• 近期，洛杉矶有家庭在雇佣月嫂过程中遇到了诸多纠纷。一位远房亲戚在生育二胎后，为更好地照顾孩子，决定聘请一位月嫂。他们通过月嫂中介机构支付了8千美元的费用，聘请了一位专职照顾孩子的月嫂（不负责家务及产妇护理）。然而，令人意想不到的是，仅在短短两周内，双方就因种种原因产生了激烈冲突，最终不欢而散。亲戚们详细列举了月嫂的诸多不当行为，包括夜间对孩子的不闻不问、擅自给孩子喂水、哄睡时的粗暴摇晃以及使用抹布清洗孩子用品等。综合考虑这些因素，亲戚们最终决定解雇这位月嫂。

    为了确保产妇能得到妥善的护理与充分的休养，同时减少与老一辈在育儿观念上的摩擦，许多家庭选择在孩子诞生之际聘请月嫂。如今，出国月嫂已成为众多家庭的必需品。然而，关于聘请月嫂的争议与矛盾却始终存在。为了深入了解这一问题，我们特地联系了三位来自不同城市的妈妈，她们曾高价聘请月嫂却遭遇了不愉快的经历。她们的亲身经历告诉我们：月嫂价格并非衡量月嫂专业度的唯一标准，有时候，找到一位合适的月嫂确实需要一些运气。

    坐标纽约，月嫂雇佣费用为9000美元。

    在怀孕初期，我加入了一个宝妈群，听到一位妈妈热情地分享她使用的金牌月嫂的种种好处，这让我心生向往。经过与丈夫的商讨，我们决定让我妈妈来家中照顾我坐月子，同时再聘请一位专业的月嫂来专职照顾宝宝，这样既能减轻家人的负担，也能确保宝宝得到专业的呵护。

    通过那位妈妈的介绍，我联系上了那位月嫂，并与之进行了面对面的交流。月嫂给人的感觉性格温和，于是我们私下签订了合同（未通过纽约的家政公司）。她主要负责的工作包括白天照顾宝宝、清洗宝宝的衣物用品，以及准备全家的一日三餐。

    在我出院后的第二天，月嫂便来到了家中。开始时，她表现得相当专业，白天会为宝宝喂奶、拍嗝、换尿布，一切都井然有序。然而，随着时间的推移，我逐渐发现她开始偷懒。她常常以清洗宝宝衣物为借口，指使我妈妈做这做那，甚至在宝宝哭闹时，她总是把孩子抱给我，说孩子饿了要吃奶（但实际上我刚才才喂过奶）。更令我失望的是，她好几天都没有给宝宝洗澡，每当我想提议洗澡时，她总会以之前带的宝宝不常洗澡为由进行推脱。

    Recently, several families in Los Angeles have encountered numerous disputes while hiring postpartum nannies. One distant relative, after giving birth to her second child, decided to hire a postpartum nanny to better care for the baby. They paid $8,000 through a nanny agency for a full-time nanny to care for the child (not responsible for housework or postpartum care for the mother). However, unexpectedly, within just two weeks, intense conflicts arose between the two parties for various reasons, ultimately leading to an unpleasant separation. The relatives detailed numerous instances of the nanny's inappropriate behavior, including neglecting the child at night, giving the child water without permission, roughly shaking the baby while trying to put her to sleep, and using a cleaning rag to wash the baby's belongings. Considering these factors, the relatives ultimately decided to dismiss the nanny.

    To ensure that new mothers receive proper care and sufficient rest, and to reduce friction with older generations regarding childcare philosophies, many families choose to hire postpartum nannies after the birth of their children. Nowadays, hiring a postpartum nanny has become a necessity for many families. However, controversies and conflicts surrounding hiring postpartum nannies persist. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, we contacted three mothers from different cities who had unpleasant experiences after hiring expensive postpartum nannies. Their personal experiences tell us that the price of a postpartum nanny is not the only measure of their professionalism; sometimes, finding a suitable nanny requires a bit of luck.

    Location: New York, nanny hiring fee: $9,000.

    In the early stages of my pregnancy, I joined a mothers' group and heard a mother enthusiastically share the benefits of her highly-rated postpartum nanny, which made me eager to hire one myself. After discussing it with my husband, we decided to have my mother come to our home to help with my postpartum recovery, and also hire a professional postpartum nanny to exclusively care for the baby. This would reduce the burden on my family and ensure that the baby received professional care.

    Through the introduction of that mother, I contacted the nanny and had a face-to-face meeting with her. The nanny seemed to have a gentle personality, so we signed a contract privately (not through a New York domestic service agency). Her main responsibilities included caring for the baby during the day, washing the baby's clothes and supplies, and preparing three meals a day for the whole family.

    The nanny arrived at our home the day after I was discharged from the hospital. Initially, she acted quite professionally, feeding the baby, burping her, and changing diapers during the day, everything was well-organized. However, as time went on, I gradually noticed her becoming lazy. She often used washing the baby's clothes as an excuse to boss my mother around, and even when the baby cried, she would always hand the baby to me, saying the baby was hungry and needed to be fed (even though I had just fed her). What disappointed me even more was that she didn't bathe the baby for several days, and whenever I suggested giving the baby a bath, she would always make excuses, saying that the babies she had taken care of before didn't need to be bathed frequently.

    后来，我们之间还因为饮食问题产生了一些分歧。在坐月子的前两天，月嫂的烹饪还算清淡，偶尔还会煲汤。然而，没过多久，她就开始频繁制作各种油炸食品，例如炸酥肉和炸茄子。

    我向她提出希望做些清淡的饭菜，因为医生曾明确指出月子期间应避免油腻食物，以防影响哺乳。但她却认为油炸食品更美味，能让我多吃些以增加奶量。

    由于她个人偏爱面食，因此后来经常制作馒头、烧饼等面点。虽然这些并非我所爱，但考虑到她也是出于好意，我并未多说什么。

    然而，随着时间的推移，我渐渐感到困惑：她究竟是在准备适合我的月子餐，还是在做符合自己口味的饭菜呢？

    若说月嫂毫无助益，那确实对她不公。然而，花费一万五请来一位自认为有理、言辞犀利的助手，往往只会给自己带来更多烦恼。

    在洛杉矶的华人社区，月嫂服务颇受欢迎。

    由于美国本土缺乏坐月子方面的专业服务，而华人对此却非常重视，因此华人月嫂在当地市场十分抢手。相较于请老人飞过来帮忙，通过中介寻找月嫂无疑更为便捷，无需繁琐的手续和流程。我们夫妻二人都是职场人士，在月子期间没有选择让老人来照顾，而是通过这种方式找到了合适的月嫂。

    26天7000美金，再加上10%的小费，总计费用折合人民币近五万元。这个价格或许让人咋舌，但请相信，这确实是当地的市场行情。

    Later, we had some disagreements regarding food. During the first two days of my postpartum confinement, the nanny's cooking was relatively light, and she occasionally made soup. However, before long, she started frequently preparing various fried foods, such as fried crispy pork and fried eggplant.

    I suggested that she prepare lighter meals, as the doctor had explicitly stated that I should avoid greasy foods during postpartum confinement to prevent affecting breastfeeding. But she believed that fried foods were tastier and would encourage me to eat more, thus increasing my milk supply.

    Because of her personal preference for麵食 (wheat-based foods), she often made steamed buns, flatbreads, and other similar dishes. Although these weren't my favorites, considering she meant well, I didn't say much.

    However, as time went on, I gradually became confused: was she preparing meals suitable for my postpartum confinement, or was she simply cooking according to her own tastes?

    To say that the nanny was completely unhelpful would be unfair to her. However, hiring an assistant who considers herself always right and is sharp-tongued often only brings more trouble.

    In the Chinese community in Los Angeles, postpartum nanny services are quite popular.

    Due to the lack of professional postpartum care services in the United States, and the importance that Chinese people place on this, Chinese postpartum nannies are in high demand in the local market. Compared to having elderly relatives fly over to help, finding a nanny through an agency is undoubtedly more convenient, avoiding complicated procedures and processes. My husband and I are both working professionals, and during my postpartum confinement, we chose not to have our parents come to help, but instead found a suitable nanny through this method.

    26 days for $7,000, plus a 10% tip, the total cost was nearly 50,000 RMB. This price might be shocking, but believe me, this is indeed the local market rate.

    合同中明确规定的服务内容涵盖：

    为全家准备午餐和晚餐，包括我月子期间的特餐；

    全天候护理宝宝，即白天烹饪时我负责照顾，晚上则由她与宝宝同睡并负责夜间护理，如需夜奶则抱至我处喂食。

    此外，我们还雇佣了钟点工来处理清洁工作，以减轻她的负担。

    然而，我们花费重金聘请的这位月嫂，竟然险些酿成大祸！

    在烹饪方面，她仅为三人份准备两菜一汤。素菜仅限于煮熟，而荤菜则仅限于炒香肠，鸡汤等佳肴更是难得一见。

    我们经常因重复的饭菜而感到无奈，有时中午剩余的菜肴未经处理便在晚上再次出现。

    当我提出网上有月子餐教程供她参考时，她表示学习难度大且时间紧迫。

    最终，为了满足口腹之欲，我们只能选择外卖，而且还得为她点一份。

    除了烹饪技能不足，这位月嫂在照顾孩子方面也让我们倍感担忧。在离开医院前，儿科医生曾多次强调，宝宝不应与大人同睡一张床，婴儿床上禁止放置毛绒玩具，且最好避免给孩子盖被子，以降低窒息风险。尽管我们在月嫂刚来时已明确沟通这些注意事项，然而某次我去查看宝宝的睡眠情况时，却意外发现月嫂与宝宝同睡在大床上，而并非我们为其准备的婴儿床。宝宝身旁堆放的枕头和被子摇摇欲坠，稍有不慎便可能埋住孩子，而月嫂却酣然入睡。

    当时看到月嫂与宝宝同睡在大床上，我吓得心惊胆战。作为新手父母，我们本来就容易感到不安，原本期望月嫂能为我们分担一些压力，结果她却成了我们最大的担忧。更令人不快的是，她还缺乏边界感，经常无事生非地打听我们的私事，或在我们面前议论前雇主的闲话。我们每天都要共同面对照顾宝宝的挑战，有时甚至不得不忍受她的无理取闹。总的来说，我对月嫂的感受就是：请月嫂前，我们的期待往往过高，觉得高薪必定能请到专业人士；然而请月嫂后，我们的期望值不得不一再降低，只希望她能确保孩子的安全。

    若时光重来，或许我不会再选择聘请月嫂。尽管亲自照顾孩子会充满挑战，但至少我能拥有更多的掌控感，减少那份无尽的担忧。

    在旧金山湾区，月嫂的雇佣费用高达8000美元。

    我家所雇的月嫂，是我婆婆从朋友家媳妇那里借调来的。然而，她仅仅服务了不到两周，就被我果断辞退了。这段经历让我深感，聘请月嫂有时并非明智之举，反而可能给自己带来不必要的烦恼和气受。

    首先，这位月嫂在工作中表现出偷懒和钻空子的行为。她从未清洗过宝宝的衣物，尽管合同中明确规定了这一职责。在我发现并指出这一问题后，她才勉强开始执行。

    此外，她在洗奶瓶时也显得漫不经心，只是简单地用水壶里的热水晃一晃，便继续给孩子冲泡奶粉。有一次，我注意到奶瓶上有一层厚厚的油脂，要求她清洗后再使用，她却以洗了也不干净为由拒绝。

    然而，真正让我决定辞退她的原因是她喜欢在家里挑拨离间。我奶水不足已经让我感到焦虑，她却火上浇油，在亲戚面前公开质疑我的哺乳能力，甚至归咎于我饮食不当和体型偏瘦。

    当孩子身上出现湿疹时，她私下向婆婆抱怨是我的奶水问题和孩子体质不兼容导致过敏。尽管我解释这是正常现象，但婆婆却更倾向于相信她的话，对我产生不满。后来，在咨询了医生并得到证实后，婆婆才改变了看法。

    经过这些不愉快的经历，在她工作满十天后，我立即结清了款项并请她离开。临走前，她还不忘向婆婆“吹风”，指责我们这些年轻父母缺乏经验和责任心，让婆婆多加留意，以免对孩子造成不良影响。

    The services explicitly stipulated in the contract included:

    Preparing lunch and dinner for the whole family, including special meals for me during my postpartum recovery;

    Providing round-the-clock care for the baby, meaning I would take care of the baby during the day while she cooked, and she would sleep with the baby at night and be responsible for nighttime care, bringing the baby to me for feeding if needed.

    In addition, we also hired a part-time cleaner to handle the cleaning to lighten her workload.

    However, this postpartum caregiver, whom we hired at great expense, almost caused a major disaster!

    In terms of cooking, she only prepared two dishes and one soup for three people. Vegetable dishes were simply boiled, and meat dishes were limited to stir-fried sausages; delicious dishes like chicken soup were rarely seen.

    We were often frustrated by the repetitive meals, and sometimes leftover dishes from lunch would reappear at dinner without being properly reheated.

    When I suggested that there were online tutorials for postpartum meals she could refer to, she said it was too difficult to learn and she didn't have enough time.

    Ultimately, to satisfy our cravings, we had to order takeout, and we even had to order a portion for her.

    Besides her inadequate cooking skills, this postpartum caregiver also caused us great concern regarding her childcare. Before leaving the hospital, the pediatrician repeatedly emphasized that the baby should not sleep in the same bed as adults, that plush toys should not be placed in the crib, and that it was best to avoid covering the baby with blankets to reduce the risk of suffocation. Although we had clearly communicated these precautions to the caregiver when she first arrived, when I checked on the baby's sleep one day, I unexpectedly found the caregiver sleeping with the baby in the big bed, not in the crib we had prepared for the baby. The pillows and blankets piled around the baby were precarious, and the baby could easily be smothered, yet the caregiver was sound asleep.

    Seeing the caregiver sleeping with the baby in the big bed terrified me. As new parents, we were already prone to anxiety, and we had hoped the caregiver would alleviate some of our stress, but instead, she became our biggest worry. Even more unpleasant was her lack of boundaries; she frequently meddled in our private affairs and gossiped about her previous employers in front of us. We had to face the challenges of caring for the baby together every day, and sometimes we even had to endure her unreasonable behavior. Overall, my experience with hiring a postpartum nanny was this: Before hiring one, we often have overly high expectations, believing that a high salary will guarantee a professional. However, after hiring one, our expectations have to be repeatedly lowered, hoping only that she can ensure the child's safety.

    If I could go back in time, I probably wouldn't choose to hire a postpartum nanny again. Although taking care of the child myself would be challenging, at least I would have more control and less endless worry.

    In the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost of hiring a postpartum nanny can be as high as $8,000.

    The nanny we hired was recommended by my mother-in-law's friend's daughter-in-law. However, she only worked for less than two weeks before I decisively fired her. This experience made me deeply realize that hiring a postpartum nanny is sometimes not a wise decision and may instead bring unnecessary trouble and frustration.

    First, this nanny exhibited laziness and tried to cut corners in her work. She never washed the baby's clothes, even though this was clearly stipulated in the contract. Only after I discovered and pointed out this problem did she reluctantly start doing it.

    Furthermore, she was careless when washing bottles, simply rinsing them with hot water from a kettle before continuing to prepare formula for the baby. Once, I noticed a thick layer of grease on a bottle and asked her to wash it before using it again, but she refused, claiming that washing wouldn't make it clean anyway.

    However, what truly made me decide to fire her was her tendency to sow discord in the family. My insufficient breast milk supply was already causing me anxiety, but she added fuel to the fire by openly questioning my breastfeeding ability in front of relatives, even blaming it on my poor diet and thin physique.

    When the baby developed eczema, she privately complained to my mother-in-law that it was due to my breast milk and the baby's incompatible constitution causing allergies. Although I explained that this was a normal phenomenon, my mother-in-law was more inclined to believe her, leading to dissatisfaction with me. Later, after consulting a doctor and getting confirmation, my mother-in-law changed her mind.

    After these unpleasant experiences, after she had worked for ten days, I immediately paid her and asked her to leave. Before leaving, she didn't forget to "warn" her mother-in-law, criticizing us young parents for lacking experience and responsibility, and urging her mother-in-law to pay close attention to prevent any negative impact on the child.

    月嫂离职后，我们全家齐心协力，共同应对育儿挑战。经过一段时间的磨合与实践，我们逐渐掌握了带娃的诀窍，变得得心应手。如今回首，我深感作为新手父母，我们曾过度依赖外界，而忽视了亲生父母对孩子的深厚爱意与天然责任感。在疼爱孩子、为孩子着想这方面，月嫂或许不及我们亲生父母。

    成为父母，这段旅程既充满奇妙又伴随着诸多挑战。在育儿的起点，新手父母们往往感到茫然与无助，因此他们热切地寻求一位值得信赖、经验丰富的月嫂来提供帮助。然而，当前的美国月嫂市场却存在诸多问题，如缺乏统一的标准和规范，以及从业者素质的参差不齐。这些问题使得父母们不得不面对更多的疑虑和不安。

    不知何时，寻找月嫂不再是一场充满未知的冒险，华人新手父母们能够更加安心地挑选到一位专业的月嫂，为孩子提供一个更加安全、健康且温馨的成长起点。

    After the postpartum caregiver left, our whole family worked together to tackle the challenges of childcare. After a period of adjustment and practice, we gradually mastered the art of parenting and became more confident. Looking back now, I deeply realize that as new parents, we had relied too much on outside help and neglected the profound love and natural sense of responsibility that biological parents have for their children. In terms of loving and caring for the child, a postpartum caregiver may not be able to compare to the child's own parents.

    Becoming a parent is a journey filled with both wonder and numerous challenges. At the beginning of this journey, new parents often feel lost and helpless, and therefore eagerly seek a trustworthy and experienced postpartum caregiver for assistance. However, the current postpartum caregiver market in the United States faces many problems, such as a lack of unified standards and regulations, and inconsistent quality among practitioners. These issues leave parents with more doubts and anxieties.

    Hopefully, someday, finding a postpartum caregiver will no longer be an uncertain adventure, and new Chinese parents will be able to more confidently choose a professional caregiver to provide their child with a safer, healthier, and more nurturing start in life.