Two families. One exceptional nanny. A part-time nanny gives your child personalized care and social interaction — at a fraction of the individual cost. Here's everything you need to know before getting started.
We source the nanny — not your share partner. Cherry Creek Nanny Agency places the right nanny for your share arrangement. Finding your co-family is your responsibility. We'll guide you on what to look for once you have a partner in mind.
A part-time nanny has more moving parts than a standard placement — here's exactly what we handle, and what you'll need to bring to us ready.
Before applying, you'll need a second family who's interested in sharing. Think: neighbors, friends from prenatal class, families from your daycare, parent Facebook groups, or Nextdoor. We don't source or match co-families.
Your responsibilityOnce you've identified your share partner, both families reach out to us. We'll schedule a consultation to understand the combined schedule, children's ages, care needs, and shared expectations.
We take over hereWe find, screen, and hand-select candidates who have the experience and temperament to thrive in a multi-family setting — a unique skill that not every nanny has.
We handle thisBoth families interview and trial the nanny together. We help coordinate logistics, facilitate the work agreement, and assist with negotiating a fair rate for the arrangement.
We coordinateOnce your nanny starts, both families pay her directly. We remain available for support, questions, and to help navigate any challenges that come up between families or with the nanny.
We stay availableNot every part-time nanny works out — the ones that do have a few things in common. Here's our honest guide to what makes a great pairing:
Families should live reasonably close to each other — ideally within the same Denver neighborhood. This makes logistics manageable and reduces nanny commute strain between homes.
Children of the same or similar age (within ~12–18 months) tend to have compatible sleep, feeding, and activity needs — making the nanny's job far more manageable.
Both families should need care on the same days and similar hours. Mismatched schedules are one of the most common reasons part-time nannys fall apart.
The two families need to be able to communicate honestly about scheduling changes, concerns about the nanny, and any shifts in childcare needs over time.
You don't have to agree on everything — but major differences in discipline, screen time rules, diet, or sleep approach can create tension for your nanny and friction between families.
Both families should agree on the nanny's hourly rate before applying. Unexpected budget disagreements after placement can unravel an otherwise great arrangement.
A newborn and a toddler, or an infant and a 4-year-old, create significantly different care demands. This can work, but requires a nanny with specific multi-age experience.
If one family's schedule changes frequently while the other's is fixed, it creates friction. Flexibility and advance notice are key to keeping the arrangement smooth.
Since we don't source co-families, here are the best places Denver parents typically find their share partners — plus what to vet before you both apply.
Friends, coworkers, neighbors, or parents from your prenatal class, pediatric waiting room, or baby music class. People you already trust and whose kids your child has already met.
Facebook groups like "Denver Moms," neighborhood Nextdoor threads, or local parenting forums. Post clearly: ages of your children, neighborhood, schedule needs, and that you're looking for a share partner.
Ask your pediatrician's office, daycare, or parent-and-me class if they know families in similar situations. Some daycares even have bulletin boards for share arrangements.
Families who live nearby are ideal for shares. Proximity makes rotating between homes easier and reduces commute time for your nanny — which matters for retention.
Before both families apply with us, align on: nanny budget (hourly rate), schedule & days needed, discipline philosophy, screen time rules, rotating vs. fixed location, and how to handle sick days.
We recommend families create a simple written understanding covering how to handle schedule changes, who the nanny works for if one family exits, and how costs are divided — before we begin the search.
A part-time nanny costs more per hour per family than a solo nanny would earn — because the nanny is caring for two children — but it's significantly less than hiring a dedicated nanny for each family.
The nanny earns more because she's caring for two children — standard industry practice. Each family pays less than they would for a solo nanny, while the nanny is fairly compensated for the added complexity.
A nanny in a share typically earns about 2/3 more than her solo rate — paid jointly by both families. Example: a nanny who earns $30/hr solo earns $40/hr in a share ($30 ÷ ⅔ = $40 total). Each family contributes half: $20/hr each. Both families save compared to hiring solo.
Whether the share rotates between homes or happens at one location affects logistics and nanny compensation. Nannies who commute between homes typically expect a slightly higher rate.
Each family enters into a separate placement agreement with our agency and a separate employment agreement with the nanny. Placement fees, replacement coverage, and guarantees apply independently to each family. Both families also complete their own parent application before we begin the search.
Decide in advance how both families handle days when one family's child is sick or their schedule changes. This is one of the most common sources of tension in shares — sort it out before you start.
If you're drawn to the idea of a part-time nanny because you want your child to have a playmate and you want to save on cost — there's another arrangement that achieves both goals without the complexity of coordinating two separate families.
Typical savings of $5/hr compared to a solo nanny placement. Lower cost than a part-time nanny too, without the coordination complexity.
Your child gets the social interaction of having another child around — one of the key benefits families seek from a part-time nanny — without the logistics of a second family.
No co-family to coordinate with, no separate work agreements, no shared schedules. You sign one placement agreement with our agency and one employment agreement with the nanny — clean and simple.
The nanny's primary professional responsibility is your child's care. Set clear expectations about boundaries, discipline alignment, and what happens if the nanny's child is sick. We help facilitate these conversations during placement.
Nannies who bring their own child are a smaller pool than the general nanny market — but for families who are open to it, it's a genuine win-win. Let us know during your consultation if this is something you'd consider and we'll include these candidates in our search.
| Standard Nanny | Nanny w/ Own Child ⭐ | Part-Time Nanny | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly cost to family | $25–$35/hr | ~$5/hr less than standard | ~$18–$22/hr per family |
| Child has a playmate | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Need to find a co-family | — | ✕ Not needed | ✓ Required |
| Number of agreements | 1 | 1 (simple) | 2 per family |
| Coordination complexity | Low | Low | Higher |
Once you and your co-family are aligned, we're ready to do what we do best — find you the perfect nanny for your shared arrangement. Book a free consultation and we'll walk you both through everything.
Cherry Creek Nanny Agency places families in Denver, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Nashville, and Charlotte — with the same vetted, personalized approach in every market.