Reply to Nanny Share Experiences and Cost

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[quote=Anonymous]The long post really hit a lot of what I would have said.

We just wrapped up our second share - we did one that didn't go great (though not terrible) that lasted 2-3 months, and then one that was AWESOME that went for over a year, until both couples started having 2nd babies and decided we each needed our own nanny.

Biggest difference between the two shares was the nanny. First was meh. Second was AMAZING. A great nanny is so awesome. The other difference was in hosting. The first share, the other family hosted, and they clearly did not have the temperament for it, nor did they have enough space. They were very protective of their space, wanted things like our pack and play packed up every day (what a pain) and made a lot of comments about "feeling like they lived in a daycare." They were nice people, I just think hosting wasn't a good fit for them.

For the second share, we hosted, and we really embraced it - play area for the kids, two high chairs. And it was great, I think for all of us. I would STRONGLY advise making sure the non-host baby has a separate place to sleep. One of the HUGE advantages to a nanny is a good nap routine/schedule, with naps in a quiet dark place. Don't give that up! Our son slept in his room, and we put black out curtains and a second sound machine in our bedroom, where the other family setup their pack and play. So the other baby had their own "room" during the day for naps, too.

We paid $24 per hour ($12 per family) for both our shares, these were both in DC. But we signed that last contract over a year ago - $25 or $26 per hour sounds about right now.

I will say that if you can swing 40 hours a week, at least downtown or close in DC, a nanny share is basically the same cost as daycare. We thought nannies were for rich people, but even with taxes and workers comp (you do need to have workers comp by law in DC), we paid about $2400 a month, all in. You do need to pay time and a half for overtime (any hours over 40) so that will bring up your costs dramatically. The daycare centers we looked at were all $2200-$2800. There weren't ANY cheaper options besides the federal ones that you can't get into unless you're a fed (and we're not), so for us at 40 hours a week, it was definitely a cost-effective option.

I don't see how you can share hosting duties. You need two of everything wherever the kids are - two high chairs, two sound machines, two places to sleep, a double stroller, so you end up, between the two of you, with three of a lot of things (two at the host families house, one at the other house). If you were going to switch back and forth, are you going to buy a fourth sound machine? A fourth highchair? Yet another pack n'play? A second double stroller? Or are you packing all that crap up all the time? No dice - pick a host family and stick with it. [/quote]

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