We've done one for the last year that honestly, could not have gone better. The kids were 5 months and 10 months at the start. It's been fantastic. It's definitely manageable for an experienced nanny, and ours was wonderful. And in DC, the costs was comparable to daycare.

Keep in mind, the nanny will work the kids toward the same/compatible schedules. Wasn't a problem, though it was a bit sticky when one was ready to move to one nap before the other, but we made it work. We hosted, and had a dedicated space for the other baby to sleep (in our bedroom) which I think was really key. A big advantage of a nanny is good naps, you don't want to compromise there.

Keep lines of communication open, both between each family and the nanny, and between the two families.

Highly recommend.

Anonymous wrote:8 and 11mo are NOT infants, but yes it's doable.

Uh, yes they are. They’re not newborns, but they’re absolutely infants. The older one won’t be for long, but is now.

OP, yes this is manageable. Find a nanny experienced in shares or at least multiples, be flexible and share with a family who is also flexible.

Anonymous wrote:8 and 11mo are NOT infants, but yes it's doable.

What?!

An infant is birth through 12-18 months (when they start walking/toddling). 8mo and 11 months are definitely still infants.

8 and 11mo are NOT infants, but yes it's doable.

Of course! It’s doable and beneficial for all involved. If there are any issues it will be with the other parents - not the nanny or the other child.

This is ideal and common and the best arrangement we’ve ever done IMO. If you find a nanny who has cared for multiples before or worked in a daycare this will be a breeze for them.

Very common. Many single families have 2, 3, 4, or 5 children or twins, triplets, etc.

Of course it can be done.

Yep, and very common.

Think about it -- even with relatively low daycare ratio requirements for infant classrooms, there are at least 3 (I think?) infants per staffer at a daycare center. So yes this is doable. I would have loved to make a nanny share work at that age but just didn't know a family with a similar aged kid near us.

If you find a nanny that is used to nanny shares, this is totally doable. My kids were in several configurations of nanny shares (with the same amazing nanny who was used to doing nanny shares) and the easiest ones are near-age matched, specifically babies because you can get them on the same schedule/routine. The toughest one we had were non age matched because you had to take in the very different considerations of the children (one might need two naps if they are a baby, while the other, as a toddler, wants to be outside playing in the morning). In the end, each one worked because of the nanny. But I actually think the ages you list lend themselves to a pretty good share. As a parent, you also have to be able to let the nanny set a schedule that makes sense. This is part of the give and take of a nanny share versus having your own sole nanny though.

Has anyone done a nanny share with two infants? I am thinking of doing one for my child, who will be 11 months when we would start. The other child would be 8 months. Is that crazy/too much for one person? Obviously people do it with twins, etc but I am wondering if doing a nanny solo would be better. Thoughts? Upside or downsides?