Hiring a nanny has advantages and disadvantages, as we have discussed.  Hiring a live-in nanny adds an entirely new of pros and cons.

Pros:

• Convenience
• Flexibility
• Nanny won’t “miss the bus” or get stuck in traffic
• Evening “babysitter” (on occasion, usually if you swap hours or pay overtime)
• Less expensive (because you’re providing room and board)

Cons:

• Lack of space (challenges if you have a smaller home)
• Giving up privacy
• Nanny can’t “leave work behind”
• Personal issues
• Figuring out who disciplines the child when parents and the nanny are home
• Kids might play favorites (“Mom, I want the nanny to put me to bed”!)

Weigh the pros and cons before you make the leap.  Discuss them thoroughly with your family.  And make a decision that’s right for you and your children.