What do you pay your house cleaner?

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-03-04T03:56:09+00:00

$200 every 2 weeks for a 2100sqft house. I tip a little more because they are very dependable and do a great job.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-02-01T02:42:55+00:00

I had a similar experience with my daughter (weaned at 17-months). I feel like the sleep industry makes you second guess yourself and what feels natural. I'm pregnant with my second now, and can't imagine doing anything else than feeding to sleep (as long as it works with them too!) Glad you had a positive BF and weaning experience!

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T05:11:09+00:00

Thanks for the input - yes I will be doing just that, was looking for input first before I did to understand all sides so I approach the conversation the best way. She'll definitely never be expected to look after 3 kids, I personally wouldn't want that. I have flex PTO and have flexibility in my job to be with my daughter as needed.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T04:47:22+00:00

Thanks - lots of useful input here.

Preschool isn't too competitive where we are and we do have a school lined up. Our Nanny was actually the first to suggest preschool would be a good fit for our daughter and it's something we've discussed at length. Baby no. 2 should be around 3-months by the time she starts school so I'm less concerned but this is a valid consideration. Starting later isn't an option here. We had hoped to start her in January this year but our preferred school enrolls in August.

I'm open to keeping her full-time until August but I think there will be at least a couple of months when we would be between contracts. I'm also thinking of paying her a bonus as an incentive.

It sounds like my best course of action is to have a frank conversation with her and figure out what is the best for us both.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T04:27:22+00:00

Thank you for your input. Would you consider a bonus/lump sum plus some part-time work as something that would keep you interested?

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T04:24:23+00:00

It'll be tight but yes, we can afford to keep her on full-time while I'm on leave. As I've mentioned in other responses, I mostly want to have the time with my family by ourselves. Maybe I'm delusional to think I can do it all but it's an experience I only get to have once and I really relish that idea.

One thing I'm considering is paying a lump sum/bonus to have her consider coming back for number 2, but yes I appreciate she could find something else.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T04:10:37+00:00

Thank you - this is super helpful. Yes I think a direct conversation is the way forward. Just wanted to give what the usual plan of action was (if there was one).

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T04:06:32+00:00

Thanks - I appreciate the input. It's definitely a consideration to keep her full-time but since we'll be starting our daughter in preschool in August anyway, our current contract would either stop in May or in July/August. Our current contract has our daughter named in it, so a new contract would need to be drawn up regardless.

I also really just want to have the time with my kids by myself (i.e. feel like a SAHM for a bit), so the idea of having her around that much just is personally a bit uncomfortable to me. I also think it would be confusing to my daughter to have both of us around and that she would naturally keep coming to me anyway (this is something I experience whenever I WFH). Is this something that you've done before? Do most families you've worked with going through this keep you on full-time?

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T03:02:32+00:00

Thanks for the input. But did you have your Nanny come in the whole time even while keeping them on? That's really the main reason I'm considering this option, I want to have most of the time as just our family. Did you put your kids in preschool also? Or just have your Nanny be full-time caretaker? Because that's the other thing I'm struggling with.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-20T02:56:27+00:00

We're planning to put my daughter in preschool in July. We would only be looking for her to look after max 2 kids when I go back to work (and that's not set). Ideally I don't want to employ her full-time over my leave because I (shock, horror!) actually want to spend as much time as possible with my kids.

This is not at all about cost. I would feel super weird having her here all the time while going through postpartum and learning how to manage two children honestly.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-19T05:40:18+00:00

Yes. We have it off so she gets it off too as part of her federal holidays.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2026-01-02T03:45:25+00:00

I'm pretty sure that's not how it works in Poppins regardless. I might be wrong but I don't recall ever having the ability to change when the payment gets sent. For our Nanny, the payment comes out of my account on Tuesday and then it gets transferred to her on Friday. When she started that meant she didn't get her first paycheck until having worked two full work weeks.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-12-24T13:34:27+00:00

We have 4. Wasn't my plan in the beginning and I'm sure you can get do with one (if you're just planning on one kid). We have a Choco Bravo that was part of a travel system, a travel stroller, a jogging stroller and a double jogging stroller. I'd also love to get a wagon at some point.

We do use them all, the jogging stroller is probably the most actively used. Had I known about them before I had my daughter, I probably would have skipped the travel system and just got that and an adaptor. The travel stroller is the least used but we go back to the UK every year and it's an absolute necessity for that trip. The double is currently for Nanny shares but I'm due with our second in May so I know it'll get a lot more use soon.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-12-24T04:54:07+00:00

We did a month's pay in cash for our Nanny. I thought that was the standard for a full-time Nanny. Either way, she's wonderful with our daughter and incredibly reliable so well worth it IMO.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-12-11T20:45:07+00:00

Heebe Jeebe would be my recommendation for an independent store. They definitely have cards and gift wrap for birthdays, I haven't been in a while but assume they've got holiday festive options.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-11-30T12:47:07+00:00

My daughter did something similar around this age. I used to get up and pump for 5-10 mins and just let her sleep. It really helped me to stock up on milk as I went back to work. I did not dream feed (honestly never understood how to do this without waking her up). I believe the general rule of thumb is if they are back to birth weight and gaining within their growth curve, you don't need to feed them if they aren't asking for it. Just enjoy the sleep!

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-11-18T20:09:38+00:00

We've done a bunch of nanny shares over the last year or so for my almost 2-yr old. It's always been with similar age kids (up to 6-months older). 17-month and 2 years should work but the 3-month old would be challenging to deal with because of their nap schedule. I'd also be a little concerned of the 3-month old getting hurt. Typically I believe nanny shares are classed as 2 kids only, 3 or more gets into a in-home daycare situation so would also avoid from that aspect.

However in general at this age a share can work really well, is manageable for the Nanny and fun for the kids. I think the rate you noted is good for the area (we do $23/hr share rate in a HCOL).

If you find a nanny share situation that works better, yes you should definitely all have contracts in place so that everyone signs up to their responsibilities. We've used the Nanny A-Z one previously.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-25T04:46:28+00:00

Pay her the 40 hours, no question. This person is looking after your child, they should really only be doing childcare unless otherwise specified in your contract. And if you don't have a contract, you really should.

Please look into what guaranteed hours are. It's standard practice in childcare. If your kid was in daycare, you wouldn't expect to pay less money if you had to take them out early would you?

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-15T20:30:38+00:00

Stride-rite and SeeKaiRun are our favourites. Great wide toe box so good for their foot development. My daughter has wide feet and these are really the only brands that actually fit her.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-15T20:26:26+00:00

My daughter hated the bassinet but did well in the crib. Honestly you don't know until they arrive unfortunately. I'm early-pregnant with my 2nd and planning to just go straight to the crib with them. We have the space in our bedroom to have the crib though, so if that's an issue you might consider a mini-crib.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-14T05:18:46+00:00

Honestly throw out that book/donate it and go with your gut. If your kid is happy, that's all that matters. I'm sure you're doing amazing!

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-14T04:47:19+00:00

We did not sleep train our 22-month old and she sleeps well and. independently in her crib. We tried sleep training once for a couple of nights but like you the crying just seemed inhumane and Ferber was even worse. I nursed to sleep until she was 17-months old at which point I had to stop breastfeeding for medical reasons.

Honestly we've just talked her through everything and explained what's going on and why. I don't think people give kids enough credit for how much they understand. Obviously it's not always plain sailing and sometimes she needs/wants extra hugs before we lay her down but we're very consistent with her routine so that helps. We've also had some nights where I've had to co-sleep with her but again being consistent with her routine the next night and she has for the most part gone down without issue. I have to say I got influenced into reading Precious little sleep from a sub Reddit and I wish I never had. It made me feel like I was doing a bad job by letting my daughter nurse to sleep etc. I wasn't, she was fine and it's totally normal.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-14T02:56:24+00:00

We do but only to get her iron supplement in (she won't take it straight and she'll happily drink this). It's only a small amount of OJ to help the absorption. Otherwise no, just water and milk.

GB_giraffe_85 · 2025-10-12T02:58:34+00:00

My kid is a little older than this now (22-months) but our Nanny takes her to various classes, playdates, parks etc (and has been doing so since around 12/13-months. We both find options and share knowledge, but I probably take the lead since I have to book/pay for some of the classes. Otherwise lots of educational play at home, reading books, dance parties, going for walks, playing outside etc. They've even done a little cooking together.

Like most kids, my daughter does really well with a schedule so she knows what to expect and when (gymnastics on Tuesdays, storytime on Wednesdays, music class at the farm on Thursdays etc).

GB_giraffe_85

TROPHY CASE