I'd prefer:

Week One:
Nanny A: Mon, Tues, Wed, Sat
Nanny B: Wed, Thurs, Fri , Sun

Week Two:
Nanny A: Mon, Tues, Wed, Sun
Nanny B: Wed, Thurs, Fri , Sat

This way no one loses their Saturday every weekend, or their Sunday. Another option would be:

Week One:
Nanny A: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
Nanny B: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun

Week Two:
Nanny A: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
Nanny B: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat

I feel like Wednesday would be the best overlap day, but you never know. It's hard to say what any particular nanny would want.
I'd personally want a schedule where I could have a couple of days off back to back so I can unwind and get energy back. On the flip side, I have obligations some nights so I'd have to make sure the schedule worked with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a very tricky situation. As a nanny I think I'd prefer a set schedule, like 3 days during the week and 1 weekend day - this way I can plan my own things better, have an additional job on the days off, etc. And it gives nannies A and B an opportunity to swap days if need be without the mother having to scramble for back up care.

Ignore all the mean comments - having an extra pair of hands when you're going through a tough situation is invaluable. Good luck to the mother and the children!

So you're working 3 days during the week meaning the odds are very much against you to find a job for those other 2 days, and then also one on the weekends so you couldn't find a job on the weekends either. You forced yourself into part-time with that schedule. It's great if you only have the stamina to work part time but there aren't many nannies, especially high caliber as OP wants that would take such a schedule.

But it is full time hours,

Anonymous wrote:Does original nanny know any other nannies that she already likes and works well with? Managing three people, their schedules, vacations, sick days, payroll etc. is work in itself. If original nanny could become more of a staff manager in addition to what she does now, that would help mom, too.

That's a great question, and I'm afraid I don't know the answer. The original nanny has been a lifesaver in this crisis, as well as when the kids' father died a few years ago. My guess is that if Mom asked her she'd work 24/7, but mom understandably doesn't want that.

Probably the best would be

Nanny A W Th Fri Sat
Nanny B Sun Mon. Tues Wed. overlap

Does original nanny know any other nannies that she already likes and works well with? Managing three people, their schedules, vacations, sick days, payroll etc. is work in itself. If original nanny could become more of a staff manager in addition to what she does now, that would help mom, too.

I agree that an agency is a good idea. She's not local, so she'll need to find one in her city.

There is actually a 3rd nanny in the picture. One who lives in and works daytimes. She has been with the family for many years, since the oldest child was born. She plays that "rock" role for the family, and is able to spell mom at the hospital so she can come home and see the older kids. Right now, Grandma is there too until they get something set up long term. If there was another long term hospitalization, Grandma probably come back.

Its an incredibly difficult situation, but mom does have a lot of support, and the long term prognosis is promising.

Perhaps this would be worth talking through w/ an agency? If money isn't a major challenge then an agency might be really helpful in figuring out the logistics of staffing this, hiring and managing, and providing fill-in help when people are sick or whatever.

Reading between the lines, this sounds like a really hard, sad situation. I feel for you all and I hope you can help her find kind people to help. You're doing a great thing.

FWIW, i have used MetroParentRelief and Stacie is very kind and helpful, though it isn't the largest agency around. So you might want to talk to a couple of them to see whether that is a good option.

Good luck!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a very tricky situation. As a nanny I think I'd prefer a set schedule, like 3 days during the week and 1 weekend day - this way I can plan my own things better, have an additional job on the days off, etc. And it gives nannies A and B an opportunity to swap days if need be without the mother having to scramble for back up care.

Ignore all the mean comments - having an extra pair of hands when you're going through a tough situation is invaluable. Good luck to the mother and the children!

So you're working 3 days during the week meaning the odds are very much against you to find a job for those other 2 days, and then also one on the weekends so you couldn't find a job on the weekends either. You forced yourself into part-time with that schedule. It's great if you only have the stamina to work part time but there aren't many nannies, especially high caliber as OP wants that would take such a schedule.

I suppose it could be tricky, but actually my last position was M Fr for family A and T W Th for family B and now I'm working four weekdays for family A, one weekday for family B and Saturdays for another family. I don't think it's impossible or very hard to do two part-time jobs, and there's certainly demand for nannies who want to do part-time. And set days, as opposed to a floating schedule that changes from week to week, are much easier for getting a second job.

I would say
A: MTW, alternate weekends
B: WThF, alternate weekends

IF you envision them both being more or less mother's helper roles.


But if I were the parent in that position, I would want a primary and secondary nanny--in ofher words, I would pay more in overtime to have one person who can be a more stable force for the kids and almost act as a coparent. Someone who knows a lot about child development, has worked with divorcing or single parents before and who can really be a rock for the kids and reduce the fluidity in the family. Choose someone mom likes as a person, too, so that it's not awkward when mom and nanny are both around. In that case, I would have primary nanny do weekdays and hire a backup nanny for weekends.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a very tricky situation. As a nanny I think I'd prefer a set schedule, like 3 days during the week and 1 weekend day - this way I can plan my own things better, have an additional job on the days off, etc. And it gives nannies A and B an opportunity to swap days if need be without the mother having to scramble for back up care.

Ignore all the mean comments - having an extra pair of hands when you're going through a tough situation is invaluable. Good luck to the mother and the children!

So you're working 3 days during the week meaning the odds are very much against you to find a job for those other 2 days, and then also one on the weekends so you couldn't find a job on the weekends either. You forced yourself into part-time with that schedule. It's great if you only have the stamina to work part time but there aren't many nannies, especially high caliber as OP wants that would take such a schedule.

Seems like a very tricky situation. As a nanny I think I'd prefer a set schedule, like 3 days during the week and 1 weekend day - this way I can plan my own things better, have an additional job on the days off, etc. And it gives nannies A and B an opportunity to swap days if need be without the mother having to scramble for back up care.

Ignore all the mean comments - having an extra pair of hands when you're going through a tough situation is invaluable. Good luck to the mother and the children!

Anonymous wrote:I would think most nannies would prefer a consistent schedule, even if it included weekends.
So, A would be W-Su day (M,Tu off),
B would be Sa ni-W (Th,Fr off).
This gives both nannies 2.5 full days off per week, and avoids overtime situations, and most consistency for children.

I wish your friend luck. I have 4 children (including a couple medical issues) and my husband and I never sit down and we also have a babysitter. Its all hands on deck.

Thank you.

I would think most nannies would prefer a consistent schedule, even if it included weekends.
So, A would be W-Su day (M,Tu off),
B would be Sa ni-W (Th,Fr off).
This gives both nannies 2.5 full days off per week, and avoids overtime situations, and most consistency for children.

I wish your friend luck. I have 4 children (including a couple medical issues) and my husband and I never sit down and we also have a babysitter. Its all hands on deck.

Plenty of nannies I know do a rotating schedule. 4 on/4 off.