Sharing a nanny with another family can be a great way to save money on child care. Such arrangements, however, have many pitfalls. For example, both sets of parents must agree on the nanny's pay and work hours, what discipline should be used, and more. Scheduling difficulties are common, and ending a nanny share can be complicated.

Here are three tips to help ensure successful nanny sharing.

1. Find a great family.

It is very important to find a family that is happy to share a nanny with you and that has values that are similar to yours. To find a good family, contact nanny placement agencies in your area. You can also speak with neighbors and post signs in local stores, schools, and churches.

Once you find a family that might be a good fit, invite them over for a meal or for a play date with your children. During the visit, discuss how the nanny share would ideally work. Be sure to address issues such as scheduling, time off, benefits, and pay raises. You can also discuss your personal philosophy towards raising children.

2. Find a great nanny.

If you have found a compatible family, the next step is to find a great nanny for the sharing arrangement. First, contact nanny placement agencies in your area. If there are none, or if they are too expensive, consider using an online service that places nannies. Lastly, you can post an ad in the classifieds of your local newspaper.

During your search, look for someone who has prior experience with a nanny share, which is more complicated that working for just one family. You also need to look for someone both you and the other family will be happy with. It may take a while to find the right person, so be patient.

3. Enter Into a Nanny Share Agreement

Once you have found a nanny, write a nanny share agreement for the other family and the nanny to sign. While a nanny share agreement is not legally required, it helps avoid disputes and other pitfalls that can arise with nanny care.

When writing the agreement, include the nanny's work schedule, wages, time off, and employment benefits. The nanny share agreement should also address taxes and, if the nanny will be driving the children, transportation. Lastly, the agreement should address how it can be ended, such as by one family giving the other family prior notice of one month. If you have trouble writing the nanny share agreement, contact a local employment attorney.

Susie Parker is a freelance journalist. She writes about nanny care and the opportunity of parents to put in place a good nanny contract to help ensure better care for their children.