Once you’ve decided to start a nanny share, it’s important to know which family will be hosting. Whether it’s full-time or you’re alternating homes with another family, hosting can allow you to get the most out of your share while splitting the cost of a private nanny.
If you decide to host a nanny share at your home, you’ll enjoy conveniences like avoiding the morning rush and having some extra help around the house. If you work from home, hosting means you can keep nursing, and you’ll have the assurance of being there in case of an emergency.
When it comes to providing a safe and comfortable space for your nanny share, the bulk of responsibility falls on the host family. Care.com asked a group of real parents what they looked for when deciding where to host their nanny share.
Need more help? Learn more about how to set up a nanny share with another family.
Potential Deal-Breakers
Crystal, a mom from Virginia, has participated in two shares with split hosting duties. She stressed the importance of doing an initial walk-through.
“We wanted to know how much space there was for play and activities, and whether there was any nearby outdoor space,” she said. “We also didn’t want guns in the house or a swimming pool, since these tend to be major hazards for children.”
Crystal called her county’s child development department and found nanny shares are license-exempt in her area. While this is generally the case in most areas, certain states like Maryland and Washington may require a child care license for two or more unrelated children being cared for inside the home (similar to an in-home day care).
Other potential deal-breakers include:
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Not Enough Space: Does your home have separate sleeping areas for the children and enough room for them to play? If you work from home, are there designated spaces for work and play?
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Not Childproofed: Is your home childproofed for all children involved, if they’re of different ages/abilities?
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Not Accessible: Do you live in a walk-up apartment with no elevator access? Is there parking for drop-offs/pickups and the nanny’s vehicle?
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Not Comfortable With Pets: Do you have pets or other residents the partner family may not be OK with?
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Not Licensed: Did you check if nanny shares require a child care license in your area?
Other Considerations
Even if your home is host-friendly, your priorities may not be. Here are some other things to consider before you decide to host:
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Household Expenses: Consider higher utilities and potential cleaning costs.
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Extra Stuff: Another child means more toys and more wear and tear on your belongings. You may also need to purchase extra food and gear, like a double stroller, portable crib, high chair, or car seat base.
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Sharing Your Space: Schedules don’t always align, so the share may be in your home earlier or later than desired.
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Vacations/Illnesses: It may not be a fit if you go on vacation a lot, or if your child gets sick and the other family is unable to host the nanny in their home.
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Cost Sharing: For the above considerations, determine whether the share will split expenses 50/50. Also, discuss the nanny’s compensation for single-child overtime, sickness, or if a family goes on vacation.
Crystal also said she recommends looking into getting extra liability coverage through the host’s homeowner’s insurance and a workers’ comp policy to cover any work-related injuries the nanny might experience. (Read more about the four kinds of nanny insurance you may need.)
“Liability for accidents does fall harder on the person hosting at the time,” she said. “That’s why I recommended extra insurance, which is not expensive and probably a good idea anyway. It will give you extra protection from lawsuits. This would still be true if you were hiring a nanny without a nanny share.”
She also recommended both families do their research when it comes to nanny share payroll and tax considerations.
“If you are sharing a nanny, each family is an independent employer and must file household employer taxes separately,” she said. “Avoid situations where one family is calculating and paying the taxes and you merely reimburse them.”
Jennifer, a nanny share mom from San Francisco, said both families should think through their hosting needs and preferences early on, putting all expectations in writing.
Two contracts are recommended: one for families and the nanny, and another between families to cover items like hosting expectations, handling expenses, time off, scheduling, and pay, so all factors that come into setting up a nanny share in your home are clearly defined.
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The information contained in this article is provided only as a general guide and is not intended to be nor should it be construed to contain legal, medical or financial advice. The selection of a caregiver and terms of any caregiving arrangement are solely the responsibility of the individuals involved and not Care.com
