Nanny share advice

[Lakey]

Hi,

There are 3-5 ladies with small babies who are all currently considering what to do when we go back to work (we are all going back - sniff)

We have our name down on various lists for nurseries but have recently been talking about nanny shares. We hope they would be a bit more flexible than a nursery. However we were concerned about less interaction with other kids, and possibly less play out time (possibly more though!) - we just don't know.

Also we thought about getting 2 nannies at one house for a group of kids.

Does anyone have any previous experience of this - good or bad. This isn't asking for specific nannies, it's more to get ideas (hence a discussion not a classified).

Any advise would be really appreciated, or please pm me if you'd prefer it to not be on the forum.

Thanks!

[bumpy]

My 23 month old has been in a nanny share since he was 6 months old and gets lots of interaction, both one to one and in groups. Our nanny meets up with other nannies and stay at home mums plus the other 2 boys in the nanny share are around after school & during the school holidays. He's currently got a social group ranging between 16 months and 8 years old.

For me it's been the best solution and would thoroughly recommend a nanny share. Of course it all depends on the nanny you employ. Advocates of nurseries and/or child minders may have a different opinion.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Fuschia]

I think the legalities get a bit complex once a nanny works for more than two familes

[Fidgetsmum]

We love our nanny share. Plenty of interaction with the other children in the share, but plenty of one to one interaction with the nanny too (hence not choosing a nursery in the early days). Fuschia's right - max two families (although ridiculously, each family could have 10 children and that would be fine - it's the number of families not the number of children that matter in a nanny share situation).

[bumpy]

Our nanny works for 3 families - Mon, Wed & Thurs for 2 families and Tues & Fri for the 3rd family.

[Fuschia]

bumpy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Our nanny works for 3 families - Mon, Wed & Thurs

> for 2 families and Tues & Fri for the 3rd family.

I think it's the having children from more than two families at a time that might actually mean the nanny needs to register as running a nursery, or something like that! But don't quote me

Actually, i think they need to be a registered childminder (even if not working in their own home)

[chantelle]

Our nanny share from 11 months has been wonderful. The two boys, now 3-plus, are the best of friends and they have a wide social circle from our nanny's extensive network of other nannies and their charges. They go to loads of playgroups too. To me it's a million time better than nursery, particularly when they are still babies.

[uptime]

We have a nanny share. Our baby is 11 months and the other child is 2.5 years old. They have a better social life than I ever had pre-baby. Our experience is very similar to Bumpy and fidgetsmum, and I would also recommend it. I don't know anything about the legalities but from a practical perspective having just one other family to take into consideration when it comes to holidays etc works well for us.

[littleEDfamily]

One nanny for 2 children under 2 is all that one person can safely manage, and I know quite a few people for whom shares work really well. The only downside of having a nanny share is the extra co-ordination needed between both families and nanny on a whole host of issues (holidays - you'll need to work out how this is going to work, what happens if one of the children or the nanny is sick, how to you cater for different approaches from parents (eg one is fine with paying to go to groups and then other doesn't for example) and what happens when say one of the families wants to pull out for whatever reason.). Although you don't get all of this hassle with a nursery, a share, if you can find the right nanny and family brings with it the huge benefit of a home environment for the little ones (I would not worry at all about the social interaction for such young children, there is no evidence that I have read to suggest that toddlers need to be around lots of other toddlers), much more flexibility (eg if you need to tweak your hours on an adhoc basis) for around the same cost as a nursery (and there is evidence to suggest home based care is better for a small child anyway).

[Lakey]

Thanks for all your posts - so much help. It's impossible to know the best thing to do. I think it would be the best solution for me, but as you rightly say max 2 children (dream would be two nannies who know each other to do two each - pretty unlikely though!). The key is finding the right nanny I guess!! Let the hunt begin - cripes!

Thanks once again! X

[Mook]

Hiya,

I am a nanny (I'm not looking for work but I thought I would give you an idea of what it's like from a nanny's point of view) I have worked in two shares - one was very successful (lasted 8yrs) the other fell apart within 4wks.

One of the most important things for me to be able to do my job properly, is that the babies/children are in similar routines - they have their meals at the same times, go down for their sleeps at roughly the same times (looking after two babies/young children is tiring and it is nice to be able to sit down and have a cup of tea and a minute to myself, and then to be able to get jobs done) Are you and the other family in agreement over what activities/experiences you would like the nanny to do with the children - it's not nice for the nanny to be stuck in the middle of parents arguing over it.

I think as you already know the other family you probably already know what their expectations are - I would just say keep the lines of communication open with each other, be honest with each other and good luck in your nanny search.

[zsuzsanna]

hi my name is Zsuzsanna and I'll be finishing my job in February. I've had a nanny share with two beautiful children and I loved it.I would like to know more info about the nanny share and when would you like to get started.

Regards Zsuzsanna

[Moos]

Mook's advice is good. If you already know the oter families then you have a head start- there are some venal people out there. We had a good nanny share with a very nice family, and it worked because we had similar expectations with regard to child-rearing approach.

I'd also add it's essential to get a contract between all parties and spell out things like holiday allocation, pay share and so on. Don't assume anything, and don't leave anything to be sorted out when it arises, that is how friendships fall apart when money comes into it. If there's a change in the arrangement (such as someone having another baby) then recontract with the changes. It probably sounds excessively careful and pernickety but it will save arguments in the long run.

[hooksan]

Hey, just wondered how your search was going as I'm moving to the area with our 1 year old daughter in jan and am looking for a nanny share when i go back to work in feb. Have tried to get into nurseries but not having much luck finding any space - think nanny share is my only option but not sure where to start - help!