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[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with the other 2 ladies and love their advice!

I was also young when I opened and I'm childless on top of that. For some/most this was the reason they chose/choose me (knew I loved children or why else would I do it) but others (well really just one family) didn't seem to like my advice because what did I know, I have no children. Those type of parents drive me crazy! Lol. I've done Childcare for almost 10 years, have a bit of schooling in it (not full ECE) and I raised my siblings and am a big part of my 4 cousins lives, including the tough stuff. All of this is obviously different than being a parent but I do think I have more experience than a person whose been a mom for 18 months. (Sorry, bit of a rant/vent there! Lol) Dont let your age determine how good you are at your job. There are some 40 year old parents who I wouldn't want looking after children so age really isn't an issue IMO.

Is $35 the norm for your area? Organic Montessori French daycare is AMAZING so I think you should charge on the higher end for your area. Where I live, $35 would likely be the highest you could charge, maybe $40 but might take a bit longer to get clients. I wouldn't offer sibling discounts if I were you. It wasn't your choice to have multiple children so it shouldn't be you that looses money because of it. Also, if they don't want to pay to hold their spot than there is no spot held for them. It is silly for parents to expect that but yes, some think that is normal. In regard to condo....some are much nicer than houses and as long as it's safe and has a play area outside or nearby, I don't see the big deal. A few family members of mine live in condos and most of them are much nicer than my home lol. (I think I just like the newness of them lol)

In regard to vacation days, 10 is a lot IMO. I offer a $10 discount/day that they are gone and tell me ahead of time. When I opened, this was one of my selling points I used to attract clients since a lot in my area don't offer vacation days at all. Eventually I might phase it out but I find it helps parents keep their child home on days off which gives me a break from time to time. I also think one week a year for you is too little but we are all different and we can't always afford more than that and some don't need more than a week to recharge! I take 2 weeks off in the summer, 11 stat days and than sometimes up to another week throughout the year for appointments or holiday.

Prolonged drop offs and pick ups became a problem for me with a couple families. I send out a parent package before meeting parents and part of it now says that drop offs need to be 1-3 minutes tops. Pick up is a bit different as I like that time to talk to parents about their child but sometimes it gets long too as the parent wants to chat about non daycare stuff lol...I don't mind it too much though as it's adult interaction! Ha ha.

I'd have to check my contract to be sure but I think I charge $10 for the first 15 minutes and than full fee's after that. I don't like the $1/minute because I don't want to get into "I was late 5 mins", "no you were late 7 mins" etc. but for some it works great! Make it steep enough that it deters them from thinking "oh I'll just pay the late fee, it's not much" and make it clear that you have a life after work too so if they're going to be late, you need to know! I also have in my contract that consistent late pick ups is a reason I may terminate.

Good luck....and welcome to the page!!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Oops I was thinking late pick ups!

Late payment....I ask that they pay in the morning. If they forget it's not a big deal as long as they pay at pick up. I used to have a mom get paid same days as me and she went to the bank on her lunch break. It was fine by me because she discussed it with me ahead of time. Currently, all parents pay the day before or in the morning...with the odd forgetful moment so it's at pickup. If they don't pay for the next 2 weeks AT ALL than there is no late fee, there is just flat out no care!! They can't come back until it's paid and if they do this twice, they are asked to find another daycare provider. My income is already inconsistent, I'm not willing to take on a client and than wonder payday to payday if they're going to pay. Too stressful! If they leave without paying or making a payment plan (I require a months notice) than I'd consider taking them to small claims for breach of contract.

I've never had someone late with payment because it's very clear and very firm in my contract.

[bright sparks]

I can see why the Nanny comment got mistaken. Childcare in many contexts over the last 10 years for sure, but Nanny I'd think not. You are an adolescent and can not legally allowed to nanny till 18 so more accurately would be 6 years but then only occasionally I assume while doing a degree. Not to say you didn't go above and beyond during your teenage babysitting years offering great care regardless of title, but I get why someone would be confused at you being 24 and stating that you nannied for the last 10 years. My daughter is nearly 14 and has been babysitting since she was 12. She is not your average babysitter given that she had great role models from the triplet girls who used to babysit her and my son in addition to growing up with the home daycare. She takes a box with her on every job with planned activities and all the supplies (all my supplies lol) and she makes their lunch including cooking more and more often now as she is getting older. She also babysits my current and past daycare kids and regularly babysits siblings under 5. Only thing she doesn't do is bath the kids, the liability is way to big, but she does everything else. During the summer and on PA Days she regularly does an 8 hour day. That is a wealth of experience and definitely something to go into on her resume, but she can never claim to have any experience as a Nanny prior to age 18 or without actually being employed as one. I understand that Babysitter and Nanny are very different things and the stigma attached to "babysitter" as a title, but an awful lot of people would say a teenage babysitter just texts friends and watches tv. I have met more that don't than do. My daughter does a lot more than just sit on babies. She also does a lot of the same things a Nanny does too.

[torontokids]

Emma- I thought you had plans to move to Toronto?

[babydom]

Hmmm. I definitely wouldn't be calling a 14 yr old a nanny. But I would at 16 if it's over the sumer. Two full mths. I know I did everything an older nanny would do. But I do also see your pt. We have the website here Canadian nannies and other agencies I think you have to b 18, an adult to apply, in order to search for a family.

[bright sparks]

Hmmm. I definitely wouldn't be calling a 14 yr old a nanny. But I would at 16 if it's over the sumer. Two full mths. I know I did everything an older nanny would do. But I do also see your pt. We have the website here Canadian nannies and other agencies I think you have to b 18, an adult to apply, in order to search for a family.

That's what I'm basing it on pretty much. Like I said in an earlier post, it's not that I am negating the work done by someone under 18, but I think it's a play on words using Nanny as it can be misinterpreted and clearly there isn't a clear understanding of it in terms of age and role.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

People on this group are very rude when they don't like a view. I think you didn't understand but you do not need rudeness in your replies.

My questioning was because you said you was 24 and had been a nanny for 10 years. To me, that makes no sense that you were a nanny at 14 - certainly not a full time carer nanny which is what confuses. This is why I ask if you mean you were 34 which would make sense.

Finish school at 18, 4 year degree, 10 year nanny - on the face of information you would not be 24. I asked for confusion not for rudeness and if you are over reacting rudely maybe might be because you are not being quite honest but that is your manner not mine.


You are very rude young lady. I give you lucks with your business since you know it all and didn't really want viewa and just wanted agreements. I won't answer your question again since you think my views don't count for anys. Good day.

[33 Daiseys]

People on this group are very rude when they don't like a view. I think you didn't understand but you do not need rudeness in your replies.

My questioning was because you said you was 24 and had been a nanny for 10 years. To me, that makes no sense that you were a nanny at 14 - certainly not a full time carer nanny which is what confuses. This is why I ask if you mean you were 34 which would make sense.

Finish school at 18, 4 year degree, 10 year nanny - on the face of information you would not be 24. I asked for confusion not for rudeness and if you are over reacting rudely maybe might be because you are not being quite honest but that is your manner not mine.


You are very rude young lady. I give you lucks with your business since you know it all and didn't really want viewa and just wanted agreements. I won't answer your question again since you think my views don't count for anys. Good day.

Where exactly was she rude???????????????? ????? If anything |I think that you were the one who was rude. FYI I started working as a SUMMER NANNY at 14, 5 days a weeks for 12 hours a day. What is so odd about that

[Emma H]

Suzie I am very sorry if you feel that way. I was a little defensive as to your comment . I said I worked part-time as well as full-time not only in the summer but throughout the years as well. Living in Toronto I was hired by a family to be a live-in nanny at the age of 14 (there isn't a live-in babysitter) and my job required me to do everything a nanny does not a babysitter. Majority of my program was done online and I did night courses as well to finish early. I have never had any issues with any families concerning my job experience so the fact that I am getting comments from people that I wasn't a nanny is really rude. I worked for the same family up until I was 18 doing the exact same job that I did when I started at age14. Like I said no issues from parents ever during interviews it makes sense to everyone. I have all my work references from all my past jobs so this is the first time it was every made an issue.

[bright sparks]

I suppose this is a good example of never to assume that everyone has the same understanding about something. I honestly can not believe that someone would Intrust a 14 year old to be a live in caregiver full time to children when a 14 year old is still a child themselves. This is a huge liability and in my own personal opinion very irresponsible if the adults. That is just my opinion though. It doesn't make me rude, just that I simply have a different understanding and experience with the meaning and role of Nanny. I am coming from a country where childcare is heavily regulated and to me, someone under the age of 18 being a nanny of any sorts is completely and utterly unheard of and illegal. That is why I presumed to automatically think that the math didn't add up. Simply a difference in job title that someone is familiar with is the cause of a misunderstanding like this not someone being intentional rude, hence why clarification was requested to clear up the specifics. So yes 33daiseys 14 year old nanny to me is odd and likely to many others too although the norm to other people too. I would have called it a full time summer babysitting gig and I would never have thought that a minor would be full time live in caregiver for other children.

I did loads of babysitting at that age so it's not a question of capability to care for another child, I'm simply explaining another perspective that may or may not be fitting for those of us who think that Nanny implies "adult" based on the fact that living in a cultural mosaic at least in Toronto, it is not a good idea to ever assume that majority share the same social norms with such a mix of cultures.

I never questioned your experience or abilities Emma, simply questioned your post about being a Nanny for 10 years for the reasons explained above. Maybe parents aren't questioning it because of your qualifications and I assume that you don't tell people yor age and while you may look young, perhaps if a parent did so the math in their head they'd either have similar experiences nannying at a young age or thing that perhaps you were older than you looked. Honestly, they probably don't listen that closely to numbers when they know that you hold a degree. Just my thoughts anyway.

Sorry so many typos...on my phone :-/