Nanny Share in South Africa: How It Works, Costs and Contracts
A nanny share lets two families split the cost of one carer. If a full-time nanny is out of reach for one household, or you've seen the crèche ratios and waitlists in your area, this is often the next option people try. Usually someone suggests it in a WhatsApp group or at the school gate.
Most guides online are written for American parents, with dollar figures and US state rules. This one is for South African families. It covers Rand cost splits, the BCEA and UIF, load-shedding and lifts, and a contract checklist you can adapt.
What is a nanny share (and how is it different in South Africa)?
A nanny share is when two (occasionally three) families jointly employ one nanny or au pair to care for their children together, usually in one family's home. The nanny earns more than a single-family rate, and each family pays less than it would to hire a nanny alone.
In South Africa, "au pair" usually means a local, often qualified childminder. It isn't the visa-based cultural exchange you see overseas. So "shared au pair" and "nanny share" mean the same thing here, and this guide uses both.
There are two main models:
- Simultaneous share: all the children are cared for together, at the same time, in one host home. This is the classic setup.
- Split-week share: the nanny works for Family A on some days and Family B on others, for example Monday to Wednesday and then Thursday to Friday. Seattle Nanny describes this as the less common but workable alternative.
A nanny share is not a crèche. The families employ the nanny directly, so the families also carry the responsibilities of an employer. A centre does that for you at a crèche.
How does a nanny share work day to day?
A typical day
A simultaneous share often looks something like this:
- Drop-off: Family B drops their toddler at Family A's home on the way to work.
- Morning: breakfast, play, maybe a walk or a visit to a nearby park.
- Midday: lunch, then naps, staggered if needed.
- Afternoon: snacks, quiet play and an outing if naps allow.
- Collection: Family B collects, and the nanny gives both families a quick handover on meals, naps, nappies and mood.
Choosing the host home
You can have a fixed host, where one home is used every day, or a rotating host, such as alternating weeks. A fixed host is simpler for routines and kit. A rotating host shares the wear and tear and the utility costs.
Whichever you choose, check the host home for:
- Space for two cots or camp cots, and a quiet spot for naps
- Pool fencing or a safety net, secure gates, an alarm and panic buttons
- Who supplies cots, high chairs, car seats and nappy-changing gear. The non-host family usually sends a basic kit.
Transport and lifts
If the nanny will drive, agree on these points upfront:
- A valid driver's licence and a clear agreement on whose car is used
- A properly fitted car seat for every child in that car
- How petrol is reimbursed, either per kilometre or as a fixed monthly amount
- Playschool or school runs and whether the timings actually work with two children
Families with similar routines in nearby suburbs make the best matches. Smart Sitting makes the same point about lifts and car seats.
South African specifics
- Load-shedding plan: decide what happens to naps, bottles and meals during outages. Agree whether the host home has backup power, or whether the nanny preps meals and warm water in advance.
- Walking safety: agree which parks or routes are fine for walks, and whether the nanny should stay inside the complex or estate.
Best age combinations
Shares work best when the children are close in age, ideally within about 0 to 18 months of each other. Starling Agency recommends ages between 6 months and 5 years.
The most common source of friction is nap clashes. If one child sleeps from 11:00 to 14:00 and the other only goes down at 13:30, the nanny can be stuck indoors for most of the day. Compare routines before you commit, and think about how they'll change over the next six to twelve months.
Nanny share cost in South Africa: who pays what
The basic principle is that the nanny earns more than a single-family rate, while each family pays less than it would for a solo nanny. Looking after two children for two employers is more work, and the pay should reflect that.
There's no official premium in South Africa. You agree it between the families and the nanny. The examples below use illustrative round numbers only. Set your real base rate with our au pair salary calculator, which accounts for province, hours, experience, licence and live-in or live-out.
Worked example: simultaneous share
Assumption: a solo full-time live-out rate of R6,000 a month, with a 30% share premium.
| Scenario | Nanny earns | Family A pays | Family B pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo nanny (one family, one child) | R6,000 | R6,000 | – |
| Share, 50/50 split (one child each) | R7,800 | R3,900 | R3,900 |
| Share, split per child (A: 1 child, B: 2 children, 40% premium) | R8,400 | R2,800 | R5,600 |
In the 50/50 example, each family pays 65% of what a solo nanny would cost, and the nanny earns R1,800 more.
Worked example: split-week share
Assumption: the nanny works five days and is paid R6,000 a month in total.
| Days | Share of pay | Monthly amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family A | Mon–Wed | 60% | R3,600 |
| Family B | Thu–Fri | 40% | R2,400 |
Some families add a small premium in split-week shares too, because the nanny is managing two employers and two households.
Other costs to split
- Food, formula, nappies, wipes and outing costs
- Extra electricity, gas or data used at the host home
- Petrol or lift reimbursements
- UIF contributions (see the legal section)
- Any annual bonus or 13th cheque, which you should agree in writing upfront
Host-home offset: the host family carries extra wear, utilities and inconvenience. A common fix is for the non-host family to pay slightly more each month, or to cover a fixed utilities contribution.
Comparison: your childcare options
| Nanny share | Solo nanny | Crèche or daycare | Agency-placed nanny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing cost per family | Lower than solo | Highest | Varies widely by area and centre | Same salary as solo or share |
| Placement fee | None if you find them yourself | None if you find them yourself | Registration fees at some centres | R3,000–R8,000+ per family |
| Child-to-carer ratio | Very low (usually 2:1) | 1:1 | Higher, set by the centre | Depends on setup |
| Flexibility | High, by agreement | Highest | Fixed hours and closures | High |
| Admin | Shared between two families | All yours | Minimal | Some, plus agency terms |
If you find your nanny through a direct matching platform, there's no placement fee. Our pricing is a once-off R249 for 7 days or R449 for 30 days, and two families can split it.
Whether a share is cheaper than crèche depends on your area and the centre. A share usually costs more per month than a budget crèche, but often comes close to premium daycare, with a far lower ratio.
How much should a nanny or shared au pair earn?
Monthly pay in South Africa varies a lot by province, city, hours, experience and whether the nanny lives in or out. A qualified, driving au pair in Sandton will earn differently from an entry-level nanny in a smaller town. The salary calculator gives you a realistic local figure rather than a national guess.
The legal floor: domestic workers are covered by the National Minimum Wage at the full rate. The rate is reviewed every year. Check the current hourly figure and its effective date on the Department of Employment and Labour's website before you set pay. In a share, the hours worked count for minimum-wage purposes regardless of how many families pay.
Factors that push the rate up in a share:
- More children, especially babies under one
- Driving and lifts
- Qualifications such as first aid or ECD training
- Extra duties like children's laundry, meal prep or homework help
You may have seen headlines about what celebrities like Kim Kardashian pay their nannies. Those figures are unverified and have nothing to do with the South African market. What matters for you is a fair local rate that sits above the legal minimum.
Legal side: employing a shared nanny under SA labour law
Who is the employer?
Option A: each family is a separate employer for its portion of hours or pay.
- Pros: responsibility is clear, each family handles its own UIF, and the split is clean if the share ends.
- Cons: there's double the admin, and the nanny has two payslips and two contracts to keep track of.
Option B: one family is the employer of record, and the other family reimburses its share.
- Pros: there's one contract and one payslip, which is simpler for the nanny.
- Cons: the employer family carries the full legal risk, including leave, UIF, any CCMA dispute and severance, even if the other family stops paying.
- Risk: without a solid family agreement, the employer family can end up out of pocket.
Many families choose Option A for fairness, or Option B with a detailed reimbursement agreement. Whichever you choose, write it down.
BCEA basics that apply
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the domestic worker rules cover:
- Maximum ordinary working hours, and overtime paid at a premium rate
- Annual leave, sick leave and family responsibility leave
- Public holidays, including pay when the nanny works one
- Minimum notice periods, which increase with length of service
Our resources and guides include labour law and UIF guidance with the details.
UIF
Employers must register with UIF if a worker is employed for more than 24 hours a month. Contributions are 1% from the employer and 1% from the employee, based on the pay each employer gives.
In a share, the threshold applies per employer. Under Option A, each family that employs the nanny for more than 24 hours a month registers and contributes on its own portion. Under Option B, the employer of record registers and contributes on the full salary.
COIDA
Domestic workers are covered for workplace injuries and illness under COIDA, so families should register with the Compensation Fund. This matters most for the host home, because that's where most accidents would happen.
Children's Act
If a home cares for more than six children who aren't the carer's own, it may count as a partial care facility that must be registered. Keep shares small, and that won't apply.
POPIA
Get written consent from the nanny before using nanny cams or CCTV. Agree between families how photos, medical information and personal details are shared, and who can post pictures of the children on social media.
Nanny share contract: what to include
You do need a contract. In fact, you need two documents:
- An employment contract with the nanny that complies with the BCEA. Start from the contract template in our resources.
- A family-to-family agreement between the parents.
Employment contract checklist
| Item | What to cover |
|---|---|
| Duties | Childcare tasks, any household duties, driving |
| Hours | Days, start and finish times, the host home address |
| Pay | Monthly amount, pay date, who pays what |
| Overtime | Rate and how it's approved |
| Leave | Annual, sick and family responsibility leave, and how leave dates are agreed with both families |
| Probation | Length and review process |
| Notice | Periods for both sides |
| UIF | Who registers and contributes |
| Confidentiality | Family information, photos, social media |
Family agreement checklist
| Item | What to agree |
|---|---|
| Cost split | Percentages, payment method, due date |
| Host home | Location, utilities offset, kit supplied by each family |
| Sick-child policy | Are contagious children kept home? Does the share continue? |
| Holidays and absences | Pay continues in full when one family is away or a child is absent |
| Parenting alignment | Discipline, screen time, food rules, sugar, outings |
| Transport | Whose car, car seats, petrol |
| Exit clause | Notice between families, who keeps the nanny, how severance and leave pay are split |
| Conflict process | Monthly check-in with all parents and the nanny, plus one point of contact for day-to-day decisions |
The holiday rule causes the most arguments. The nanny's income can't drop just because one family goes to the coast for two weeks. Agree on that before day one.
Pros and cons of a nanny share
Pros
- Lower cost per family than a solo nanny
- A very low child-to-carer ratio
- Built-in socialisation and a "sibling" playmate
- More flexible hours than crèche
- Fewer illness exposures than group care
- Higher pay for the nanny
Cons
- You depend on another family's plans, such as a move, a new baby or a job change
- Scheduling and nap clashes
- Harder holiday planning
- More admin and more conversations
- A heavier workload for the nanny
Is a nanny share right for you?
A share is probably a good fit if you can say yes to most of these:
- We know a family nearby with a child close in age.
- Our parenting styles are broadly compatible.
- Our work hours roughly overlap.
- We're comfortable having honest conversations about money.
- We can plan for a year or more, not just a few months.
- We're willing to handle employer admin properly.
How to find a share family and a shared au pair
Find a partner family first
Start with:
- Neighbours and your estate or complex WhatsApp groups
- School or playschool parent groups
- Antenatal and baby classes
- Workplace parent networks
Before committing, ask each other about: parenting style, daily schedules, location and travel time, budget, and long-term plans such as moving, another baby or switching to crèche at age three.
Then find the nanny together
On AuPairly, you can browse au pairs by province and town and message them directly. Look for profiles that mention experience with two or more children or with infants. Every profile is manually reviewed before it goes live. Optional verification badges cover ID, references, first aid and qualifications, which helps with vetting.
Cost tip: one family buys the 30-Day Access for R449 once-off, with no auto-renewal, and you do the shortlisting together. That compares with R3,000–R8,000+ per family in agency fees. Babysitting on demand, from R49, can cover gaps when your shared nanny is on leave.
Interview jointly, then do a paid trial week. Questions that are specific to shares include:
- "How would you handle both children needing you at the same moment?"
- "How do you manage instructions from two sets of parents that don't match?"
- "What's your approach to nap and feeding schedules for two children?"
- "What would you do during load-shedding with a baby and a toddler?"
Can I get paid to watch my own child?
There's no South African state payment for caring for your own child.
There is a common informal model, though. A stay-at-home parent cares for another family's child alongside their own and is paid for it. This is essentially a host-parent nanny share. Put clear written terms in place covering hours, pay, illness, holidays and notice. Remember the Children's Act threshold too: more than six children may need registration as a partial care facility.
Frequently asked questions
How does a nanny share work with two families? Both families employ one nanny who cares for their children together, usually at one host home, or on alternate days in a split-week share. The families agree on a cost split, a host home, parenting rules and an exit plan. They sign an employment contract with the nanny and a separate agreement with each other.
How do you split the cost of a nanny share? The most common split is 50/50 when each family has one child. Families with more children, or more hours, usually pay proportionally more. Split shared expenses like food, supplies and petrol the same way. The non-host family often pays a little extra to cover the host's utilities and wear and tear.
Whose house should the nanny share be at? Choose the home with the most space, the best safety features, such as pool fencing, secure gates and an alarm, and the easiest location for both families. A fixed host keeps routines simple. Rotating hosts spreads the costs. Either way, agree on a utilities offset and who supplies the cots, high chairs and car seats.
What happens if one family goes on holiday or a child is sick? The nanny's pay should continue in full. She shouldn't lose income because of a family's plans. Agree in writing whether contagious children stay home, and whether the share continues for the other child when one is absent. Plan family holidays to overlap with the nanny's annual leave where possible.
How many children can a nanny legally look after at home in South Africa? Under the Children's Act, caring for more than six children may make the arrangement a partial care facility that needs registration. Most nanny shares involve two or three children, well below that. For safety and quality of care, smaller is better, especially with babies.
Can I share an au pair in South Africa? Yes. Because South African au pairs are local childminders rather than visa-based exchange participants, sharing one works exactly like a nanny share. Agree on employer responsibilities, UIF and contracts in the same way, and look for au pairs with experience of caring for more than one child.
How do I end a nanny share fairly? Follow the exit clause in your family agreement. Give the agreed notice to the other family and the nanny, decide whether either family keeps her, and split notice pay, outstanding leave pay and any severance in line with each family's share. Ending on good terms protects the nanny and the friendship.
Getting started
- Agree terms with a partner family: cost split, host home, holidays, and an exit plan in writing.
- Set a fair wage: use the salary calculator and check that it's above the current minimum wage.
- Find and vet a shared au pair: interview together and run a paid trial week.
When you're ready, browse reviewed au pairs in your province on AuPairly. Au pairs join for free, and families pay once, with no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is a nanny share?
A nanny share is when two (occasionally three) families jointly employ one nanny or au pair to care for their children together, usually in one family's home. The nanny earns more than a single-family rate, and each family pays less than it would to hire a nanny alone.
How much does a nanny earn in a nanny share in South Africa?
Pay varies by province, city, hours, experience and whether the nanny lives in or out, and there is no official share premium. In an illustrative example, a R6,000 solo rate with a 30% premium gives the nanny R7,800 while each family pays R3,900. Pay must always sit above the current National Minimum Wage.
How much does Kim Kardashian pay her nannies?
Headlines about celebrity nanny pay, including Kim Kardashian's, are unverified and have nothing to do with the South African market. What matters is a fair local rate that sits above the legal minimum wage.
Do both families need to register for UIF in a nanny share?
The UIF threshold of more than 24 hours a month applies per employer. If each family is a separate employer, each registers and contributes 1% on its own portion; if one family is the employer of record, that family registers and contributes on the full salary.