Nanny sharing with neighbour - do you think I'm mad?

[Sallypuss]

We're about to relocate to Cambridgeshire to a new housing development. I've been told by the developer that one of our neighbours has a nanny and could be interested in a nanny share (the developer's words not the neighbours).

Firstly, am I mad even considering making a 'cold' approach to my new neighbour who doesn't know me from Adam? Secondly, is nanny sharing with a neighbour too close for comfort if things go horribly wrong it may make for bad neighbourly relations.

All advice gratefully received.

Sal.

How many children do you have?
Why do you want to nanny share, rather than have a nanny of your own?
Are other childcare options not available... is a nanny what you really want... does it meet your childcare needs?

I think you may need a soft-softly approach at first... such as get to know your neighbour and the nanny concerned then inquire about the possibility of sharing. The other family may well not want to share their nanny... they may have lots of children and thus sharing a nanny many not be feasible give space in the home, car seats etc.

I would wonder how the developer knows that the other family are interested in sharing their nanny... do builders go round asking that sort of question? It may well be the case but how do you know for sure... don't feel you will know until you are there.

There are a lot of unknowns at the moment...
your children may not like their children
you may not like the other parents
you may not have the same views on raising children
you may not have the same views as to what the nannies duties should be
you may not like the nanny, they may not like you

Do you need childcare to start as soon as you move? If so, are you able to approach this family before hand, to see if what the developer says is true... if it is then can you arrange to visit quite often so that you all get to know each other a bit, while nanny is on duty... and also off duty (so that you and the other parents can discuss things you may not want the nanny being aware you are discussing).

Nannynick

Thanks for your response. I had one DD who is 12 months. we are relocating to Cambridgeshire and considering all childcare options at the moment - we visited two childminders last Friday (one good one not so good), looking at a nursery next week (I think DD is too young for a nursery but DH disagrees). My preference is for childcare in a home environment rather than a nursery and we couldn't afford a full-time nanny as DH is not working at the moment. We have a fabulous childminder where we currently live.

We don't need childcare to start right away as DH isn't working and so can look after DD so we do have some time on our side.

For the sake of brevity, in my OP I said it was the developer who'd told me about the neighbour's nanny it was actually the advisor in the developer's sales office who has got to know the neighbour quite well.

On balance I think it's best to get to know the neighbours first and then approach the neighbours to see if it's feasible.