Gift Suggestions for Nanny

Any ideas would be appreciated......TIA.

 

ofoto.com
christmas ornament with your kids picture on it

 

I think I'm going to forgive my babysitter's debt - she's always asking for advances, then working them off, then asking again . . . she's down an awful lot right now, so thought this might help her off to a better start to the new year (and perhaps that card will note that I will NOT be giving any more advances ).

-Rachel

 

We give money as she likes to send home for her kids. We also get her little things from the boys - fuzzy socks or a new warm shirt as she is always cold! These Canadian winters are not much fun for her! We also give her some bonus time off during the holidays too.
T

 

Our nanny has been our lifesaver this year. We only got her for the summer and she worked her behind off in my last week of pregnancy and then for Ella's first 8 weeks.
She took care of all 5 of us in Ella's first week (shopped, cooked, took care of the boys, took care of the newborn when I was tired, came in on weekends when I needed to do something, stayed while I was in labour and always always always had a smile and good words for us), and she still comes around once a week to help me out and once to babysit.
She loves the kids even though they are difficult and she is always looking out for fun stuff to do with them, for example takes them to plays or Ice skating etc..., without asking to be paid (she says she enjoys their company).
The boys love her and Ella loves her and she loves them back, which makes me feel so comfortable when we go out, because I know they truly are in the best hands!

So I gave her a gift after the summer (a necklace from a store she loves, with a pendant) and I will probably get her earrings from the same store. It is not cheap but she is worth it. Plus a x mas card with the kids on it, a mug with the kids on it and some sweets.
Millie

 

As a former nanny, I love the idea of something that includes the kids- a photo, an ornament, etc... but I also loved getting $$$. My former employer used to give me one week pay.

 

I always give the same gift I like to get from my boss, a holiday cash bonus! I will also buy little gifts for her children.

Best,
Mia

 

I am giving her a week's pay and a picture of the girls. She's also DH's niece, so she'll get a normal niece present too (bath and body stuff).

 

We're giving just over a week's pay, a framed picture of her with the boys, and a small gift basket with little things like fuzzy socks.

 

I know different places have different customs. But around here, all the nannies expect cash. I think it's considered somewhat insulting to get something else other than cash. ( I think a token gift, like framed pictures of the kids, IN ADDITION to cash is ok.) I think the standard is two weeks to one month worth of pay, depending on how often she works for you, how long she has been with you, etc.

It wasn't like this where I grew up so it felt kind of weird to give cash as a Christmas gift. But a friend of mine put it this way, if I was working at a job, wouldn't I expect a Christmas bonus? And wouldn't I be insulted if the company gave me a free corporate sweatshirt in lieu of a bonus?

 

I gave her a week pay (which is pretty common in Chicago, I rounded it a little) and a frame with a pic of the kids in there (we moved out of our house and will be flying back to Europe end of this month).

 

I like giving our au pairs Amex gift certificates. Our current one is trying to save for a laptop computer, so I'll contribute to that fund -- or she can do whatever she wants with it. I'll also throw in a couple little things -- stocking stuffers etc, and love the ornament idea. I actually gave her some money yesterday to buy herself some snow boots and warm socks (Happy Hanukkah!) -- she's from Mexico and the whole cold snowy winter thing is going to be tough on her.

 

We have had the same nanny since I went back to work when the girls were 12 weeks. Every christmas we give her 2 weeks pay which she really appreciates. Like a pp said it also works as a bonus, since we don't give a bonus to her at any other time of year. If I was working as nanny I would probably hope for a bonus, just as I do at my job.

 

When I was a nanny, I loved the cash as well. The family I nannied for (I was with them a long time and still the youngest comes to my house for drop-in daycare) would get me gift cards to my favorite stores. For my birthday this year, they got me meals from the Secret Kitchen (like super suppers). But, ultimately, i would give cash.

 

Here in Mexico employers are supposed to give employee's two week's pay! (my own employer gives all their employee's a month's pay.) Since my nanny current and past nanny are from towns a couple of hours a way, I let them choose the pay or additional time off to go home to be with their families. Our nanny last year was also in a choir on her days off that had blue and white uniforms, one day I saw a beautiful sliver necklace/earring set with stones the same shade of blue as her uniform so I got her that too. I think a token of something personal that shows you've taken the time to get to know her is good in addition to cash.