Nanny Share Guidance (Fairfax, VA)

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone!

I am in the beginning stages of establishing a Nanny Share in Fairfax, VA (Merrifield area) and could use some help/guidance from those posters that have firsthand experience.

My first question is whether or not 3 infants is too much responsibility for one full-time, live-out nanny? I already have 3 families interested (including mine) in participating in the nanny share and ideally would like to have 3 families to differ the cost of the nanny share.

If I proceed with the 3 infant nanny share, what are some recommendations for competitive hourly pay rate for the Merrifield area? We would be needing nanny care for 9 hours a day, 5 days a week for a total of 45 hours a week. I understand that 5 of those hours would need to be compensated as overtime, but in general terms, what is the going hourly rate for a 3 infant nanny share? I have heard some ranges for the immediate DC/Arlington/Alexandria area, but I assume that the further outside you go the hourly rate drops accordingly.

Any answers or further guidance anyone can provide is truly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for anyone who responds!

[Anonymous]

Three babies for one adult is insane, OP. Two babies are hard enough.

Why don't you try it for just one day?

[Anonymous]

Three babies is a lot, for sure, but if they're similar ages it's manageable for a really good nanny.

Three employer families however? Nightmare.

The skill it would take to navigate that seems the real challenge and I think you would have to pay TOP dollar (like $25-30/hr base) to make anyone qualified find it appealing.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread here recently about just such an arrangement, and many posters responded in great detail about the difficulties that adding a third family to a share create. The thread was also about a three baby share so it addressed those concerns specifically (such as needing either a car that can accommodate three car seats and/or a triple infant stroller, etc).

Also there's the fact that when there is a two family share (vs one family employing a nanny), you are doubling the risk of issues, including, especially, illnesses being a factor (if one infant is sick they'll need to stay home or expose the other two infants plus the nanny, thereby removing one typical benefit of having a nanny. If nanny is sick it impacts not just one family but three. If one baby stays home sick the parents of the sick baby will still have to pay for the nanny or the other parents will have to increase their pay to compensate nanny fairly etc).

If you are hellbent on making it work I'd expect to pay no less than $25/hr, with guaranteed hours.

[nannydebsays]

If you can find a nanny who has triplet experience, and IF all 3 sets of parents can agree that Nanny will be running the show when it comes to schedules, including feeding times, nap times, outings, and everything else, then you might be able to make this work OP.

Of course, before finding a nanny, all 3 sets of parents need to agree and understand that their parenting choices with their single baby may not mesh at all in any way with what a nanny to "triplets" has to do to retain some control over her day.

But a nanny with triplet experience is going to be hard to find and she will also be able to demand a high hourly rate. If a nanny for a single baby charges $15/hour, I would expect a nanny with the experience and knowledge to take on a 3 family infant share to cost $12/hour PER FAMILY, plus OT.

That means that you'd be saving less than $150/week of the cost of a nanny for your child only. ($12 x 47.5 vs. $15 x 47.5 is a difference of $142.50.) IMO, that's not really worth the hassle of a share, especially a 3 family share.

[Anonymous]

I agree that 3 infants is very demanding, but I also agree with the comment stating that if the babies are the same age it is more manageable. I think an average hourly rate within the $20-25 range is very competitive in Fairfax with a guarantee of 45 hours per week. That comes out to a salary between $46,800-$58,500. OP hasn't stated whether the nanny would be put on payroll or not for tax purposes. But either way, I believe there would be plenty of qualified nannies lining up for that salary range.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who suggests this can work, has never done it.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/300088.page#3090419

To the person who said $20-25 is a good range, that is insane. There is no possible way that a /qualified/ experienced nanny would do this for any less than $25/hr. Maybe someone with no experience or lacking in other qualifications would, but trust me, anyone who would take this on for less than $25/hr isn't qualified enough.

[Anonymous]

Has any nanny here actually done this? And we're not talking triplets. It's not the same. No way.

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely not do a 3 infant share. You may as well do daycare. We did a 2 infant share in the same area almost four years ago. Most nannies we met with were expecting between $350 and $400 per week per family ($700-$800 total) for a 40 hour work week.

[Anonymous]

It's so crazy, probably the troll poster again.