Nanny share with 3 kids - does it work?

[amydown]

Currently in a very happy nanny share which will come to an end in a few months time as I will be on maternity leave with No.2. Thinking ahead to when I will go back to work next autumn, wanted to hear stories of how nanny shares might work under our new circumstances.

Older son will be 3 when I return to work and we would like him in a nursery for at least 2/3 half day sessions a week or 2 full days. Junior will be 8months. Ideally, we would have a sole charge nanny on our own but by the time I have paid for nanny's salary, tax and other expenses plus nursery cost, I really will be paying to go back to work.

Also, having done a share, it's wonderful for the kids to have a playmate and I would love to do a share again. I guess it could be a share with another toddler at nursery part time or with a younger one of similar age to our younger one.

Does anyone have any experience they could share? I thought child care for 1 was tough enough but two makes it mind boggling!

[Sanne Panne]

I'm sure it's possible but I'd worry a bit about safety. Two on scooters, one in a buggy, what if one falls and the other isn't a great listener and you're just near a big junction. Or at a playground, how is not at least one of them going to end up with a swing against his teeth. I'm sure childminders do it all the time and there are plenty of mums with twins and toddlers combined so I guess I'm just a "bit" of a control freak!

My only experience is that I considered a similar childcare solution and decided against it for this reason but again, I know I'm quite obsessive :-$

[Sanne Panne]

I hope somebody else has a positive experience to share, not meaning to be negative amydown!

Come on people :)

[amydown]

Thank you SP :) The safety aspect does worry me (hubby says I'm neurotic anyway so might not work!).

[vicki08]

if one child is under one and the other two are 2/3 3/4 i cant see the problem ive been a childminder for years and i find is easier when they have other children to play with also regards the scooter accident that can happen with just one child your not going to stop them falling or haveing minor bumps and grazes dont all children

[chantelle]

plenty of people have three young children and manage. including twins plus newborn, etc.

We are contemplating something similar, though there will only be a few months that I'm back at work and need care for infant daughter before my son and his current nanny share buddy start school. That child will likely have to drop out for geographic reasons but I imagine we'll try to find another baby my daughter's age or another school starter whose parents want after-school care.

we're keeping our(3-day/week) share going during my mat leave ... think i'd have to send the baby back otherwise

[Sanne Panne]

See amy, we ARE neurotic lol

[amydown]

Does seem that way SP!

[Moos]

I'd have thought that a nanny (like any mother) would herd the children a bit closer together when crossing roads, or might make kids travel by buggy where a solo toddler might have been able to scoot. It's easy to imagine dreadful situations and speculate how they would be dealt with but a good nanny should be as good and careful as you would be yourself. Kids tend to listen to their nannies more than to their parents anyway (so galling!).

Our nanny currently looks after 2 one-year-old babies and our schoolboy during holidays. It's hard work for her, but the older child can help out. It's early days but so far it is working OK. Another 6 months and I think it will get easier, with 3 bipeds and only one nap/day for the babies.