With parents heading back into the office and several daycares reducing their usual capacity, many families are actively searching for cost-effective childcare alternatives. Nannies and nanny shares are popular choices. However, hiring someone to come into your home, spend hours with your children, and even share in their upbringing, all while navigating COVID-19 concerns, is a daunting task. In the case of a nanny share, working out an arrangement with another family is also challenging. Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers the following tips to help make your search for a nanny as smooth as possible.
Hiring a Nanny
- Get clear on your needs. Do you need a live-in nanny? Would you like your nanny to work part-time or full-time? Do you need them to be available at night? Will they focus exclusively on childcare, or are you looking for someone to cook and clean, too? Answering these questions up front will make your job offer much clearer and save you a lot of time when you start interviewing candidates.
- Consider your budget. Live-in nannies are much cheaper to employ, but will need a private space in your home and will essentially become a part of the family. Ask yourself if this option is feasible and comfortable for you and your household. If not, be prepared to pay a little more for a nanny that comes as needed.
- Research legal requirements. A nanny will become your employee and should be compensated as such. Review the provincial guidelines for details like payment, time off for vacation and sick days, taxation and workers’ insurance.
Setting Up a Nanny Share
- Nanny shares are also rising in popularity these days. The idea is that one nanny cares for the children of two or three families. The nanny gets paid a premium, but the families share the cost. Parents considering nanny shares should be ready to follow all of the above mentioned tips, plus a few extras.
- Find the other family first. Finding a compatible family is often harder than finding a nanny willing to participate in a nanny share. Look for a family with children in the same age group as yours, and make sure your children get along. Even more importantly, make sure the other family shares your family’s ideas and moral values when it comes to matters like discipline, education, and play time. You will also need to determine whether you agree on how to compensate the nanny, as well as the best approach to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Discuss shared expenses and responsibilities. It is important to discuss shared expenses such as snacks, meals, art and craft supplies, and any schoolwork materials with the other family. Who will keep track of the expenses, and how will they be divided between the two families? Where will the children be cared for? Who will drop off and pick up the children if needed? Getting clear on the answers will prevent problems down the line. It is also a good idea to include these details in the contract, in order to give all parties legal protection.
For more consumer tips, visit bbb.org.
