Nanny Share Advice

[Anonymous]

I am considering a nanny share with one or two of my co-workers for the 2018-2019 school year. Five of the six parents all work for the same school system, and we would only need care on school days and staff work days, from roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If all three families participate, it would be three 4 year olds, and three 2 year olds. (If only 2 families participate, it would be two of each.). From mid October through May, the older children would be in preschool 4 days a week from roughly 9:30 to 1:30, following the student calendar for our district.

None of us have ever used a nanny before. Is it reasonable to expect that we would be able to get a good nanny at a reasonable rate, that would be willing to only be paid on days they work? I know some people offer paid sick and vacation leave, but any nanny we hired would have all the same days off that teachers do. Any estimates on hourly or daily rates?

Thanks for any advice or tips!

[Anonymous]

No, OP, you are not being realistic at all and asking for trouble with three families and six children!! Way, way too many PARENTS and too many kids for a nanny share. Do you really want six kids at your house with one nanny wrangling them?!

[Anonymous]

Just logistically, OP, where are THREE 2 year olds going to nap? And six kids under four in one house with one nanny?!!

Please - look for an in-home daycare and all of you drop your kids off there. Three sets of parents will never be able to agree on food, discipline, sleeping schedules, etc.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how that works with a total of 6 children and 3 separate families- by law, I believe anyone who takes care of multiple children that are not from 1 (maybe 2) family has to be licensed. For 6 children, each family should (at minimum) pay $15 per hr. For 2 children in a share now, I get paid $25. You should definitely considered offering sick days. Vacation may be negotiable due to the fact that they will have the summers off and following the school calendar closings. Honestly, I don’t know who would accept this, other than a nanny who would probably let you down- just being honest. All parents would definitely have to talk about schedules and are willing to create and adhere to the schedule created. Any nanny who doesn’t show concern about this isn’t a good one. Also, where would the children nap? Who’s house will we host at? Is the nanny required to take all 6 children outside? etc.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny experienced in Nanny Shares, I strongly advice against this. 2 kids and 4 parents can be much to deal with, how much more so the situation you are describing. Why would you even consider this? Please for the sake of the caregivers sanity and for quality care for your kids - do not do this.

[Anonymous]

Here is what you should do - have all three 2 yr olds with you, at your house, all morning and then take all three to pick up three more tired 4 yr olds at preschool and then bring them all back and care for them until 4:30.

Then get back to us.

[Anonymous]

Whose ever house hosted this insane nanny share would be an unlicensed daycare.

You are so off the wall, OP. I cannot believe a thinking adult could ever consider this.

[Anonymous]

Op, I doubt you will be able to find an experienced nanny for this situation. You might find a babysitter, but no expieekved nanny will ever agree to this. You will need to pay more than a “ reasonable” rate for this, but most nannies will not take a position without guaranteed hours. It’s also not very appealing to have a job that has summers off. As a nnny, I would never do it because of kids, likely low pay, short-term position, too many unrealistic expectations, and no benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering a nanny share with one or two of my co-workers for the 2018-2019 school year. Five of the six parents all work for the same school system, and we would only need care on school days and staff work days, from roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If all three families participate, it would be three 4 year olds, and three 2 year olds. (If only 2 families participate, it would be two of each.). From mid October through May, the older children would be in preschool 4 days a week from roughly 9:30 to 1:30, following the student calendar for our district.

None of us have ever used a nanny before. Is it reasonable to expect that we would be able to get a good nanny at a reasonable rate, that would be willing to only be paid on days they work? I know some people offer paid sick and vacation leave, but any nanny we hired would have all the same days off that teachers do. Any estimates on hourly or daily rates?

Thanks for any advice or tips!

No. You would never find a good nanny without guaranteed hours.

And the rest or your post is beyond laughable but I thought I would just handle this one question since other mothers have told you how mad you are to even think about one nanny for six children in a share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering a nanny share with one or two of my co-workers for the 2018-2019 school year. Five of the six parents all work for the same school system, and we would only need care on school days and staff work days, from roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If all three families participate, it would be three 4 year olds, and three 2 year olds. (If only 2 families participate, it would be two of each.). From mid October through May, the older children would be in preschool 4 days a week from roughly 9:30 to 1:30, following the student calendar for our district.

None of us have ever used a nanny before. Is it reasonable to expect that we would be able to get a good nanny at a reasonable rate, that would be willing to only be paid on days they work? I know some people offer paid sick and vacation leave, but any nanny we hired would have all the same days off that teachers do. Any estimates on hourly or daily rates?

Thanks for any advice or tips!

Stick with daycare, OP. Even if you have just one other family - which by now you know is the only way - you will never find a decent nanny who will work without guaranteed hours or any benefits. There are no daily rates legally - all nannies are hourly employees.

Your kids are all in daycare, right? They should stay in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Okay, I'll bite.

I have experience with 7 children at a time, so the number of kids is within my bailiwick. There are other issues that need to addressed though.

You are talking about THREE sets of parents. In order to even contemplate this, you need to have a contract signed by all 7 people, agreeing to the same schedules, discipline and philosophy as determined by the group initially (nanny has to have an equal voice with that many kids/parents), then small changes made by the nanny with input from the parents. All 6 parents need to agree to keep the nap schedule on the weekend, and they need to keep to the potty training schedule she draws up.

She needs to have total autonomy in terms of classes and curriculum for all 6 kids, especially the 2s, within a certain monthly budget.

Parents need to buy a minivan together and each provide identical seats for each age group. That means everyone agrees whether 4s are in high back boosters or 5 point harnesses, and parents need to understand that the kids will be floating between seats for their ages, depending on what is going on. On the other hand, you could find a nanny with a minivan, but you have no control over the condition or whether the car seats are uninstalled and reinstalled without your knowledge.

No strollers. 2s will always walk. You may need to consider harnesses if there is a runner.

Pick up and bedtime will be hard for all of you. Her job would be teaching 2s in the morning through play, then wrangling all 6 at the playground or in a decent backyard with a great swingset. The best way to handle them is to run them into the ground, but parents have to realize that they will be trumps later.

Overall, if I was to even consider this for myself, I would require advance notice for any unpaid days (sick and snow days are guaranteed), vacation would be during the time that we agreed in advance would be off (summer break would be great), and each family would pay $10/hour, $15/hour overtime when at least two families are there. If I only had one family for extra time, rate would be $15 base and $22.50 overtime. The only way you'll get a nanny to consider this seriously is to pay top dollar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what you should do - have all three 2 yr olds with you, at your house, all morning and then take all three to pick up three more tired 4 yr olds at preschool and then bring them all back and care for them until 4:30.

Then get back to us.

Yes. This. Every parent who is considering this share must spend an entire day actually doing what you’d expect your nanny to do. One adult.

[Anonymous]

this is a very funny joke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I'll bite.

I have experience with 7 children at a time, so the number of kids is within my bailiwick. There are other issues that need to addressed though.

You are talking about THREE sets of parents. In order to even contemplate this, you need to have a contract signed by all 7 people, agreeing to the same schedules, discipline and philosophy as determined by the group initially (nanny has to have an equal voice with that many kids/parents), then small changes made by the nanny with input from the parents. All 6 parents need to agree to keep the nap schedule on the weekend, and they need to keep to the potty training schedule she draws up.

She needs to have total autonomy in terms of classes and curriculum for all 6 kids, especially the 2s, within a certain monthly budget.

Parents need to buy a minivan together and each provide identical seats for each age group. That means everyone agrees whether 4s are in high back boosters or 5 point harnesses, and parents need to understand that the kids will be floating between seats for their ages, depending on what is going on. On the other hand, you could find a nanny with a minivan, but you have no control over the condition or whether the car seats are uninstalled and reinstalled without your knowledge.

No strollers. 2s will always walk. You may need to consider harnesses if there is a runner.

Pick up and bedtime will be hard for all of you. Her job would be teaching 2s in the morning through play, then wrangling all 6 at the playground or in a decent backyard with a great swingset. The best way to handle them is to run them into the ground, but parents have to realize that they will be trumps later.

Overall, if I was to even consider this for myself, I would require advance notice for any unpaid days (sick and snow days are guaranteed), vacation would be during the time that we agreed in advance would be off (summer break would be great), and each family would pay $10/hour, $15/hour overtime when at least two families are there. If I only had one family for extra time, rate would be $15 base and $22.50 overtime. The only way you'll get a nanny to consider this seriously is to pay top dollar.

Your quote even in the hypothetical is way too low. 30 for six children under five?!

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny with a minivan. My van only seats 7. So one of the 4 year olds would have to sit in the front passenger seat. Which is against the law. So you would have to buy me a new van that seats 8.