Setting up a nannyshare: better to find a nanny ourselves first or try and find a share-ee?

[peapod2010]

Sadly the other family we were planning to start sharing a nanny with in January have dropped out- just as we were about to start the search . I have just been doing a load of sums (based on some v. good information from other threads in this topic) and reckon we can just about afford to go it alone if we have to, but a share would make it much more comfortable.

So, my question, for anyone who has shared a nanny or worked in a nanny share, is: should we go ahead and recruit a nanny on our own (obviously being open that we hope to convert to a share situation), or try and find another family before starting the search? If the latter, where do we look? I've looked at nannyshare.co.uk but we live in Bedfordshire and the number of families registered is so low I don't think there's any point registering ourselves.

In case it helps, what we need is a full time nanny for our 9 month old DD, and we would consider a live in or live out arrangement. Even a sharer for a small part of each week would help us financially.

Any advice gratefully received.

I would find a nanny first, since you can afford to do this (to start with) letting her/him know that you're going to be looking for a nannyshare, because not all nannies are open to it. I feel it's massively easier to have your nanny there already & then to look for nannyshare arrangements.

Personally I would be happy & would find it easier to go part-time into a nannyshare if the family already had the nanny employed etc, and we could come to a flexible arrangement.

But I haven't actually done a nannyshare, even though I tried at some point, so those who have will advise you better.

What you need to know (which you probably know already) is that arranging a successful nannyshare can take lots of time & needs lots of luck too!

We're looking at a nanny share, but because of the difficulties of getting people to commit and getting the arrangements right for everyone, we're starting out as a sole-employer and we'll bring in another family if it works out. Sadly, we're in Bristol, so no use to you!

Thanks- you're pretty much confirming my suspicions. Going it alone, at least at the start, seems a lot more feasible.