Friday

Question...

Does anyone buy Christmas gifts for their NF?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good question. When I was an Au Pair I did. It seemed to be expected and I was given gifts and extra money to buy gifts.

Now that I am a nanny I am not sure what to do. I love giving gifts, but I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable either. I was thinking maybe just a bottle of wine for the parents or maybe a card or some homemade gift. And maybe just a small gift for the child.

I'd like to hear what other nannies do!

kktulips said...

I just buy the kids stuff. My gift to the parents is providing exceptional care for their children all year. I was thinking about it until they didn't get me anything for my birthday for the second year in a row. I wasn't expecting anything big, but I definitely make of point of getting the kids gifts for their birthdays and Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Child will make a Christmas gift for parents. I like to give gifts to the child I nanny for. He's 21 months. I want to teach him it really nice to give and do things for others. Parents have been very sweet to me and have remembered my bday and gave me great gifts last year for Christmas (had only been there 3 months). They always have been so awesome. Been there 15 months and plan to be there forever!! Happy nanny

Anonymous said...

Pp- hate to burst your bubble but your "forever" will end as soon as that child is ready for school.

Unknown said...

I buy books for the kids and they love it. If your worried about stepping wrong for buying a gift (as I was at first) just ask the parents. And for the parents if they treat you well and you genuinely want to get them a gift do it.

Anonymous said...

I normally do but I'm not sure what to do this year. I went from ft nanny for family to only a few days a month since i took another job. I will see them the week of Christmas and one of the kids already asked me if I am getting him something. There are 3 kids in the family (who are ridiculously spoiled and have everything) and money is super tight for me this year since there is a lag in pay with my new job and my first paycheck isn't until Christmas Eve. I dk what to do!! Should I just tell the parents that I'm broke and that I'd love to get the kids a gift but I can't?! Should I still be getting them something if I can barely afford to get my family gifts? They are going to Disney the day after Christmas and are definitely not lacking in gifts but I know they're expecting something and nothing homemade will make them happy.

Anonymous said...

I do. I always get the kids something for birthdays and Christmas. Nothing big, but something I know they will like. I also helped the kids make ornaments out of shells we found to give the parents. They were so excited about that. My nanny family is really generous and we are really close (one parent even works from home, so I see a lot of them). They don't expect anything, but always get me something. I like to show my appreciation to them, so I usually get them something as well. This year I made a book of photos of the kids from the activities we did. When you have a nanny you miss a lot of these experiences with the kids. Parents really appreciate something personal like that. I don't think you have to get any of them anything. If you do, something personal or made by the kids is a good way to do something for the whole family without doing too much.

Unknown said...

give them a certificate saying you donated in their name to a food pantry or some charity that helps give needy children gifts on christmas and say you have everything so i gave a toy to a child who wouldnt be getting anything if it werent for your donation. you teach them a valuable lesson, and the spoiled kids dont shove it under their bed. meanwhile a less fourtanate child will cherish the toy,meal or whatever. i cant stand spoiled kids. makes me sick. some kids literally starve to death and never see a toy in thier life. ugh

Va To The World said...

I think there's no need to buy anybody anything / save your hard earn money to yourself. I did that once when I first started and luckily I was recognized and parents were generous / however I have learned that is best to keep things professional and avoid awkward situations for you and the people you work for

Anonymous said...

Actually I stayed in my Nanny position for 10 years, well after both children were in school full time. They kept me on just in case the kids didnt have school or were sick . When they became school age I ran errands. I was payed my regular pay just to be on call for the kids and do a few extra things. So of course "forever " is just a figure of speech, it is awesome that pp loves her job she would love to stay forever with that family " forever". They are now the Godparents of my daughter. So there are no bubbles to be burst!

TwinNanny said...

In the past I've always given gifts to the children. Never the parents as I follow the "gift down, not up" rule. Parents have always gifted me something small, in addition to a holiday bonus.

This year I won't even be able to afford gifts for my family, so I don't plan on gifting the children anything. They are only 18 months so they don't understand anyway and they'll already be getting an excessive amount of toys from the grandparents. Trying not to feel too bad about it.

Anonymous said...

Gift down, not up. You buy for the children, and parents buy for you.

Mamie said...

Maybe get them something small to do on the plane ride to Disney? Such as a Crayola Color Wonder packet each?

Mamie said...

I've always done the same thing every year;
For the parents: A photo book of pictures I've taken.
For the kid/s: A gift under $50. If they're old enough to know what they want, I take them to the store or show them the Toys 'R Us and Target catalogs, and have them choose/write down 3 gifts that they want. I then collaborate with the parents to ensure I'm not in danger of double-gifting, and choose from their 3 choices. I choose the one I think they will play with the most, or if one is something we can do together I choose that. If it's a young child I use my best judgment and again make sure the parents have not gotten that, or know of a relative that is getting it.
I also make ornaments with the kid/s each year that they give to their parents.