Becoming a nanny share vrs. joining one?

[Anonymous]

Hi there! I'm hoping some of you will be able to help me with advice on whether this sounds like a good idea or not. I'm an elementary teacher who is expecting my first child this summer. My husband and I have been looking into joining a nanny share, since there are very few daycare options for infants in the old town Alexandria area. After seeing how little of my paycheck I'll be taking home after paying for a nanny share, I'm starting to think I could instead stay home a year or two with my little one and take on another infant/child. I do have previous nanny and daycare experience (babies, toddlers, multiple children....), but it was from 15-20 years ago. I could likely use two of the moms I worked with way back then as references, since I'm still in contact with them (lost contact with others along the way).--But would that even be relevant since it was so long ago? It was that early experience with working with children that helped me decide to become a teacher.

Anyway, I'm wondering if parents would be turned off by the fact that my own infant would be part of the nanny share. I would pretty much expect the same type of compensation that we would pay if we were hiring a nanny for a nanny share ($9-10/hr, paid federal holidays if parents decide to keep their child, etc). FWIW, my husband has a flexible job, so he would be the one to stay home if/when our baby is sick. Anyway, does this seem like something parents would be open to?

Any input on this would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would think your plan is a good one. Start looking now. Your child will be most fortunate to stay with mummy. If you can start doing some newborn/infant sitting now, that'd be great. Also, you and your husband should get your infant CPR and first aid certifications. GL.

[Anonymous]

It seems like it could be a great solution. As a mother I might be a little concerned about where your loyalties would be, and what would happen if someone is sick, etc...

But if you find the right person - especially within your neighborhood - it might be ideal.

I wouldn't have worries about your qualifications, given whatyou said about your background, just more concerns about managing the day to day logistics and eventualities of illnesses, family vacations, etc... I'm sure a fair amount of that is true w/ any nanny share.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Given your lack of recent experience and the fact that your own infant is one of your charges, I'd charge a little less than what you'd pay a more experienced nanny who's not watching her own kid.

My mom babysat neighborhood kids during the day when I was little, and I don't think the fact that I was one of the kids was a problem. If you think you can really provide equally good care to the other kid as to your child, I think your plan is doable.

[Anonymous]

It's VS

[nannydebsays]

Well, I wouldn't advertise it as a nanny share, since there's no nanny involved. Instead, I would start looking for another new mom/new parents in your neighborhood, at your OB's office, at any childbirth classes or other classes you take to prepare for your baby's arrival, etc., and advertise yourself as a SAHM seeking to care for 1 or 2 other infants in your home.

Check the daycare regulations to make sure you won't be breaking any laws if you have 2 infants in addition to your own.

Then you'd need to figure out who pays for what when it comes to additional items like a double/triple stroller, high chairs, pack'n'plays, etc.

And I would have rules and regs just like a daycare does, about being paid 52 weeks/year, what constitutes a sick day, all that stuff.

IDK what one pays for infant daycare in a preschool type situation on your area, but IMO you could charge at least that much if not slightly more since the chances of illness would be smaller and the one-on-one attention would be more frequent.

[Anonymous]

MB in N.Arlington here. We paid $15/hr (gross) for 2 infants in a nanny share - it was $400/week per family. A local mom here whose baby was the same age as mine wanted to do a "share" with her as the caretaker, but was charging $500/week. It was too much for me, especially since in my opinion blood runs thicker than a paycheck and it wasn't like I was saving any $$. If she had said $350 or less for 50 hrs a week (the rate of a home daycare) then I would have been interested, at $500/week (the $9-10) you quoted, I was not interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB in N.Arlington here. We paid $15/hr (gross) for 2 infants in a nanny share - it was $400/week per family. A local mom here whose baby was the same age as mine wanted to do a "share" with her as the caretaker, but was charging $500/week. It was too much for me, especially since in my opinion blood runs thicker than a paycheck and it wasn't like I was saving any $$. If she had said $350 or less for 50 hrs a week (the rate of a home daycare) then I would have been interested, at $500/week (the $9-10) you quoted, I was not interested.

You just said $16/hour on another thread.

[Anonymous]

sorry, $16/hr - brain fart. Yes. Thanks for the catch. I am not feeling well and typing fast