I wouldn't. One adult and four kids is worse than my daycare's ratios, and those kids are all the same age and doing the same activities, napping at the same time, etc. I think the nanny might get overwhelmed, and the point of a nanny share is to get a nanny for less money. Not sure how much you're saving if you have to pay the nanny to care for four kids.

I've done it, but mainly with four two year old boys. Sometimes the mix was different with three toddlersand a baby. It was challenging but not impossible. Preschoolers aren't usually that high maintenance and toddlers are moving away from being high maintenance so iit's mainly the baby you have to worry about. The temperament of the baby will make or break the share. If the nanny can start with the baby early on and off the baby is already bottle trained that will help immensely. Starting with a six month old who's used to mom doting on her all day and hasn't had to use a bottle before and it's starting to teeth is a recipe for disaster... I speak from experience.

Anonymous wrote:I think I know the answer, but - we now have a share with 2 preschoolers and a toddler and 1 family is expecting another baby soon. It has been hard enough to find a good nanny willing to do a share with 3, but the other family thinks we should continue when the 4th arrives. I think this is crazy. The nanny says she will do it, though. I just think it' s too much for one person long-term. Other mom says we can hire another helper for part of the day. Shouldn't we just split up and get our own nanny?

I guess it depends on how much you like the nanny and how attached your kids are but I wouldn't do it. 2 preschoolers a toddler and a baby is a lot for one person to handle and for the raise the nanny would deserve I think you would be better off with your own nanny. For what you would pay a nanny in a share with 4 kids I would think you could find one for yourself for 2 kids and the children would get more individual attention.

I think I know the answer, but - we now have a share with 2 preschoolers and a toddler and 1 family is expecting another baby soon. It has been hard enough to find a good nanny willing to do a share with 3, but the other family thinks we should continue when the 4th arrives. I think this is crazy. The nanny says she will do it, though. I just think it' s too much for one person long-term. Other mom says we can hire another helper for part of the day. Shouldn't we just split up and get our own nanny?