Private nanny vs. nanny share: Which is right for your family?

If you’re a new parent weighing child care options, sharing a nanny with another family can lower the cost. But the choice between a private nanny and a nanny share is about more than money. The best fit should support your baby’s unique developmental needs, too.

“In my experience, the question is less whether nanny shares are inherently appropriate for an infant and more whether the specific nanny share is well-designed, developmentally informed and adequately staffed for the ages and needs of the children involved,” explains Sarah Cain Spannagel, a licensed psychologist and clinical instructor in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and psychology at Case Western Reserve University. 

Here, experts walk through how each option works, what each costs and the key factors to weigh when you’re deciding between a private nanny and nanny share, including your baby’s temperament, your work schedule and how much coordination you’re willing to take on. 

What is a nanny share, and how does it work for an infant?

In a nanny share, two or more families hire one nanny and split the cost. There are two common setups, explains Tammy Gold, a therapist, coach and author of “Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer.” In the first, the nanny cares for all the children together, either alternating between homes or settling in one location. In the second, she splits her time; she might work, say, two and a half days at each family’s home, with the children not necessarily together.

Either way, nanny shares tend to start once kids are a bit older, not in the newborn phase. “For the newborn stage, I see less ‘nanny sharing’ because the babies tend to need so much one-to-one care those first few weeks,” Gold says. “But as the kids get older, nanny shares between families or friends are started.”

When setting up a nanny share for an infant, here’s a closer look at ways things differ between hiring a private nanny and a nanny share. 

• Ages matter. “Having a nanny share watch two toddlers is a plus as the toddlers may enjoy playing together but having two infants could be more challenging if both babies were to be needy,” Gold says.
• Newborns often need a different kind of support. Gold sees parents lean on private nannies or baby nurses in the immediate newborn phase. Baby nurses can provide round-the-clock care so parents can sleep, but they’re the most expensive option.
• Support for the nanny is essential. “Make sure if children are being watched at the same time, the nanny has enough support,” Gold says. “It’s very hard to watch several children at one time.” For example, equip both homes for multiple children, such as a double stroller, stocked and labeled supplies and childproofing for the combined ages.

Safety considerations become especially important with feeding, sleep practices, transportation, supervision and illness policies, Spannagel adds. “Families should discuss these issues in detail before entering a nanny share arrangement with an infant.”

What does hiring a private nanny for an infant look like?

A private nanny provides direct one-on-one care for your baby, including holding, feeding and laundry. “It provides a lot of support for the parents,” Gold says. You decide the details: how many hours, whether the nanny lives in or out, which days and times you need help and what duties you need covered.

You can hire a full-time nanny through an agency or on your own, notes Brian Daniel, founder of the domestic staffing agency The Celebrity PA Network based in Los Angeles. The choice depends on how much time and effort you want to invest. “When hiring a private nanny through an agency, you’re going to get turnkey, vetted candidates the same week you contact the agency,” Daniels says.

What does it cost? Private nanny vs. nanny share for a baby

The cost of a nanny share varies by region, but you can generally expect to pay about two-thirds of what you’d typically pay for a private nanny. According to Care.com’s 2026 Cost of Care Report, that means a nanny share could cost $290 less per week than a private nanny, which averages $870 per week for one family. 

Here’s a closer look at private nanny and nanny share estimates. 

The cost of a private nanny vs. a nanny share

	Private nanny cost*	Nanny share cost (per family)**
Per week	$870	$580
Per month	$3,770	$2,513
Per year	$45,240	$30,160

Think of these averages as a great starting point when comparing costs, but keep in mind that there are more factors that will affect the price of a nanny or nanny share, including:

• If you use an agency. If you don’t have a nanny yet and choose to find one through an agency, expect placement fees. You can split these fees in a nanny share setup, though.
• Where you live. Daniel says experienced, agency-placed full-time nannies in high-cost markets can run $60,000 to $120,000 a year.
• Hours and duties. Overnight, on-call and travel hours all come with a higher hourly rate, and the addition of extra household tasks can also increase how much a nanny charges. 
• Number of children. Nannies often charge more if they are watching both families’ kids at the same time, but not as much as private nanny rates, Gold says.
• Extra employee expenses. Nanny taxes apply once you pay a nanny more than $3,000 in a calendar year, according to federal law, plus you should plan for possible payroll services, background checks and raises. Families in a share typically split these expenses.

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Is a nanny share safe and appropriate for a very young baby?

It can be. “When thoughtfully structured, nanny shares can be both developmentally appropriate and safe for infants,” Spannagel says. “They often provide a middle ground between individual nanny care and traditional group child care.”

Developmentally, nanny shares can also offer infants early opportunities to observe and interact with peers while still maintaining a small caregiver-to-child ratio. Many families Spannagel has worked with appreciate the balance of social exposure and personalized attention.

Since caring for multiple infants at once requires skill, organization and an understanding of infant development, she recommends parents settle the following details with both your nanny and partner family before starting.

• Feeding.
• Sleep practices.
• Transportation.
• Supervision.
• Illness policies.

“The success of a nanny share depends heavily on the caregiver’s experience, the number and ages of children involved and realistic expectations from parents,” Spannagel says. 

Full-time nanny vs. nanny share: A side-by-side comparison

The biggest perk of hiring a private nanny is direct one-to-one care for the infant, including everything from regular snuggles to diaper changes. “It provides a lot of support for the parents,” Gold says. The biggest con? The price tag, which simply isn’t feasible for many families.

“When my children were little, I knew a private nanny simply wasn’t financially realistic at $3000 a month,” says mom of three Elena Czarnowski, who lives in San Diego. “So I chose a more flexible, shared approach. By combining a nanny share with my mother’s help and my own flexible schedule, I could piece together the care we needed without paying for full-time private child care.”

Czarnowski found that flexibility worked for her family. She pieced together a nanny share, help from her mother and occasional teen sitters. “The biggest advantage was financial flexibility,” she says. “The trade-off? More coordination, scheduling and backup planning.”

“Children can thrive in many different child care arrangements. Rather than focusing on finding the single ‘best’ option, families are often better served by identifying the arrangement that provides consistent, responsive caregiving and fits their child’s temperament and their family’s needs at this time in their family’s journey.”

— Sarah Cain Spannagel, a licensed psychologist

How do you know which option is right for your family?

Gold says the best way to decide between a private nanny or nanny share for an infant is to consider your personal priorities and core needs first. Here’s a simple framework to help determine which option is right for your family.

Key factors in deciding between a private nanny and a nanny share

Priority	Leans toward private nanny	Leans toward nanny share
Baby’s needs	Newborn or needing lots of one-on-one care	Easygoing baby, or has a peer at a similar stage
Budget	Comfortable spending a minimum of around $45,000 a year on child care	Comfortable spending a minimum of around $30,000 a year on child care
Control	You want to set strict nap times, feeding schedules and daily routines.	You can bend on some routines depending on the situation.
Schedule	Unpredictable hours or frequent travel	Predictable hours compatible with another family
Coordination	You’d rather keep logistics as  simple as possible and rely only on your own needs.	You’re willing to plan and communicate frequently with another family.
Socialization	Not a priority yet, or other socialization options exist	You value early peer exposure at your child’s age
Hiring	You want vetted candidates fast.	You’re OK doing the legwork.

How do you find a nanny share partner?

Agencies don’t typically handle nanny shares, so you’ll need to find and vet candidates yourself. “You need to start contacting people you know — and ones you don’t if you come up empty-handed — and hope that they are willing to participate,” Daniel says. 

It’s a lot of legwork, but here are some expert tips that can help.

• Start with people you know. Reach out to neighbors, friends and local parent groups.
• Talk through core needs first. Hours, budget, location and what the nanny can safely handle for both families.
• Check your fit. Our guide to finding the right share family can help.
• Start small. Try a trial period before you commit fully to a nanny share arrangement.
• Set yourself up for success. Follow these steps to set up a nanny share.

A final word on deciding between a private nanny vs. nanny share for your baby

A private nanny comes with a higher price tag than a nanny share, but less coordination and more one-on-one care for your child. A nanny share, on the other hand, can be just as safe and supportive for infants at about two-thirds the price, but it requires more legwork for parents. 

Experts recommend that parents make the call by assessing personal priorities and their child’s current developmental needs above all, as well as their child care budget. And if your priorities fall on both sides of the line for what a nanny vs. nanny share arrangement can provide? That’s normal and not something to stress, Spannagel says. 

“Children can thrive in many different child care arrangements,” Spannagel says. “Rather than focusing on finding the single ‘best’ option, families are often better served by identifying the arrangement that provides consistent, responsive caregiving and fits their child’s temperament and their family’s needs at this time in their family’s journey.”