What do we do? Possible to hire a nanny and add another family later?

[Anonymous]

Our almost-6 month old is not adjusting well to daycare and may be terminated in a week or two. She doesn't nap well in the crib (is used to napping in a swing or being held) and likes to be held a lot when she's awake too. (Yes, I guess we screwed up, we didn't realize how hard this would make the adjustment.)

We can swing the cost of a nanny for a few months but can't afford it long-term without doing a share. Is that a crazy idea? Will it be hard to find a great nanny who'd be willing to start with one family and add a second in a few months?

(Alternatively, how much attention is reasonable to expect if we do a nanny share from the start? We would be totally happy with the nanny working to get her napping in the crib, playing more independently, etc as quickly as possible, but she wouldn't be that way from the start, and we wouldn't want the arrangement to fall apart because she's difficult.)

[Anonymous]

If you hire a nanny experienced in shares and make sure she understands that it will switch to a share (cheaper for you, more pay for her) as soon as she has helped your daughter learn to nap in the crib and start playing on the floor, you shouldn't have a problem. You might also want to consider a live-in nanny versus a nanny share.

[Anonymous]

I think you'd do fine with a nanny share from the beginning, especially if you're ok with naps in the swing or bouncer. That's something you can allow at home that a daycare center can't do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you'd do fine with a nanny share from the beginning, especially if you're ok with naps in the swing or bouncer. That's something you can allow at home that a daycare center can't do.

Do you know that any knowledgable nanny would understand that isn't a good sleep arrangement for the baby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you hire a nanny experienced in shares and make sure she understands that it will switch to a share (cheaper for you, more pay for her) as soon as she has helped your daughter learn to nap in the crib and start playing on the floor, you shouldn't have a problem. You might also want to consider a live-in nanny versus a nanny share.

Where would we find a nanny like this? (Experienced with shares; not interested in a live-in.) And how much would we expect to pay for a good one? How long is the search likely to take? Sorry, just trying to get up to speed on this as quickly as I can, I wasn't expecting to hire a nanny so we have a lot to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hire a nanny experienced in shares and make sure she understands that it will switch to a share (cheaper for you, more pay for her) as soon as she has helped your daughter learn to nap in the crib and start playing on the floor, you shouldn't have a problem. You might also want to consider a live-in nanny versus a nanny share.

Where would we find a nanny like this? (Experienced with shares; not interested in a live-in.) And how much would we expect to pay for a good one? How long is the search likely to take? Sorry, just trying to get up to speed on this as quickly as I can, I wasn't expecting to hire a nanny so we have a lot to learn.

Advertise on DCUM for the nanny share while also advertising for the nanny. If you can find another family who won't want to start the share until late May or early June, that would be preferable, but you can both select the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you'd do fine with a nanny share from the beginning, especially if you're ok with naps in the swing or bouncer. That's something you can allow at home that a daycare center can't do.

Do you know that any knowledgable nanny would understand that isn't a good sleep arrangement for the baby?

It isn't going to kill the kid. If the parents are ok with it, MYOB

[Anonymous]

Make sure you guarantee the nanny that you're
not going to put the kid back into daycare, once
she gets her on a nap schedule. As a nanny this would be a
concern of mine.

[Anonymous]

I think you should get the word out about your specific situation and see what options exist in your area.

This will indicate if your idea is feasible!

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you'd do fine with a nanny share from the beginning, especially if you're ok with naps in the swing or bouncer. That's something you can allow at home that a daycare center can't do.

Do you know that any knowledgable nanny would understand that isn't a good sleep arrangement for the baby?

It isn't going to kill the kid. If the parents are ok with it, MYOB

Except that it could literally kill the kid because anything other than an AAP-approved sleep surface (flat, firm surface with no pillows or blankets) is a SIDs risk through 12 months. Regularly sleeping in swings and bouncers has also been linked to increased risk of torticolis and other abnormalities. So an educated, professional nanny should not be risking her career by using unsafe sleeping devices.

OP, consider hiring a sleep training expert instead. It's possible that your DC would adjust to daycare just fine if she had the ability to sleep in that environment and most 6mos could be taught to do that fairly quickly.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would recommend getting a nanny who is used to wearing kids in a sling- that will also help a lot for a baby who wants to be held a lot. I think you can get a share from the beginning if that is the case because you can have one kid on the back

[Anonymous]

We began our share with just our child with another child added to the mix a few months later. This was the plan from the start. It was great, because they got in a groove, which made adding a second baby easier. I don't think starting with one child and switching to a share later is uncommon at all.