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Parentpedia
Nanny Sharing
What Experts Say
In typical nanny-sharing arrangements, the nanny cares for the children of two or more families. As an alternative to daycares, nanny sharing offers parents a less expensive solution to hiring your own private childcare (e.g., having a nanny all to yourself). You'll also have the advantage of knowing your child is being cared for by someone you trust in a comfortable, safe environment.
To make nanny sharing work, be sure to start with these guidelines from Nanny Network, a national nanny agency:
- The children should be about the same age.
- The parents share the same work hours.
- The parents share the same childcare priorities and values.
Once you find a family that's a good match, you can further ensure nanny-sharing harmony by following the "3 Cs:"
- Communication. At the beginning, negotiate everything that's important to you. For example, you'll need to decide in which home the nanny and the kids will spend their days. (Perhaps you'll do one week at your house, one week at their house.) As your relationship with the family progresses, be sure to check in with each other to make sure everything's going smoothly.
- Coordination. Agree on schedules, ground rules, and back-up plans in case the nanny calls in sick or one set of parents is late in picking up their child (or for any shared responsibility). Do not skip this step! Because you're partnering with people you know, you might be tempted to think, "We'll figure it out later," but that leads to misunderstanding and resentment -- the last thing you want from people you'll be seeing nearly every day.
- Contract. Once you've found a nanny, put everything in writing. This protects all parties.
The last step is to have an agreed-upon trial period. During this time you can assess whether you've chosen the right nanny, whether the children get along, and whether the arrangement is working as you imagined.
Though nanny sharing could involve a little more work, it could also be the answer for parents looking for a safe, more affordable childcare option.
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The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
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