Nanny Share

MeganRyan7737

Hi All!

We're expecting our first baby in February and are considering all childcare options.  Do any of you have any advice/feedback about nanny sharing?  At this point, it's our #1 option - but also don't know all to consider when considering nanny sharing as an option.

Also, if anyone in the St. Paul area is looking for a nanny share beginning in June 2012, please let me know.  I'd be interested in discussing it further with you! 

Please let me know your thoughts!  Thanks!

Megan 

bakemeacake

You have a couple of options when thinking about a nanny share....

1.  You share a nanny with another family, each using different days/times (ex. you have a nanny MWF and another family uses her TTh...or AM/PM split).  This is common when you find a nanny you want to hire that's looking for FT work, but you only need her PT

2.  You and another family have your children together during the day and taken care of by the same nanny.

Speaking as a former nanny, the 2nd option is by far the least attractive to a prospective nanny because of all the variables.

--Whose house would the care occur at?  Yours or the other family's?  Would you want to rotate homes?

--What happens when one child is ill?  A perk of having a nanny is that unlike daycare, a nanny comes to your home regardless of your child's health.  If you are sharing a nanny with another family, you may have to coordinate health policies with one another to avoid passing sicknesses back and forth.

--What ages are you looking for in the other family?  A similar aged child might seem ideal for your LO's socialization, but could be a hard sell to a nanny--essentially you'd be asking her to care for twins--unless the compensation was comparable to what she'd make working for twins with another family.

--What hours/days do you need coverage?  Would you be willing to do a nanny share with a family that needs more/less coverage than you do?

 --How would you work vacations/holidays, both yours and a nanny's?  It's hard enough sometimes to coordinate a nanny's vacation time with one family, let alone where two are involved.  Nannies usually get 1-2 weeks paid vacation and paid holidays.

--How will you set up payment?  Over the table/under the table?  Will you split costs 50-50 or will one person pay more than the other (ex. care is always at your house, does that mean you pay more or less?  you have an infant, the other family has a 3 yo, do you still pay the same?)

--Will you and the other family interview together or separately?  How will you choose the nanny?  What will you base your choice on? 

bakemeacake

Sorry, posted before I was done....

--What will happen if someone's circumstances change?  (Job loss, more hours,  no longer want to have a nanny, etc.) Will you be on the hook for the nanny's whole pay?

 

Hope this helps.