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Childcare: A Live In Nanny Can Be More Affordable Than You Thought

1/12/10 - By Leni

"A live in nanny? How can you afford a live in Nanny?” That's what most people say when I tell them who watches my children. No we're not rich and we don't live in a sprawling 5 bedroom apartment, but we've found that for our family a live in nanny works best and the benefits outweigh the downfalls. If you've ever wondered how any normal person in NYC could have a live in nanny or if you've never even considered it as a possibility, read on to find out more about this surprisingly doable childcare alternative.

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Having a live in nanny isn't for everyone. The benefits of having a live in nanny are also some of the downfalls. They live in your house which means that if you have to leave home early, come home late, or have a sick child, they are there to help. You might even build in a date night to their schedule. But they also live in your house, which means limited privacy and sometimes the feeling that you have taken on another family member.

Is a Live in Nanny just another word for Au Pair?
No. There is a difference between a Live in Nanny and an Au Pair. An Au Pair is usually considered a mother's helper and can work well for stay at home moms who need a little more help. Au Pairs take a little more work on your part and can sometimes feel as if you are taking on another child. A Live in Nanny has more responsibility, they usually clean and cook as well as taking care of your children. Live in Nannies are also usually willing to commit to a longer work period, unlike Au Pairs who usually stay with you from 6 months to a year. 
How to Begin:
When considering a live in nanny, you must first make sure that you have enough space to accommodate another person in your home. You do not need a sprawling penthouse, just another room. Take a look at your study and see if you can turn it into a mini studio of sorts for your live in. I once lived with my Nanny, my oldest daughter, and myself in a 2 bedroom apartment. Amazingly it worked, and we all had the amount of space we needed to feel comfortable. Understand that your home is about to become someone’s place of employment. Post check lists, chore lists, and any other information in plain sight as friendly reminders of what is important to you. It will help everyone stay focused.
How Much to Pay a Live In Nanny:
It's the golden question. How much should you pay a Live in Nanny? Now, I know this is New York City, and childcare seems to be parents biggest bill, second only to housing, but it is not as costly as you might think. Consider that you are paying for a lot of their expenses like rent, electricity, food, and some entertainment, and you can usually find a live in nanny for between $300 -$500 per week, much less than a live out nanny generally costs.
Since their main expenses are paid for, that is $1200 - $2000 spending money per month for your nanny. You can also offer incentives like paying for a cell phone or MetroCard in order to make the salary more appealing. If you are not sure about hiring a Nanny you can usually work out a trial period where you can see if you both like living and working together.
Your Live in Nanny Search:
There are countless agencies that place Live In care but if you are looking to stay affordable one can look in these not so typical places and usually find good people:
Craigslist – Post a very clear ad about the hours you are looking to fill, your family, location, and budget. Try to be as specific as possible to avoid wasting your time on people who cannot fulfill your needs.
Word Of Mouth – Do not underestimate the strength of simple word of mouth when looking for a Live in Nanny. Use Facebook, Twitter, email your friends, odds are someone knows someone who needs a job.
Great Au Pair- Great Au Pair  allows you to view profiles of people who are looking for Au Pair and Nanny jobs in your area. They have comprehensive search options to help you find someone that is a good fit for your family. As a word of advice, if you don’t intend on going through an agency then try to look for people who already have US citizenship. Great Au Pair offers a free trial membership for anyone who is interested in looking around.
The most important thing to remember when hiring any person into your home is to be safe. Check references, do a background check, get copies of their identification, and stay in touch via phone during the day.