- Share This Post
- submit
- 1
-
Sparkle (0)
Finding reliable babysitters has always been a tricky issue for parents, especially during tough economic times, when budgets are tight. I've been a stay-at-home or work-at-home mom the whole time I've been a parent, so I've never had to look for regular, daily childcare. But for finding occasional, hourly childcare help, I've had to get creative.
If you Google the phrase "find a sitter", you'll find more links than you know what to do with. Many of these sites have great reputations, but I'm still a fan of finding sitters the old-fashioned way: word of mouth. Over the years, when I've needed sitters, I generally turn first to my fellow mom-friends for suggestions and recommendations. They've seen the sitters in action and can often vouch for their reliability. But sitters hired by your friends may be already booked well in advance. Here are some other options to try:
Check your local colleges. Many colleges have career centers for helping students find part-time jobs; consider posting a listing with them. Or just post a notice in a student center or organization.
Talk to adults who work with kids. Know any high school teachers or youth ministers? They work with young people daily, and they might be able to offer some names of reliable kids interested in babysitting.
Get to know your neighbors! Many neighbors, whether young people or not, might be interested in some occasional part-time work.
(Of course, anytime you hire a sitter you don't know personally--and even if you do know them personally--it is ALWAYS important to ask for and check references. For safety's sake, this is not a place to cut corners.)
Once you find someone you feel you can trust, it's important to be clear about your expectations. Perhaps you can have a conference (in person or on the phone) before her first time to babysit for you. Let the sitter meet your kids, and discuss the specifics of the job. Lay some ground rules (in our family, those include leaving the house in the general condition you found it, never opening the door for anyone, and NOT using cell phones or iPods while caring for our kids).
The million-dollar question (no pun intended) is what to pay. It's been discussed at great length elsewhere (I've written about it on my own blog before, with wide-ranging responses). I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all question. There are many things to consider, including:
Where you live. Just like housing prices vary geographically, sitter rates will vary too.
The size of the job. I personally pay a "base rate", but I add onto for multiple children or more demanding responsibilities (such as a fixing a meal or handling bedtime).
The age and experience of the sitter. I think it's completely reasonable to expect to pay more for experience--most jobs work that way.
However you figure it, my best advice is to settle on amount ahead of time. Some sitters, especially teenagers, feel uncomfortable naming a price. In this situation, I try to put them at ease by asking one of their parents or simply offering them what I've paid in the past.
Most importantly, it bears repeating that we should be thorough and careful in hiring sitters. Our kids are our treasures, and we need to do what we must to find caregivers we can trust.
What about you? Have you found any other creative ways to find sitters or establish an hourly rate?
