How Much Do You Tip Your Nanny/Daycare for the Holidays?

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8 Votes

I use a babysitter two days a week for only two hours a day so we gave her 1 weeks pay last year...

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Shannon S added this item on November 7, 2009

Shannon S voted on November 7, 2009

Karen G voted on November 9, 2009

Karen G commented on November 9, 2009 - a weeks pay is generally a good idea. This also works for full time nannies.

Mendi S voted on November 9, 2009

Mendi S commented on November 9, 2009 - I'm shocked at the number of people who say they give nothing! Don't these people expect vacation pay and a bonus from THEIR employer? Why would a day care provider deserve less?

Nicole L commented on November 9, 2009 - Actually, Mendi S, I do NOT expect a bonus from my employer. And, when I've had jobs that did not offer vacation pay, I didn't expect that either. However, I knew that going into the position.

Karen C commented on November 9, 2009 - I agree with Nicole. I don't "expect" a bonus. Our day care providers gets paid holidays and paid vacations and I treat them as professionals. They are running a business and are not "my" employees. I give what I can afford rather than what others expect.

Jaime W commented on November 9, 2009 - Due to the economy I don't expect a bonus this year. l actually had to take a 10% pay reduction. My daughter is at an in-home day care and I'll probably give $50-$75 in a gift card. My daycare already takes 4 wks paid vaca a year w/11 paid holidays too.

Lindsay O commented on November 9, 2009 - To add my 2 cents--I have worked in children's book publishing, been a day care provider and a 4th/5th grade teacher and never received a bonus. In all of these jobs I received small gifts as tokens of appreciation during the holidays--never money.

dreamscometrue voted on November 9, 2009

Clara S commented on November 9, 2009 - I've never gotten a bonus or vacation pay for a holiday gift from my employer (I'm not a child care provider)- just a working mom. I don't mind giving a gift to our provider during the holidays b/c it's a tough job and look who they're taking care of!

Rachel V voted on November 9, 2009

Rachel V commented on November 9, 2009 - I use our nanny 3 days per week, 5 hours per day. I give her the equivalent of 1 weeks pay. After reading others' comments, I'll try to give her something from the children also.

Rachel V commented on November 9, 2009 - As for vacation, I share her with a coworker, so she is paid for our holidays (10) and we pay her when we take vacation, but she usually still has to watch the other family so doesn't get vacation herself. We pay her if she or our children is sick.

Cindy P voted on November 10, 2009

Cindy P commented on November 10, 2009 - I give a week's pay and a personal gift. I've been with her 6 years and at Christmas I send her a note of appreciation. I try to treat her as an extended part of my family in the hopes that she continues to treat my children with the same feeling.

Victoria H voted on November 10, 2009

Charlotte H commented on November 11, 2009 - I'm a daycare provider as well and I think that is so nice of you to do that. Last year I had famlies not even give a .49 card! I don't expect a vacation but I'm caring for your children 6am-6pm (sometimes later)m-f only closed major holiday and no card?

Sandra S voted on November 12, 2009

Sandra S commented on November 12, 2009 - I give 1 week salary + a card which the kids draw on. I think you need to give what you can afford (& tell her that). Its most important she feels appreciated!! If you can't tip then give 1-2 extra paid days off and tell her this is what you can afford.

Alice M commented on November 13, 2009 - Typically we give 1 week salary. We also provide 2 weeks paid vacation, 3 sick days and pay her in full when we take our vacation. In addition, we also provide time off for all of the major holidays.

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How Much Do You Tip Your Nanny/Daycare for the Holidays?

Top 5

I use a babysitter two days a week for only two hours a day so we gave her 1 weeks pay last year...

We give the nanny 2 weeks of pay and the daycare providers (at a small home care) $150 each.

I agree that if you are paying fairly there shouldn't be an expectation of a tip. I do give small gifts as a token of appreciation Blockbuster or restaurant GC for $25.

I've been a home daycare provider for several years. Most of my parents give 2 weeks pay for a Christmas gift. I love the kids I care for and I feel fortunate to be part of their upbringing. I think to expect a gift would be rude and unprofessional.

I believe that having your choice of MANY caregivers you have shown your caregiver by choosing them that they are valued and you do appreciate them so why would you have to spend more $ if you really do not have it to spend. Childcare is NOT CHEAP.

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Before considering tips, do consider paying your nanny for the time you don't use her over the holidays. Irregular pay is a stressor. We pay 50% when we go on vacation and don't use her time. Some pay 100%.

When my kids were in daycare I would give a $25 gift card and something made by the kids. Why is it that 10+ years ago you would only tip at the restaurant and hairdresser & now everyone is holding out their hands for a tip?

I am a relatively new, in-home daycare provider, and I don't really have any expectations for gifts. I know the parents value me. When I taught high school I loved all of the gifts I got (even the strange ones) but especially liked gift cards!

I have been a home provider for 5 years. However, after reading this, I am feeling a little unappreciated. I never received a gift, period, at x-mas and I have been with my families for 3+ years.

When I taught at a daycare center the students would give gifts like coffee mugs, Christmas ornaments or plants. The ones I appreciated most of all were the gift cards to restaurants or gift cards to use on whatever.

I watch one 4 year old in my home part time, 3 days a week which is about 30 to 36 hours per week. His Dad gave me an extra $20. I do not expect anything. I do all the extras for the baby.

Wow this has been very informative! I am a childcare provider (at home) and I don[t get anything even close to what you all give!! I got a picture frame last year and I don't remember getting anything the year before!

My kids are in preschool. What's appropriate there? Do we tip the teachers (they each have about 3)?

I've read in etiquette books that 10% of the nanny (or provider's) annual salary is "proper" but for us that would be about $1000 just for our in-home daycare provider. However we do love her so each Christmas we give her a $500 bonus.

This will be my first christmas with a child care provider, I'm a single mom and can barely afford child care, I'm planning on giving a big old batch of homemade peanut brittle, a colorful assortment of homemade playdough and my heart felt THANKS!

1-2 wks sal. seems like a lot! We give our nanny for 2 toddlers a bonus of $100-$200 plus a small gift. During the yr, she gets the major holidays off (7 days), her birthday off, & 2 wks paid vacation that we coordinate with our calendars. Thoughts?

Does anyone have some advice on gift/tip for the childcare provider at the fitness center? We go about once a week and watching our two little ones while we workout is a free service with our membership. ??

For the past three years I have given a $250 tip to the primary teacher. This year I have two children at the center but I will probably give the same tip to the lead teacher and possibliy a smaller gift card to the assistants.

I give our nanny 2 weeks pay and a gift card. But she is a fulltime permanent nanny. Btw she does not expect it nor did we have this in the contract. It is a bonus!

I have 4 years of nannying experience and every year I was given at least a whole weeks salary as a christmas bonus (also stated in contract), plus a small gift chosen by the children. If they had not, I would have started looking for a new job.

In this economy, things may be different. I would try to do a weeks' pay, but if not, do a small gift, extra time off if possible, and what you can. Then, consider something extra for her birthday or next year. Remember who they take care of daily! :)

I give my nanny a Visa gift card for around $350 and then a small present such as a starbucks gift package or a bottle of wine. It is a gift rather than a tip.

I am a professional Nanny/Doula and in our contracts because we do short term work usually no longer than 2 weeks and we are an on call service we ask for 20 percent if the Nanny or doula met or exceded the families expectations of care

I saw this entry about how much to gift to those who care for our children. I gift both her main teacher and her bus driver. I give them both a VISA card for 25 or 50 dollars. Differs year to year. They are the 2 main people who care for my child.

I usually give gift certificates...to the mall, a restaurant or a spa. If I could I would give cash, but as a single parent I can't afford a week's pay, etc. So I usually do a $50 gift cert to a day care, or a smaller amount to the teacher assts

I have a Part- time nanny 5 hours a day Mon-Fri. She has been with us about 1 month so far. do you pay her for days off? Any advice will be greatly appreciated

After reading below, I guess I am in the minority here!! This year we have four teachers to buy for for my children. The helpers are getting Bath and Body work candles and Room spray and the main teachers are getting GC to the movie theater.

My child attends a large dc center. We give $50 gift cert to each primary teacher (2 or 3 teachers) and a smaller gc for the assistants. Daycare centers are expensive but the ones doing the work don't get the money - my way of showing them my appreciation

I was a nanny for the past 7 1/2 years and usually got $500 cash and $200 in gift cards. I worked 55 hrs a week and took care of 3 children.

At the beginning of the year, I tell my nanny she can have two weeks pay for a holiday bonus. However, if she prefers, she can take it as paid time off at any point during the year. (She already gets 10 paid holidays and vacation when we vacation.)

Give what you feel is fair. Our nanny is paid fairly (or even generously) throughout the year including holidays and at least 2 weeks off. Last year we gave a small amount to her and a couple small trinkets for her kids.

The amounts that are being floated here seem very generous! My personal opinion is that if you are paying someone fair wages for their service, they should not "expect" a tip - a gift to say "we appreciate you and wish you well" is completely different.

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This will be my first christmas with a child care provider, I'm a single mom and can barely afford child care, I'm planning on giving a big old batch of homemade peanut brittle, a colorful assortment of homemade playdough and my heart felt THANKS!

I have been a home provider for 5 years. However, after reading this, I am feeling a little unappreciated. I never received a gift, period, at x-mas and I have been with my families for 3+ years.

Before considering tips, do consider paying your nanny for the time you don't use her over the holidays. Irregular pay is a stressor. We pay 50% when we go on vacation and don't use her time. Some pay 100%.

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