my toddler and I'll be pregnant on this trip, so DH will be a little more understanding about stopping for food and breaks, at least.

Enjoy your trip!

EthansMom

 

[Mainebound]

Just wanted to add that I think this is a really interesting topic. We are also considering bringing our babysitter on our March '04 trip, but cost is a major factor. She's a full time college student, so I don't think it would be quite as costly for us as for those bringing their full time nannies, but when you add plane tix, park tix, and food (the room is not extra because she would share with my mother) for 8 nights, it's a lot. On the other hand, we all know and love her -- a major plus!

This thread has given me some great ideas to start with! thanks everyone!

 

[Otto's Doll]

Ethansmom,

We're also meeting the in-laws in WDW (first time). My SIL and I are laying bets on how many fights break out between everyone. I'm a planner and everyone in DH's family flies by the seat of their pants (for instance, they skip meals -- just totally forget to eat dinner!). So, basically, I spend a lot of time organizing and the in-laws do their best to blow my plans all to heck -- drives me insane! Of course, now I have my toddler and I'll be pregnant on this trip, so DH will be a little more understanding about stopping for food and breaks, at least.

I have forgotten a lot of things in my life, but I have never forgotten to eat dinner! LOL!

Otto's Doll

 

[Jenn]

My sister is a nanny and she traveled to WDW with her "family" in April.

They did just what you are suggested:

They paid for her airfare, park pass, and seperate room. She received her week's pay, just as she would have at home.

She hung out with them most of the time, and if so, they paid for her meals because she was helping them with the kids. They went out a couple of afternoons/nights when she had the kids back in the hotel room. If she went off on her own, which she did a couple of times, she paid for her own meals. Worked great for her - she got a vacation for practically nothing and they were able to attempt Disney with 4 kids and an extra set of adult hands to help out.

 

[Laurabearz]

We are taking along our favorite sitter for our Feb. trip. Our kids will be 4, 3, and 9 months old. Her main job will be the baby.....

We will cover her airfare, lodging, park tickets, most food, and pay her for her time. We will have set hours for her to work, and scehduled time off. If she wants she may bring a freind, and we will cover airfare, lodging (they would share a room) most food, but the friend must provide park admission and spending money.

My biggest suggestion is to talk extensively on what is to be expected. And go have a great time!

 

[llp479]

We have taken our au pair with us for the last 6 years. We pay for airfare, park tickets, room, and meals. We pay her salary for the week just as we normally do. Since our au pair lives with us year round, for us, it's just like a week at home. She probably works less when we're there, because only a couple of nights does she have the kids, versus all five days while we work.

Our current au pair went with us in March, and just returned from WDW with us this week. She really had it easy because my mom was with us for both trips!

As long as you all agree up front what is expected, what you are proposing sounds more than fair.

 

[AdventurerKat]

You are going to pay for the friend's airfare and ticket too? That is really generous!

I am sure we will discuss it more and more as the time draws near but I certainly don't expect to use her more than three days/nights out of the five or six nights she would be there. That would be maximum. Especially if she brings a friend, I want her to be able to go and have some fun. If she doesn't have a friend come, I guess she would probably spend more time with us and that would be great too. But if she just wants to lounge around the pool half the time if her friend doesn't come, that's fine too. And of course if she is eating meals with us, we would include her cost. We will have lots more discussion about it I am sure.

Thank you for the advice everyone. Its been very helpful.

Now if May would just get here.

 

[Gillian]

That sounds wonderful! It's good that you're working it all out before talking to her about it. She will probably have questions, and now you have all the answers!

I have one other question. If the friend goes along while she is working, does the friend pay for meals?

 

[foofoo]

We're going in October - combined conference and family vacation, and we decided to bring our beloved nanny. We are paying her airfare, hotel (we got a 2br at OKW) tickets, meals and are, of course, paying her salary. She also has a 17YO DS, who has never been to DW, so we invited her to bring him for part of the trip. She paid his airfare, we are paying hotel, meals and park tix. I really felt that she would not be able to enjoy this as a "vacation" thinking about how much her DS would like it. We are going for 7 days, her DS is coming for 3 of them (she doesn't want him to miss school). I thought it was a fair compromise.

Here's my question - I think we need to pay her for babysitting time at night - My DH thinks that with the meals etc that we're paying for for Berns and her DS it's a wash. Any thoughts?

 

[aimb]

I think you're plan sounds more than fair. I agree with others in making sure you are both clear about when she will be "working."

Last time we were at Disney, my mother was with us - she talked us into taking her by saying she would babysit/help out with the baby. She didn't babysit at all and didn't so much as change a single diaper the whole time we were there. So, I completely understand why you would want to take your nanny even though your MIL has offered!

 

[Mainebound]

Originally posted by aimb


Last time we were at Disney, my mother was with us - she talked us into taking her by saying she would babysit/help out with the baby. She didn't babysit at all and didn't so much as change a single diaper the whole time we were there. So, I completely understand why you would want to take your nanny even though your MIL has offered!

I totally relate to this issue as raised by aimb and the OP. A family member's idea of "helping out" can be very different from the parents'! Even though we brought my mom last year, and had a great trip, we felt totally exhausted by the end of it because we had no time to ourselves. This is why a nanny is looking so good to us for our next trip!

 

[AdventurerKat]

Is your nanny going to have any "time off" during the day? That was my understanding with Heather, that we would use her a a couple of times during the day and a few hours at night a couple two or three times during the trip.

If she is not going to have to be "on" the whole time and working, then I would say it would be included. But if you are having her watch the kids all days during the days (or help with them) and then having her watch some nights too, I would think you should pay for them separately. Just my thoughts, whether right or wrong.