Sharing a nanny: the day by day.

At last you're ready, you've finally found the family to share a nanny with and the nanny, the contracts are set. With all the organization in place you can finally take a breath!

Peacefulness yes, certainly, but we must do everything possible to make it last. For this, you'll need a little time, so you can make any necessary adjustments  which are completely normal in any new relationship.

Piecing together a friendly relationship with the other family.

It's obvious, the better the relationship between you and the other family, the more you will feel at ease in each other's presence leading to a better situation for the childcare. You should know that both families will interfere a little bit in the privacy of one another. After a few months, you'll know each other very well and have begun to bond.

It's also important for the children to see their parents enjoying each other's company from time to time for a  drink or dinner. You can take advantage of this moment to discuss the childcare and to manage little things that can be approved, by the families or the nanny.

Managing the difficulties of shared childcare

There are a bunch of little things that aren't easy to implement in the context of a nanny share.
Conflicts occur on specific topics that often have no connection with the nanny herself, but involving more balancing elements of the contract.
Here are some issues where difficulties may encounter families:

• Adherence to the schedule: What would they other family say if you always arrive late, after the nanny has already left? It's even worse if you don't come home on time and the other parent is obliged to watch the children in your home until you return.
  
  If work shift work or have unpredictable schedules, you should instead turn to a simple home nanny or home daycare provider.
• Household chores performed by the nanny: they should be equally divided amongst both families. Since her pay is divided in half by the two families, it's only natural that services are divided equally as well.

• The childrens' meals and snacks: it's an issue that creates conflicts when the two families don't have the same requirements in terms of food quality. Some may require organic food while others are going to be rather "white bread pb & j sandwiches." If this is the case, it's best that parents bring all meals for their children.