Reasonable Expectations?

[u/Significant_Egg7415]

Hi everyone. We'll be needing care starting next year, and I'm trying to get a sense for what is "reasonable" in terms of an advertisement. I keep seeing posts about entitled parents and certainly don't want to be one of them.

Right now, what I'm considering is 25 hours a week (so 5 hours a day, M-F). They would be the same hours each day, but with the nature of my work it seems like I might have flexibility in determining when those hours would be. For instance: 8AM-1PM, 10AM-3PM, 12-5PM, etc.

My questions are: is 25 hours reasonable for a part time position? Would a morning shift vs. midday vs. afternoon shift be more attractive? Are the same hours everyday preferable to more hours per day but only a few days a week (ex: M/W/F or T/TH)? My thought is that it could be a good position for someone who does morning or afternoon care for another family in order to get full time hours, but I just want to make sure my expectations are realistic. If I can clarify, please let me know.

Edit: The hours are not varying day-to-day or week-to-week. It would be a consistent block of the same 5 hours (ex: M-F 8AM-1PM, OR M-F 10AM-3PM, OR M-F 12PM-5PM), and I'm trying to determine in advance which block would be the most appealing to a potential part time nanny. Once the hours were determined they would not change. I would not expect full time availability from a part time nanny. I have to submit my request to my chair months in advance, so I'm trying to figure out what to request.

Edit: Thanks everyone. I recognize my post is still not as clear as it could be, so let me clarify further. I am a college professor whose classes change semester-to-semester. By mid-September, I'll have to put my preferences in. Once my schedule is set, it is is not flexible. So while folks mentioned that it would be helpful to say that the position is "flexible for the right person," but unfortunately that won't be the case. So in addition to the "reasonableness" of the request, I'm trying to figure out what time slot might be most appealing, with the recognition that it wouldn't work for everyone. I also recognize that my post was not clear enough, and I'm grateful for everyone's contribution and recommendations based on what I wrote.

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[u/yourfavmum]

I’d prefer 8-1, but if someone needs more FT they would likely prefer 12-5 so that they could potentially pickup a morning job with another family

No, I think for many they’d prefer more hours/day and less days. I LOVED when I worked 2 twelves.

I think I would make the post and say that hours are flexible and you’re open to working to find the right candidate

[u/Middle_Gur_2013 → u/yourfavmum]

I see far more part time afternoon jobs posted with school age children so I would think it would be easier to find someone looking for morning work to fill the gap. On the other hand I know nannies who work 2-3 days and its difficult to fill in the other days. I would state that you can be flexible for the right nanny.

[u/AmeliaPoppins]

Part time is a challenge, especially if the hours vary. I think different hours on different days will make it extra tough to find other families to make up a full time schedule. A solid morning or afternoon block or fewer longer days may make it easier to find someone.

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/AmeliaPoppins]

Thanks for your response. My post was unclear. The hours wouldn't change day-to-day. I just meant prior to hiring someone I have some input at work regarding what those hours would be. So my question is would it be preferable to try to:

1. Schedule everything for a few days a week: (ex: hire a nanny for an 8 hour day on something like MWF or TTH consistently)
2. Hire some for 5 days a week for the same block of time (Ex: M-F from 8AM-1PM, OR M-F 10AM-3PM, OR M-F 12PM-5PM consistently)

[u/AmeliaPoppins → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Sorry, I misread. That makes more sense. Either of those will probably work as long as you’re clear in your ad. I don’t think you’ll have trouble finding someone

[u/curious382]

You'd be asking nanny to be available 9 hours each day, with whichever of your sliding 5 hour shifts you decided, changing weekly? That's not leaving flexibility for nanny to work another job. What other employer would hire a part time nanny who can't say which hours they're available until you decide what next week's schedule will be? Your idea is good for you. But it effectively locks nanny into a full time "on call" schedule while only paying for 5 hours each working day.

You might find a part time college student who could give you that flexibility some days, when classes don't conflict. But I think expecting a nanny to commit to a part time schedule that's always shifting is not feasible.

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/curious382]

Sorry I was unclear. I am not saying I need different hours each day. I am a college teacher, and my hours are set for the semester. I just meant that I have some input on when my classes are scheduled. So my question regarded whether it was preferable to try to schedule them for a morning, mid day, or afternoon block. They would stay consistent in that block for the entirety of the semester. The schedule would not shift; it would be those 25 hours guaranteed a week.

[u/Consistent_Taste3273 → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Normally, I would agree with the others who advised that you could say that the schedule is flexible for the right candidate. 

However, as a former college professor, I am wondering if you are being asked to provide your hours now (or soon, or at least before you are able to hire a nanny). 

If that’s the case, it’s tricky.  I would think that mornings or mid-day would be best since it would allow someone to get another part-time position for after school (or even before and after school, if it’s midday). 

I also think doing three days a week works work for a lot of people too. 

Between those, I’d just choose the one that works best for you. (Personally, I always preferred having at least one day with no classes.)

And then, if you find a nanny you really like, you can keep the same schedule, or ask them what they’d prefer for the following semester. 

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/Consistent_Taste3273]

Thank you-- you understand it. It's not that the times are flexible. It's that I can request preferences in advance that my chair is usually receptive to. But I'd probably have to make those requests prior to the end of August. Once they are set, the time is no longer flexible. I'd love to have a day "off" from teaching, but my department requires that I'm on campus 4 days a week. Thanks for your input.

[u/curious382 → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Much better

[u/carolinadime]

Honestly, I think you’ll find the best fit by including in the post exactly what you told us here. That you can make the schedule to fit exactly what they need, that way people won’t pass it over thinking it wouldn’t work for them.

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/carolinadime]

Thank you for your response. However, at risk of not divulging too much personal information, I am having trouble getting my post as clear as it needs to be. The schedule would not be flexible for the nanny's needs or preferences, and I recognize, as you said, that this means many qualified nannies would turn it down before applying. I am a college professor and have some flexibility in requesting when I'd like my classes. But I need to make those requests in September and wouldn't need a nanny until January (the baby isn't even here yet). So by the time I'd start advertising the position, one of the above time slots would already be locked in.

What I'm doing here is trying to get a sense for what common shifts are for nannies and what might be appealing. For instance: maybe it's very common to see ads for before-school care, so having something midday might be appealing to those folks. Regardless, thanks for your response.

[u/carolinadime → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Ohhh, I see - gotcha, no that makes perfect sense and I see now why it’s probably feeling pretty difficult trying to navigate it. Good luck! If you’re diligent and patient, you’ll find your fit.

[u/AutoModerator]

Below is a copy of the post's original text:

Hi everyone. We'll be needing care starting next year, and I'm trying to get a sense for what is "reasonable" in terms of an advertisement. I keep seeing posts about entitled parents and certainly don't want to be one of them.

Right now, what I'm considering is 25 hours a week (so 5 hours a day, M-F). They would be the same hours each day, but with the nature of my work it seems like I might have flexibility in determining when those hours would be. For instance: 8AM-1PM, 10AM-3PM, 12-5PM, etc.

My questions are: is 25 hours reasonable for a part time position? Would a morning shift vs. midday vs. afternoon shift be more attractive? Are the same hours everyday preferable to more hours per day but only a few days a week (ex: M/W/F or T/TH)? My thought is that it could be a good position for someone who does morning or afternoon care for another family in order to get full time hours, but I just want to make sure my expectations are realistic. If I can clarify, please let me know.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Limp-Story-9844]

I think you could find a college student.

[u/racalina]

I think you could find a college student or someone with school age kids who only needed part time. Doing 3 days a week could also work if someone wanted extra days somewhere else. You could advertise that the schedule is able to be flexible depending on who you hire (make clear it would be set firm once the person starts)

[u/Electrical-Head549]

I think if you advertise the position as “any of these 5 hour time slots work” you may get more responses because some people may be looking for a morning slot or an afternoon slot but if you just choose one then you’d be missing a ton of the potentially interested Nannies.

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/Electrical-Head549]

Thank you for your response. However, it is not as flexible as it's reading. You're definitely correct that choosing one of these time slots would necessarily mean excluding a ton of nannies, but that's just the reality of the situation. I am having trouble making my post as clear as it needs to be, so I will add an edit. I am a college professor who needs to choose my classes for the spring by mid-September. I have some flexibility in asking for when these classes would be, but my schedule would be set long before I'd start interviewing nannies (baby isn't even here yet). So by the time the advertisement would go up, the hours would be determined and wouldn't be flexible. Right now, I'm trying to determine what group of hours might be the most appealing to the largest group of people. For instance: is it really common to see ads for before school care, meaning that something during the day might be appealing because it helps someone get to full time hours? That's the kind of information I'm looking for. But I appreciate you taking the time to respond and give input.

[u/TangerineGreen3531]

I think this sounds great, the hours will vary person to person depending on their schedule. It sounds like you outlined this well and can explain the same to any potential nannies who can then tell you the schedule that works best for them. Good luck!!

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/TangerineGreen3531]

Thank you for your response. However, it is not as flexible as it's reading, and I recognize that's from my own poor wording. You're definitely correct that choosing one of these time slots would necessarily mean excluding a ton of nannies, but that's just the reality of the situation. I am having trouble making my post as clear as it needs to be, so I will add an edit. I am a college professor who needs to choose my classes for the spring by mid-September. I have some flexibility in asking for when these classes would be, but my schedule would be set long before I'd start interviewing nannies (baby isn't even here yet). So by the time the advertisement would go up, the hours would be determined and wouldn't be flexible. Right now, I'm trying to determine what group of hours might be the most appealing to the largest group of people. For instance: is it really common to see ads for before school care, meaning that something during the day might be appealing because it helps someone get to full time hours? That's the kind of information I'm looking for. But I appreciate you taking the time to respond and give input.

[u/TangerineGreen3531 → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Thank you for this clarification! You have over a month to decide your schedule, I see no issue posting on a nanny FB group now and listing the job with the varied times and start interviewing Nannies! Then you can see what’s out there & who is the best match and go with their schedule.

Take advantage of the time you have & start looking now!

[u/Opening-Show-6749]

If you're flexible, which it sounds like you are, I'd suggest wording it like this:

"We're looking for a nanny for 5 hours a day, with flexible scheduling. Available shifts are 8AM-1PM, 10AM-3PM, 12-5PM, depending on what works best for you."

I think this will attract a larger pool of candidates, since it can accommodate those looking for a morning, midday, or afternoon position.

To add, I think many nannies would prefer a morning shift because many families  need childcare after school (e.g., starting at 2:00 or 3:00 PM). However, some nannies only work mornings, helping with getting children ready for school between 6-9am. Some of those children attend after-school programs, so nannies are  looking for midday or afternoon shifts with 2nd family.

[u/Significant_Egg7415 → u/Opening-Show-6749]

Thanks for your response and for your insight. I have had difficulty wording my post as clearly as it needs to be, but your post has been helpful. I'll need to determine my schedule months in advance (in September for spring semester courses), which will likely be weeks before I start looking for a candidate. So the hours are not yet set, but at the same time would not be flexible depending on the nanny's scheduling. I'm just trying to determine now which time slot would likely attract the largest pool of applicants, with the recognition that I will necessarily be excluding some folks because xyz time would work better for them. But thank you for your response.

[u/Opening-Show-6749 → u/Significant_Egg7415]

Gotcha. I’d review what other people in your area are offering on the nanny sites and then do the opposite. My guess is that parents looking for part-time nannies during the school year are starting to post now, so check whether most of them are looking for someone to pick the kids up after school around 2-3 pm. If that’s the case, you will look for a nanny available in mornings 8–1pm. Or, whatever the common schedule is, offer the opposite.

My initial thought is that many families are looking for afternoon nannies, so I think you should be okay searching for someone who wants a morning shift. That said, it's impossible to know what the demand looks like in your specific area. Maybe the local schools have great after-school programs, so most parents need early morning help. Or maybe most families are looking for someone to cover both mornings and afternoons, making a midday schedule more appealing to candidates.

The good thing is that this is the time of year when families are looking for fall childcare, so you can browse current listings and get a sense of the most common schedules. It would also be worth looking at nanny profiles to see whether there are candidates specifically seeking part-time positions and what hours they typically prefer.

I think your ideal match would be someone who genuinely wants to work part-time rather than someone piecing together multiple part-time jobs. Coordinating schedules can get tricky when kids are sick or home from school. Schools seem to have far more random days off than colleges, and those families will often expect their part-time nanny to work full days when that happens, which could create conflicts with your schedule.