The challenges of parenthood are a distant reality when you're expecting, but when your baby is born and you start wearing your heart on your shoulder, all plans and expectations fly out the window. It's not uncommon to be confronted with challenges you may have otherwise already resolved, especially when it comes to childcare. If staying home is not an option, if the thought of daycare makes you uncomfortable, or if you are thinking you can't afford a nanny, then a nanny share is something you have to consider.
A nanny share is when two families share the time of a single nanny. This means splitting the cost and sharing the employee management while providing your little one with both the opportunity for socialization, as well as more focused attention and support compared to a daycare with a larger number of kids.
Believe it or not, a nanny share is affordable. Each family is expected to pay the nanny ⅔ of what you would pay the nanny on your own. In the Seattle area, this means an $18/hour nanny is paid $12/hour by each family, thus giving the nanny a more competitive hourly rate of $24. This is amazing not only for the nanny, but also for you, allowing more flexibility (hours to fit your work schedule), convenience and comfort (care in your home and/or the other family's).
Being a work from home mom, I found myself in a pickle with how to handle child care that allowed me to work uninterrupted while having the flexibility to be the kind of mom I wanted to be for my daughter. Though I managed the last 4 years by working late at night and asking friends and family for help, a partial-share nanny share would have been a great solution. This is when a family only needs a part-time nanny, but the nanny needs full-time hours. Two families needing part-time care for their children would share one nanny.
There are things like scheduling, logistics, and family compatibility, like similar views on discipline, habits, and vaccinations, to consider, but when it happens, it is magic. Luckily, I have a friend within 3 miles of me with a daughter just a few months older than Kate and we share very similar, if not the exact same, parenting styles. Now, I know I have hit the jackpot here, but it doesn't mean it's not in the cards for you, too. This is where Nanny Lane comes in, especially if your Facebook group ISO luck has dwindled. Nanny Lane provides a matching platform to help you find both a local family and a nanny!
So, while you're weighing all the options, be sure to consider nanny sharing. At the end of the day, it's important to know all your options and also to know that you can have the kind of childcare that is most suitable for your family while making you feel completely confident as a parent. If you need help navigating this uncharted territory, Nanny Lane is there to help you find a wonderful nanny or a like-minded local family or provide you with any information you’re looking for.
