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Hi Everyone,
My wife and I got a text from our neighbor about doing a nanny share. This option does interest us but I am not sure how we would handle splitting the cost.
The neighbor has two kids, one of them is a 3 year old, the other is only a couple of months older than ours. Our baby is going to be 10 months old.
How would you split the cost of the nanny? Would we split per child, so my neighbor pays 2/3 and I pay 1/3 or would we simply halve it? How would you handle it or expect it to be handled? I like my neighbor so I certainly don't want to make any waves if splitting per child is just ridiculous.
So the nanny watches all three kids at the same time? I would not think it fair to pay half the nanny's fee if you only have 1/3 of the children.
I think what you do in that case is figure out how much the nanny charges for two kids and how much more for three. It may not be as simple as 2/3 - 1/3, but she probably has a price for two kids and an increased price for three. Then you split the amount for two kids in half, and that's what you pay.
For example, nanny says she wants $20/hour to watch two kids and $25/hour for three kids. You should split the two-kid cost and pay $10/hr, while your neighbor pays $15.
Others may disagree, but I don't think splitting the full amount in half ($12.50 each) is fair to the person with one child, and for the person with one child to pay only the "third child" amount ($20/$5) is not fair to the person with two.
So the nanny watches all three kids at the same time? I would not think it fair to pay half the nanny's fee if you only have 1/3 of the children.
I think what you do in that case is figure out how much the nanny charges for two kids and how much more for three. It may not be as simple as 2/3 - 1/3, but she probably has a price for two kids and an increased price for three. Then you split the amount for two kids in half, and that's what you pay.
For example, nanny says she wants $20/hour to watch two kids and $25/hour for three kids. You should split the two-kid cost and pay $10/hr, while your neighbor pays $15.
Others may disagree, but I don't think splitting the full amount in half ($12.50 each) is fair to the person with one child, and for the person with one child to pay only the "third child" amount ($20/$5) is not fair to the person with two.
So the nanny watches all three kids at the same time? I would not think it fair to pay half the nanny's fee if you only have 1/3 of the children.
I think what you do in that case is figure out how much the nanny charges for two kids and how much more for three. It may not be as simple as 2/3 - 1/3, but she probably has a price for two kids and an increased price for three. Then you split the amount for two kids in half, and that's what you pay.
For example, nanny says she wants $20/hour to watch two kids and $25/hour for three kids. You should split the two-kid cost and pay $10/hr, while your neighbor pays $15.
Others may disagree, but I don't think splitting the full amount in half ($12.50 each) is fair to the person with one child, and for the person with one child to pay only the "third child" amount ($20/$5) is not fair to the person with two.
OP, what does your neighbor suggest as far as splitting the cost of the nanny? I'd suggest having a conversation with them and see what they are thinking. If they don't have strong feelings about a different arrangement, the above seems reasonable to me.
OP, what does your neighbor suggest as far as splitting the cost of the nanny? I'd suggest having a conversation with them and see what they are thinking. If they don't have strong feelings about a different arrangement, the above seems reasonable to me.
We haven't discussed the split yet. I wanted to gauge others opinions before we got to that. I wanted to know if I was totally in the wrong for thinking anything other than a 50/50 split was reasonable.
Per child is reasonable, go ahead and suggest. I would expect that as the parent of two children, our costs are almost always higher than those of a 1-child household.
Whose house is getting all the wear and tear? That's an expense to the parent whose house is getting the beat down.
Your best option is to speak to the neighbor about how they think the cost should be divided.
If it is half and half, you are still saving half the cost. If you want to get nit-picky, you might end up with no nanny or a nanny at full price just for yourself.
Whose house is getting all the wear and tear? That's an expense to the parent whose house is getting the beat down.
Your best option is to speak to the neighbor about how they think the cost should be divided.
If it is half and half, you are still saving half the cost. If you want to get nit-picky, you might end up with no nanny or a nanny at full price just for yourself.
Why on earth would someone's house be getting all the "wear and tear"?
I stayed home and raised my three children all within 3.5 years of age. Sharing in my opinion is a recipe for trouble and everyone has a different idea about how children should be raised and cared for.
So the nanny watches all three kids at the same time? I would not think it fair to pay half the nanny's fee if you only have 1/3 of the children.
I think what you do in that case is figure out how much the nanny charges for two kids and how much more for three. It may not be as simple as 2/3 - 1/3, but she probably has a price for two kids and an increased price for three. Then you split the amount for two kids in half, and that's what you pay.
For example, nanny says she wants $20/hour to watch two kids and $25/hour for three kids. You should split the two-kid cost and pay $10/hr, while your neighbor pays $15.
Others may disagree, but I don't think splitting the full amount in half ($12.50 each) is fair to the person with one child, and for the person with one child to pay only the "third child" amount ($20/$5) is not fair to the person with two.
yes, something like this is reasonable. Bottom line is whatever you and neighbor agree to for what seems right.
And you can also negotiate about who hosts - meaning if you want some of the time to be spent in your house, so your own child gets that benefit, then you can negotiate that too. Although it can be easier if someone has a dedicated space that can be more effectively babyproofed and all that.
You also need to be on the same page in terms of how much time you want the nanny to take the kids on outings, whether any screen time will be allowed, what kind of food (all healthy and organic vs. it's ok if they eat Goldfish crackers, etc), crying it out for naps, vacation and sick time for the nanny and also what each family will do, holiday bonuses.
If you google "how to negotiate a nanny share" I'm sure there are lots of lists and other resources. I did not use a nanny share myself as my kid was always at a center when he was of an age to need childcare. But I know many families who have been very happy with them.
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