What to Give Nannies for the Holidays

Updated on November 19, 2008
M. asks from Saint John, IN
8 answers

Hi Moms!

This is the first year I have had a full time nanny and wondered what is consider normal for gift giving. I had heard once one week of wages at Christmas - is this still normal? How about Thanksgiving? She is a great nanny so I want to make sure I am meeting a standard if there is one.

Thanks any ideas would be appreciated!

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M.P.

answers from Chicago on

One weeks salary is pretty standard. Depending on the relationship, a personal gift is nice too but $$$ is always good!

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E.F.

answers from Chicago on

I was a nanny many moons ago. No gift during thanksgiving. Just the time off on the thursdays and if you can friday. Then for christmas yes you treat it as a bonus. You can decide whatever you want it to be, whatever you can afford. A weeks salary is good or you can give them 1/2 of their months wage. Does she get some vacation time during the holidays? How are you paying her for that? Does she have christmas eve and christmas off? or does she work 1/2 a day on the eve. I would consider these things when giving her bonus. Are you going out of time where she will have time off? She may need to still be compensated for that time she isn't working if she depends on that money?

1 mom found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

I was a nanny for 5 years for the same family. They really loved me. They always gave me a one week paycheck for Christmas. Also I remember one time one of the parents received a bonus pay from work. They gave me a 1/3 from it.

She is lucky to have a family like you:) I was too.

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K.

answers from Chicago on

Christmas gift 1 week slaary is noraml, but if you can't afford it, lets face it things are tight all around, give her a 1/2 of a week & a gift card for a dinner for her & her family.
I run my own daycare & that is what I nornmally will get from my families.
For Thanksgiving is not a normal gift giving but a gift card for her favorite grocery store is not a bad idea.
Happy Holidays hope I was able to help.

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E.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have always given my nannies between one and two weeks salary for Christmas..depending on how long they had been with me and how happy I was with them. Money and a gift has worked too if you know her well enough to find something that she wants/needs but wouldn't buy. Last year I gave my nanny about one and a half weeks weeks salary and a pair of Uggs. She had been eyeing mine so I knew she liked them and knew she wouldn't spend that kind of money on some for herself. It was a big hit. I have never given them anything for Thanksgiving or any other holiday, but I have paid them for the days off (Thursday and Friday).

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N.O.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Maureen,

We do two weeks salary for the holidays plus two weeks vacation. She's been with us over 3 years and if I have my way she will be the only nanny we have. I am bias but think we have the best nanny on the face of the planet - I could go on and on but if you look at any of my previous posts on nannies you can see how much we all adore her...because she is more a part of our family than an employee to us (as are her kids and husband) I like to think she too should be able to enjoy some time off a couple times a year w/o having to worry about paying bills. If you can't afford it, the other suggestions are great...if you can I would base her bonus on what you think is fare...good questions.

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C.G.

answers from Chicago on

I am not sure about the week of wages... especially in this economy!! - Anyways, if you're looking for an actual "gift" .... like something from the kids- here's a great website - www.scentsy.com/springgrovecandles - they have really awesome stuff that is suitable for ... basically EVERYONE!

Good Luck!

C.

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M.K.

answers from Chicago on

I gave my nanny two weeks wages as her Christmas Bonus. Based upon my prior experience as a Business Manager, I viewed this as the cost of retaining a happy employee. I figured she deserved "vacation pay" for her week off, plus a second week's wages as her annual bonus (given at Christmas time). Also, to add something personal to her experience, my husband and I treated her to a special "adult" lunch with us one afternoon after we put the kids to nap. She loved sushi so we brought some in.

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