Every parent is especially concerned about their kids' welfare, among other things. Parents want their kids to be safe and well cared for while they go about work or their businesses. Hence, nannies and daycare centers are the two options parents have when they cannot show their kids the love they should.
However, most parents prefer nannies as they will take special care of the kids in a familiar environment and attend to household chores. There is one challenge, though: the high cost of getting a nanny leaves many parents hand-tied. But that doesn't have to be the case. A new nanny practice called nanny share holds the solution to this issue. A nanny share is a situation where two families or more share one nanny to handle their child care instead of hiring different nannies.
Nanny-share has several advantages for parents. Let us explore some of them.
Advantages of Nanny Share for Parents
The following are the reasons why nanny share is a great option for families:
Great Financial Situation for All
Hiring a nanny is more affordable when the cost is shared among several families. It is cheaper than what every family would pay if they all get individual nannies.
For instance, one family might hire a nanny for $3000 monthly in a regular situation. But with nanny share, two families might pay a nanny $2000 monthly each, which is a $4000 monthly salary for the nanny, and both parents save $1000 every month.
For hourly rates, a family that ordinarily pays $20 each for two different nannies will pay a shared nanny $30 and save $5 every hour. It is a win-win for all parties involved.
A Healthier Option
There is no telling what diseases your child can contract in a daycare center with several other kids from different families. Your kids can go out, get sick, and return home with all sorts of conditions that might infect the entire family.
With a nanny share, your children will spend time with fewer kids whose health conditions their parents can vouch for.
More Attentive Care
Unlike a daycare center where your child gets less personalized care, a nanny will pay special attention to your kids' needs and care for them better.
You can instruct the nanny on your child's care, from what you want your kid to eat, how you want them to dress, and what time they should play, read, or sleep.
Opportunity to Socialize
If you engage in a nanny share, your kids can socialize with other children of their age under the care of the same nanny. This is a perfect way for them to build healthy friendships and social skills, as well as learn to share and understand others.
You can take time to observe how the kids relate and see if you like their rapport. In a healthy situation, socializing among kids of the same age with monitoring from a nanny has tons of benefits for your kids. In contrast to having a private nanny, a nanny share can offer more socialization opportunities.
You Make the Rules
With nanny sharing, you can discuss with the other families involved, set the rules, and reach a consensus amongst yourselves. All families involved can decide the nanny's work and free days and when they will stay home to watch the kids. After setting the standards, you will then inform the nanny so that everyone is on the same page.
Downsides of Nanny Share
The following are some of the downsides of nanny sharing:
Can Be Challenging
A nanny share is when two families "share" one nanny to care for their children. While there are many benefits to this arrangement, including cost savings, there are some potential downsides that families should consider before entering a nanny share.
Difficulty Finding Compatible Families
One of the hardest parts of a nanny share is finding another family with similar beliefs and values with whom you feel comfortable sharing childcare responsibilities. Nanny-share families need to agree on major issues like discipline techniques, educational philosophies, diet, screen time rules, and more. If core values don't align, it will be difficult for the nanny and stressful for the kids.
Disagreements Over Childcare
Even if nanny-share families seem compatible at first, disagreements can still pop up when it comes to the day-to-day care of the children. One family may be more relaxed about discipline or bedtimes, for example, while another family has stricter rules. Navigating these differences in ongoing childcare expectations can lead to tension.
Challenging Social Dynamics
Entering any childcare share means more relationship dynamics to manage. Personalities need to mesh not only between families and the nanny but also between parents. Closer bonds will inevitably form between the nanny and one family's kids.
Interruptions to Routines
Children thrive on routine, but coordinating the schedules of multiple families while also being flexible to each child's needs makes maintaining consistent nap times, activities, and meals more difficult. Frequent interruptions can frustrate the nanny and upset the children.
More Scheduling Logistics
The more households involved, the more complicated scheduling becomes, especially because nanny shares typically divide the nanny's hours between the families. Families must thoughtfully coordinate schedules and backup care plans for when one family's child is sick, or appointments run long. Staying in ongoing clear communication is essential.
What Do Nannies Think About Nanny Share?
Many nannies are interested in a nanny share, and there is a consensus that being a shared nanny is taxing and complicated.
For example, a nanny in such a situation has to answer four parents, even if they are taking care of just two kids, one from each family.
Some nannies get caught in the middle of miscommunication between both families, and others have to carry out chores in two households instead of one.
A nanny has to remember the parenting styles of every family they work with and meet these standards. Simply put, a nanny has to please two or more families, plan their kids' days, work around their schedules, last-minute changes, and every other situation.
Typically, nannies will charge each family in a nanny share 2/3 of their regular rates for a family. Nannies don't expect to make twice the regular amount, but they shouldn't lose out either.
How does Nanny Share Work on Payroll?
A nanny share is when two families "share" one nanny to care for their children. This can help reduce childcare costs for the families. Here are some common ways nanny share arrangements handle payroll:
- Split Payroll - Each family pays the nanny directly for their allocated share of hours/days. For example, Family A pays for Mon-Wed, and Family B pays for Thurs-Fri. The nanny receives two paychecks.
- Rotating Payroll - The families take turns being the "employer of record" each pay period and paying the nanny the full rate. The other family reimburses them for their share.
- Third-Party Payroll - The families use a nanny payroll service. The service manages paying the nanny, filing taxes, etc. Each family contributes their portion of the costs to the service.
- One Employer Model - One family is officially the employer and pays the full rate, while the other family reimburses them for their allocated share each pay period. Only the official employer pays payroll taxes.
No matter the payment method, the financial expectations and schedule must be communicated. Many nanny-share families formalize the arrangements with a contract. Tracking hours, duties, and each family's share is essential to make the payroll process run smoothly.
Conclusion
A nanny share is an excellent option for parents as it provides a comfortable and affordable way to care for their kids.
However, you will be sharing a nanny with another family whose kids will interact with yours, so parents should give the situation a lot of thought.
Discuss with your partner to define your expectations, needs, and limitations. If possible, discuss with the other family and reach an understanding before getting a shared nanny. Moreover, you will have to agree on a strategy for a nanny share payroll.
AyiConnect is a platform to connect families with helpers who have a language specialty in addition to care. You can post a free job to engage with them through self-service or use concierge service. For self-service, you can even join in the discussion. The concierge service can provide another option to ensure successful matches for busy families who don't have time to search or need language assistance. Schedule a free consultation here for our concierge service, or check us out at ayiconnection.com