Gift ideas for nanny/parents of children who host nanny-share?
April 6, 2015 9:42 AM Subscribe
We're moving away. We want to get a present for our amazing part-time babysitter, as well as a gift for the parents of the children who share her, and who host this arrangement (we drop our daughter off at their house two days a week, where the babysitter watches our daughter and their two kids). What should we get?
We're coming up dry on present ideas. Money's tight because of the move, and in spite of the intimacy of this arrangement we really don't know any of the parties well enough to be able to think of any obvious gift ideas for any of them, especially within our price range, which I think should probably be no more than $200 total for both gifts.
The babysitter is amazing, and has been wonderful with our daughter. She's also a grad student, and lives in Brooklyn. Apart from knowing that they're super-nice and incredibly generous, we really don't know too much about the parents at all, save that she's an academic and he's in banking.
I suggested wine for the parents (I know they partake), but I get the sense that they know more about it than I do, so it feels both fraught and pathetic.
As for the babysitter, I plan to give her a nice picture of our daughter (although I haven't decided if it should be solo or a picture of the two of them together), but I'd like to do something more than that, albeit within our meager budget.
Any suggestions much appreciated, because we are tapped out.
We're coming up dry on present ideas. Money's tight because of the move, and in spite of the intimacy of this arrangement we really don't know any of the parties well enough to be able to think of any obvious gift ideas for any of them, especially within our price range, which I think should probably be no more than $200 total for both gifts.
The babysitter is amazing, and has been wonderful with our daughter. She's also a grad student, and lives in Brooklyn. Apart from knowing that they're super-nice and incredibly generous, we really don't know too much about the parents at all, save that she's an academic and he's in banking.
I suggested wine for the parents (I know they partake), but I get the sense that they know more about it than I do, so it feels both fraught and pathetic.
As for the babysitter, I plan to give her a nice picture of our daughter (although I haven't decided if it should be solo or a picture of the two of them together), but I'd like to do something more than that, albeit within our meager budget.
Any suggestions much appreciated, because we are tapped out.
In my opinion you don't need to give the other parents anything more than a card in which you express your heartfelt gratitude for the arrangement. Give the babysitter an amazon gift card (it will help her buy needed books for school or whatever) and a photo of her with your kid in a nice frame.
posted by mareli at 9:54 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 9:54 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Cash will mean more to the babysitter than anything else you think of, especially if you don't know her well enough to give her a gift you really know she'll like.
I'm with mareli in that you don't have any obligations to the parents, but if you really want to, go take $25-$50 to a nice wine store and ask for recommendations in that price range.
posted by Karaage at 9:57 AM on April 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm with mareli in that you don't have any obligations to the parents, but if you really want to, go take $25-$50 to a nice wine store and ask for recommendations in that price range.
posted by Karaage at 9:57 AM on April 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
I would strongly recommend you go for a cash gift for the sitter...for the photo, make a custom greeting card with the picture of your kid/the sitter on the front (you can also find templates that let you use multiple photos). The photo is a nice thought, but realistically is she going to display this indefinitely after you move? I doubt it.
Also include a letter of recommendation for the sitter she can use for future jobs.
posted by handful of rain at 10:08 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also include a letter of recommendation for the sitter she can use for future jobs.
posted by handful of rain at 10:08 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Having been a grad student, I agree that cash or a gift card will be most appreciated. The photo idea is also really nice, as well as a heartfelt card telling her how much you appreciate her awesomeness.
In terms of the parents, I agree that you don't need to get them anything, especially since it sounds like you guys are not friends outside of the nanny-sharing arrangement. But, if you want to, I think the following would be great:
--gift certificate to a local cafe or nice restaurant (depending on how much you decide to spend)
--stop at a good wine shop and ask for their recommendation -- good places will work with your budget
--fancy chocolate shop that does really yummy/interesting truffles or chocolate pieces...have them put together a box of their best sellers with a nice bow on top
--if you know them to be coffee people (and let's be honest, if she's an academic at least one of them probably is!), a couple of bags of fancy-pants coffee beans and a couple of pretty mugs, wrapped up in a gift basket
--anything appropriate for the kids -- presumably these kids are of a similar age to your daughter given the set-up, so a nice set of age-appropriate books/toys/etc. would be a nice touch. You could also write the label as "from" your daughter and "to" the kids, which I think makes it impossible for anyone to complain about the gift at that point. :) If they're of an age where they are old enough to remember her, I think this is extra nice since it means a few years down the line they might pick up the book, read the inscription, and say "Oh, Sally, I remember her!"
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:09 AM on April 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
In terms of the parents, I agree that you don't need to get them anything, especially since it sounds like you guys are not friends outside of the nanny-sharing arrangement. But, if you want to, I think the following would be great:
--gift certificate to a local cafe or nice restaurant (depending on how much you decide to spend)
--stop at a good wine shop and ask for their recommendation -- good places will work with your budget
--fancy chocolate shop that does really yummy/interesting truffles or chocolate pieces...have them put together a box of their best sellers with a nice bow on top
--if you know them to be coffee people (and let's be honest, if she's an academic at least one of them probably is!), a couple of bags of fancy-pants coffee beans and a couple of pretty mugs, wrapped up in a gift basket
--anything appropriate for the kids -- presumably these kids are of a similar age to your daughter given the set-up, so a nice set of age-appropriate books/toys/etc. would be a nice touch. You could also write the label as "from" your daughter and "to" the kids, which I think makes it impossible for anyone to complain about the gift at that point. :) If they're of an age where they are old enough to remember her, I think this is extra nice since it means a few years down the line they might pick up the book, read the inscription, and say "Oh, Sally, I remember her!"
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:09 AM on April 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: A nice photo of the kids in the nanny share. I too left a nanny share once because of a move and we all stayed in touch sort of via Facebook. Don't worry. It won't be as traumatic as you think.
Give nanny a final cash bonus tho.
posted by k8t at 11:39 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Give nanny a final cash bonus tho.
posted by k8t at 11:39 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Museum membership for the parents - choose one that you and your family have enjoyed going to.
Cash or a month unlimited metrocard for your sitter.
posted by sciencegeek at 2:26 PM on April 6, 2015
Cash or a month unlimited metrocard for your sitter.
posted by sciencegeek at 2:26 PM on April 6, 2015
Best answer: I was a nanny in college, and babysat after. Yes cash/Amazon. Card with a nice picture of her with your kid. I have a handful of pictures of the kids I nannied, that I took (because I was the adult there!)... but I don't have any of us together. I may not display it or anything, but I would have kept a picture of us together - it would be nice to have.
Also, one of the families found me, years later, on Facebook. I got along well with the parents, still do, and it's been neat to see how the kids are turning out (they also had fun when I had MY first baby!) and to chat with them every now and then. Include your FB handle in the card, and let her "friend" you if she wants.
If you're comfortable offering to be a reference, do - she could end up working at or directing a summer camp, teaching kids at a museum or aquarium, being some sort of RA, working at a private school - there's a whole host of jobs where "she's sane and reliable and took good care of my kid" is useful feedback (a "personal reference").
posted by jrobin276 at 8:02 PM on April 6, 2015
Also, one of the families found me, years later, on Facebook. I got along well with the parents, still do, and it's been neat to see how the kids are turning out (they also had fun when I had MY first baby!) and to chat with them every now and then. Include your FB handle in the card, and let her "friend" you if she wants.
If you're comfortable offering to be a reference, do - she could end up working at or directing a summer camp, teaching kids at a museum or aquarium, being some sort of RA, working at a private school - there's a whole host of jobs where "she's sane and reliable and took good care of my kid" is useful feedback (a "personal reference").
posted by jrobin276 at 8:02 PM on April 6, 2015
Response by poster: Looks like the consensus is cash+picture+recommendations (or at least an offer) for the sitter, and a card with maybe some wine or flowers and possibly a picture for the parents. Excellent! Thanks for your help everyone.
posted by saladin at 7:59 AM on April 8, 2015
posted by saladin at 7:59 AM on April 8, 2015
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Parents/kids: is there an upcoming children's festival that they might want to attend? Or a local zoo, or annual pass to a children's museum/play center? How old are the kids? A plant might be welcome - a nice orchid in a pot, or a really fancy planted succulent arrangement.
posted by barnone at 9:52 AM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]