Adding Third Child (Infant) to Two-Toddler Nanny Share

[Loutwo]

I've seen some older posts about this, but would be interested if anyone has recent experience when adding a third child to a nanny share. We currently have a two-family, two-child nanny share. Our nanny, who is wonderful, cares for our two year old, and another family's two year old. We hope to add our 5 month old to the share in the next month or so, which means the nanny will be caring for three children--two toddlers and an infant--from two families.

I'm curious what additional pay is typical for adding a child in these circumstances. I've seen estimates anywhere from $1 to $5, but that's a large variation.

Also, we obviously would pay the full additional amount for adding the third child (since it's our kid), but does the other family pay a reduced share of the overall hourly rate? For example, the families currently split the cost of the nanny equally, $13 per family for a total of $26 per hour. If we increased the nanny's pay by $4 for the third child, would the other family continue to pay what they have paid ($13) and we would pay the remainder ($13+$4=$17 in this example)? Or would the other family pay a reduced amount (i.e., $12) and we pay a larger portion (i.e., $14+$4=$18)?

[Anonymous]

$1 to $5?! You are crazy.

[Anonymous]

Lol $1. Would you increase your workload by 50% for $1 hour?? Time to get your own nanny. They are $25-$30/hour.

[Anonymous]

Loutwo wrote:I've seen some older posts about this, but would be interested if anyone has recent experience when adding a third child to a nanny share. We currently have a two-family, two-child nanny share. Our nanny, who is wonderful, cares for our two year old, and another family's two year old. We hope to add our 5 month old to the share in the next month or so, which means the nanny will be caring for three children--two toddlers and an infant--from two families.

I'm curious what additional pay is typical for adding a child in these circumstances. I've seen estimates anywhere from $1 to $5, but that's a large variation.

Also, we obviously would pay the full additional amount for adding the third child (since it's our kid), but does the other family pay a reduced share of the overall hourly rate? For example, the families currently split the cost of the nanny equally, $13 per family for a total of $26 per hour. If we increased the nanny's pay by $4 for the third child, would the other family continue to pay what they have paid ($13) and we would pay the remainder ($13+$4=$17 in this example)? Or would the other family pay a reduced amount (i.e., $12) and we pay a larger portion (i.e., $14+$4=$18)?

In your scenario, if I was the other family, I’d want to pay $10 or 1/3. How to do expect nanny to get the kids to the park? Triple
Stroller?

[Anonymous]

I think other family pays less than 1/3 because you are adding a baby who will need extra attention and naps etc.

As for the nanny no idea what that 1-5 thing was about...per hour more? I think her pay goes up a good bit for adding an infant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol $1. Would you increase your workload by 50% for $1 hour?? Time to get your own nanny. They are $25-$30/hour.

This is the correct answer. Sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

I would expect to pay 1/3 if I had one kid in a 3 kid share.

[Anonymous]

Total pay for the share goes up, your portion goes up, other family’s portion goes down to 1/3 of the new rate. You pay $20, the other family pays $10. Why would they pay 2/3 of you cost when you add an infant who will need more hands on attention?

[Anonymous]

OP, have you discussed this with your nanny at all? Very few nannies will do a share with children at those disparate ages. Even when it's just two kids. I've never encountered a nanny share with two toddlers and an infant, and with good reason -- it would be incredibly hard. If I was your nanny, I'd be looking for $40/hr for such a set-up, and she'd earn it.

As others have pointed out, how is she getting around with those kids? A double stroller and then baby in the carrier? Expecting a nanny who is also caring for two toddlers to wear your baby all day is a lot. Or you could have one toddler walk... have you ever tried to walk home from the playground with a toddler on foot when they are tired and cranky? How'd it go?

Plus she'd have to work the toddlers schedules around the baby's nap schedule and vice versa. Also dealing with both bottle feeding and helping introduce solids for the baby while managing toddler snacks and meals.

I think if you talk to her, you will quickly discover that your options are limited to (1) paying WAY more than you are currently thinking about, or (2) getting a nanny for just your two kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would talk to your nanny about this before coming onto this forum. I the nanny in a share with two families I LOVED. I started with two when they were just 3 months old, then got a younger sibling when they were 3 years old. I had 3 for about a year, then one family moved away and I was back at two 1 year olds. Then that third family had a second, so I was back at two 3 year olds and an infant. It always worked out because we all wanted it to. It really wasn't that much harder. my pay didn't decrease with any family that had "1/3 of the share", and I think I got a $2 increase from the family that DID have the child each time

[Anonymous]

OP, your nanny is currently paid $26/hour? Is she due for a yearly raise as well as a 3rd child raise?

With regards to the naysayers, nannies manage toddler two new and a newborn fairly often. If your nanny feels excited about this change and both families feel she is competent to manage 3 children, go for it! If the share has worked well so far, don’t assume you have to break it up.

Regarding rates: have both sets of parents sat down for an open and honest conversation about what the single child family expects to pay once the baby joins the share? Without that discussion, you don’t know if the share can continue. I’d find it reasonable to have that family either pay $1-2 less or keep their rate the same. I think your family needs to pay an additional $4/hour, taking the nanny’s overall rate to $30/hour. If she is due for a yearly raise, I’d suggest the other family pay $14/hour and your family pay $18/hour, taking the overall rate to $32/hour.

Good luck negotiating all of these changes!

[Anonymous]

Wow just wow... are you actually suggesting that an infant would receive care for $1-$5 an hour. Please have your tubes tied and stop insulting nannies and infants everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I would think of $13 as the infant rate, since that's what you've been paying for the other infants. Then I'd figure out what was a reasonable rate, and divide the remainder equally. So, for example, maybe $13 for the infant, and $10 for each of the other two, so your family pays $23 and the other family pays $10, for a total rate of $33, and a $7 raise. I can't really see less than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think other family pays less than 1/3 because you are adding a baby who will need extra attention and naps etc.

As for the nanny no idea what that 1-5 thing was about...per hour more? I think her pay goes up a good bit for adding an infant.

+1

We had a 3 kid share (2 three year olds and a four year old) where we had one and the other family had two. We paid a third for our one child. We may have considered chipping in a little more if the other family had requested, but they didn't. If there are costs associated with one family hosting exclusively that might change my opinion. If they had an infant there is no way I would pay more than a proportional share per child. The third child is certainly not getting a third of the nanny's attention in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would expect to pay 1/3 if I had one kid in a 3 kid share.

Absolutely. Especially if it’s a situation like adding an infant where most of the nanny’s attention will go towards your children.

The absolute maximum that the other family should pay is 1/3