How to find another family for a nanny share?

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions? We've posted on the DC nanny shares board here on DCUM, we've posted on our two neighborhood list servs (Columbia Heights New Parents and U Street Tots, we're in southern Columbia Heights - are there others we should know about?). We've asked around with friends and at the park, and we're coming up with nothing.

We had no problems getting a nanny share family when our older son was a baby. Is there a better place to look? Any suggestions?

(we're at [e-mail] if anyone sees this and is interested, FWIW).

[Anonymous]

Facebook Groups
On Call DMV: Nannies
DMV Nanny Connections by Coast to Coast Nannies
Babysitter and Nanny Network of MD

[Anonymous]

I found your ad on the Nanny Shares board here; as someone who has used the boards to find a nanny share before, a few points that might be turning people off:

- It sounds like you have a nanny already (although that is not 100% clear). If you do, you should give more information about the actually nanny rather than just saying that the nanny will take the kids out every day.
- On a related note, if you do already have your own nanny, that could be turning some people off since they might want a true share where the families select the nanny together. Additionally, a family might feel like they would take second fiddle to the other family if the nanny has been with the same family for years
- Although you say the hours are flexible, a 9am start time is on on the later side, especially if that is when you drop your kid off. I work from home but even if I lived a block from you 9am would be too late to drop the kid and get back and start meetings, calls, etc. I would consider extending the hours on either side more concretely.
- It is fine to want it at your house but know that stating this as a fact excludes families who might want to host or share hosting duties. Additionally, announcing that it is at your house, full stop, makes it seem like you want a nanny share family to come in and share your nanny because you can't afford one- which is a fine reason to want a share but if I was a potential family I would think that my kid would be slotted in as an after thought to an already existing position.
- You don't mention what your older kid will be doing after school- if there is a chance that you would want the nanny to watch your older kid after school or on days off then you should say so.

[Anonymous]

Join a neighborhood list, like Nextdoor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found your ad on the Nanny Shares board here; as someone who has used the boards to find a nanny share before, a few points that might be turning people off:

- It sounds like you have a nanny already (although that is not 100% clear). If you do, you should give more information about the actually nanny rather than just saying that the nanny will take the kids out every day.
- On a related note, if you do already have your own nanny, that could be turning some people off since they might want a true share where the families select the nanny together. Additionally, a family might feel like they would take second fiddle to the other family if the nanny has been with the same family for years
- Although you say the hours are flexible, a 9am start time is on on the later side, especially if that is when you drop your kid off. I work from home but even if I lived a block from you 9am would be too late to drop the kid and get back and start meetings, calls, etc. I would consider extending the hours on either side more concretely.
- It is fine to want it at your house but know that stating this as a fact excludes families who might want to host or share hosting duties. Additionally, announcing that it is at your house, full stop, makes it seem like you want a nanny share family to come in and share your nanny because you can't afford one- which is a fine reason to want a share but if I was a potential family I would think that my kid would be slotted in as an after thought to an already existing position.
- You don't mention what your older kid will be doing after school- if there is a chance that you would want the nanny to watch your older kid after school or on days off then you should say so.

+10000 it looks like you are basically seeking someone to pay for half of your kid's childcare with no consideration for their family's needs or preferences.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

That is our post - thanks for the feedback! I’ll going to change it.