Interested in Sharing a Nanny?

If you are interested in having a nanny care for your children but are reluctant due to the expense, you might consider sharing a nanny with another Northwestern family. The Office of Work/Life Resources is helping families to network so they might explore this creative child care arrangement.

To create a successful shared arrangement, participants would need to first find a compatible family and then together negotiate an agreement with a caregiver to ensure that everyone's needs are met.

Step 1 - Join the List

Please send an e-mail to la-henderson@northwestern.edu that includes the following information:

• your name
• position ( faculty, staff, student)
• department
• phone number
  - alternate number
• email address
• child's date of birth
• location preference, i.e. care provided in my home or another's home
• near which campus (Evanston, Chicago or in between)
• full-day or part-day care
• five days a week or part of the week
• date you need care to begin
• other preferences
  

Step 2 - Find a Family

After responding to the items above, you will receive a list of nanny share participants. Contact families whom you feel would be a good match for you.

Some helpful tips:
Before you consider partnering with another family, first take time to reflect on your expectations.

• Define qualifications for your nanny.
• Outline the duties you expect your nanny to perform and benefits (vacation, personal time).
• Determine the hours and days you will need care.
• Decide the maximum amount you can budget for care.

After, you've defined your ideal nanny, the next step is to find a family that shares your child care philosophy and has compatible needs. You might begin with a phone conversation to determine compatible schedules and later arrange a lengthier meeting to discuss your ideal nanny share arrangement.  Compile a list  of  discussion items such as:

• Location care will be provided 
• Covering daily household expenses, food, etc.
• Pets in the home
• Baby proofing, safety precautions
• Transporting children, excursions
• Family and caregiver vacations
• When one of the children is ill
• Discipline/teaching philosophy
• Daily schedule of activities, restricted activities, i.e. television
• Smoking/non-smoking home

Step 3 - Find a Nanny

• Contact our resource and referral service to help you find a nanny placement agency. The service also can provide you with literature to guide you through the process of hiring and managing expectation of your in home caregiver. Call 312-823-1275.
• Get a free Sittercity account by following the prompts in HRIS Self Service.

Step 4 - Removal from the List

If you find a nanny share arrangement, please send and email to la-henderson@northwestern.edu so your name can be removed from the nannyshare list.