What's all this Nanny Share talk?

I’m sure if you are pregnant, or have a newborn, you have heard about a NannyShare. It seems to be the new big thing sweeping across the nanny industry. There are pros and cons to a NannyShare; my goal is to shed some light on a few topics. 

First off, what is a NannyShare? The simplest way to put it; two families with children close in age, hiring one nanny for both families. Now this arrangement can range from families sharing the nanny during the same hours, or one family having the nanny part time and the other full time. In both scenarios, you are sharing the same nanny. In my experience, it’s preferable to have similar hours so the nanny can come to either house, the same day and time every week making life easier on everyone.

Is doing a NannyShare right for you? One benefit of a Nannyshare is your child has a playmate everyday. A lot of parent’s worry that having a nanny will not be enough involvement and interaction with their child. Parents who are deciding between a nanny and daycare often find a NannyShare to be a perfect solution. You have the benefits of a nanny being at your home, your child in their own crib, and also having a playmate. Another BIG benefit is cost effectiveness. If you NannyShare, the price of the nanny is cut in half! So you and the other family will each pay half of the salary. 

There are a lot of nannies out there that also prefer a NannyShare situation. They will have another child to grow and learn with. Having been a nanny, you always could use another playmate! Hourly pay is another important factor for the nanny. Your nanny will have a higher salary, and who doesn’t want that? If the nanny has experience with multiple children, it’s a win-win. Keep in mind that your nanny will have 4 bosses. So if you need to address something to your nanny, talk it over first as parents and have one person approach the nanny. That will make it much less intimidating.

Here are a few things to look out for…

Make sure the family that you NannyShare with has the same philosophies as your family does. Do you like your child to be at the park, story time, museums, being active? Do you want your child eating only organic, or are you particular when it comes to being “green?” If you meet a family where those things are not important, it may not be a good match. You want to make sure that each family has a similar outlook on what is important for their child. Also it’s important to agree on what qualities are desired in a nanny. If you’re looking for a younger, energetic, outgoing nanny, and the other family wants an older, experienced nanny, you may not see eye to eye. 

I would recommend having a list of expectations for both the family partaking in the “share” and the nanny. Compare notes, ask lots of questions, and make sure you are all on the same page. Finding a family to work with is just as important as finding a great nanny! 

So do your legwork and talk to more then just one family. Chances are there is another great family looking for the same thing!

By: Sarah Davis, founder of Olive.You.Nanny