Online Resources Signal Evolution of Finding a Babysitter

Over the past few decades, the methods used to find babysitters have changed dramatically. Parents used to turn to local high school students or friendly neighborhood adults to watch their children when they had something that they needed to do. Now, with all of the horror stories in the news about the things that untrustworthy individuals have done to the children of others, many parents are seeking a more comprehensive method of choosing the people to whom they are entrusting their children. Fortunately, online resources have made the ability to find local babysitters that you can trust easier than ever.

Background Checks

One of the most important things that many parents are looking for are babysitters with clean background checks. Many news reports have revealed that some babysitters charged with harming the children in their care had prior charges for harming children in the past. With a comprehensive background check, parents can check if the babysitter has been charged with violence or theft in the past and use that information to decide whether to hire that person to watch their child. Some online babysitting registries used to find babysitters online conduct background checks on all the individuals registered to babysit on their websites to provide the parents with the most relevant information available.

Local References

Another benefit to using online resources to find local babysitters is the ability to see the references of other local people that have used the babysitter before you. Using these resources will help parents see whether the babysitter is engaged and friendly towards children or if they just place the kids in front of the television to wait until their parents come home. This method to find babysitters online is becoming more popular as more parents decide to submit information about the babysitters they have used.

Pre-screened Babysitters

One of the biggest benefits to using online resources to find child care assistance is the ability to find pre-screened babysitters that have undergone a rigorous screening to determine their suitability for being a babysitter. Different pre-screening companies have different criteria that they use to determine a babysitter’s suitability, but most require a clean criminal history and previous experience with children for a babysitter to be added to their listing. These companies can either recommend a babysitter in your area that suits your needs or send a babysitter to your home on assignment, in which case you pay the company and the company pays the babysitter.

Using these online resources to find babysitters in your area can make your search short and simple. You get the peace of mind of knowing that you have chosen a good choice for your children, and the babysitter earns more business by being promoted by others. Using these resources, there is a good chance that you will be able to find a babysitter that you can trust to have a lasting relationship with your family for as long as the children need a babysitter.

Types of Childcare and Estimated Costs

Childcare is a necessity for a large number of working families and single parents. Fortunately, there are many options available to meet both the needs of the family and their budget. Each option comes with advantages and disadvantages. We will provide some basic information regarding each type, as well as some guidelines in regards to estimated cost.

Childcare Centers

These are larger facilities that care for infants through school age children. They offer a variety of program options. Some childcare centers even provide transportation to and from school. Most have early learning programs.

On average, full time care for one year for an infant or a child up to four years old can range from $5,000 per year to $16,000 per year. Before and after school care for one year for a school age child ranges from $2,000 per year to $12,000 per year.

Advantages:

  • Childcare centers are regulated by the government. Many states also have education and training requirements for teachers and caregivers.
  • A chance for early socialization and early learning.
  • Programs available to offset the cost of childcare.

Disadvantages:

  • High tuition
  • Limited availability. Centers are usually open on weekdays during daytime hours. Weekend, evening, and holiday care is not available.
  • Illness: Children who are ill cannot attend.

Family Childcare Home

A family childcare home is a smaller center located in a family home. Childcare homes are a less expensive option for most families, and usually do not have as many children.

On average, full time care for one year for an infant or a child up to four years old can range from $4,000 per year to $11,000 per year.

Advantages:

  • Lower tuition
  • A smaller setting with not as many children overall.
  • May have more flexibility in scheduling that larger daycare centers.

Disadvantages:

  • Not all Family Childcare Homes have are regulated by the state.
  • Location Considerations: Does the home have a pet your child may be allergic to? What space will the children be using?

Nanny, Au Pair, or Babysitter

A nanny is an individual hired to care for the child in your home. There are a variety of arrangements for this in regards to scheduling, hours, and cost depending on the needs of the family. Families may choose to hire a nanny on their own, or they may choose to use a service.

The average hourly rate ranges from $8 per hour to $20 per hour. The number of hours a nanny works can range from 20 hours per week to 60 hours per week.

Advantages:

  • Children get to know one caregiver.
  • Flexibility in regards to scheduling and hours.

Disadvantages:

  • References, background checks, tax forms, etc. are up to the parent, unless going through a service.
  • Parents may have to hire several nannies before finding the right person to care for their child, or an arrangement that suits both parties.

Family Members

An option many parents now consider is having a grandparent or other family member care for their child. This, of course, provides a degree of flexibility, and has the potential or little or minimal cost. Some family members agree to care for children for free, while others accept only a small fee.

Advantages:

  • The child is already familiar with the caregiver.
  • Minimal or no cost.
  • Shared goals and values.

Disadvantages:

  • Active children may prove difficult for elderly family members.
  • Lack of opportunities for early childhood education or social skills development.
  • Conflicts can arise in regards to parenting or discipline philosophies.

There are other choices for working parents to consider, such as working opposite schedules, one parent cutting back to part time work, or one parent staying home. The most important thing for parents to remember is that with all childcare options, the best thing to do is research all of the available choices, what they are able to spend, and carefully consider what type of care they want for their child. They may have to explore a few choices, before deciding which is best.

Sources:

“Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2013 Report.” Our Nations Leading Voice For Child Care |. Ed. Lynette M. Fraga, PHD. Childcare Aware of America, Jan. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Finding Babysitters Online: Detailed Information Allows You To Make An Educated Decision

It happens so slowly, you may not even notice it at first. You start to think about the good times you had a few years ago, the fun things you did with roommates and other buddies. You remember fun places you went and things you did. You start to build up a file in your mind: Things I Did When I Was Young.

You’ve had some good times, but not lately.

The problem is that you’re understandably nervous about leaving your child with someone you hardly know. If you watch the evening news and have an active imagination, it’s hard not to feel that way. A lot of babysitters seem all right, but some of them aren’t. The thought of taking that chance can be frightening, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way.

However, it’s possible to take a good thing to a bad extreme. Becoming too attached isn’t good for you or your child, and it can lead to future dependency issues.

Logic tells you that most babysitters are perfectly trustworthy and competent to take care of your child for a few hours. You just don’t know how to find local babysitters with a good, proven track record. How do you find local babysitters who are as “all right” as they seem?

Luckily the Internet has provided an answer, and it’s the same one used for plumbers, electricians and other service personnel. Online services now list local providers in a variety of businesses and rate their performance on past jobs. They allow you to see reviews from people like you, and they can screen more candidates than any individual could. By using such a service, you can find babysitters online with reviews and contact information. You can also get pertinent details like their pay rate and when they’re available. All the things you used to have to ask about are listed on the site, so it’s easy to find babysitters online who are just right for you.

This way, you’re not taking a chance anymore. You can finally have the peace of mind you need to leave your child with a sitter for a short time. With that assurance, you can go out once in a while and know that everything will be fine when you return.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Is Hiring a Babysitter Online Safe?

Many parents will cringe at the idea of hiring a babysitter online. After all, haven’t we all been told to beware of strangers? And most people online are strangers. Ironically, what most parents do not realize is that hiring a babysitter online through a reliable baby sitting service agency is actually safer than hiring someone who you think will be able to watch your kids.

All parents have heard horror stories with regard to children being left in the care of baby sitters or other child care givers. Ironically, most of these situations involve the children being left in the care of someone who the parent trusted – A family member; a neighbor; a friend. Most children who become the victims of abuse are abused by someone who they know and trust.

Many parents are afraid to say anything to their brother, sister, uncle or other family member, even when they see signs of abuse on their children. It can be so horrible that they have a tough time comprehending what is going on. And because the abuser is a trusted person, children are often reluctant to say anything about it, lest they upset the family. You are actually safer hiring someone from an online agency. At least they will do a background check, reference check and make sure that the person to whom they send you to watch your children has solid references.

This is not to say that you just blindly go about entrusting the care to your children to anyone online who is registered with an agency. You still have to go through the interview process. You still have to ask questions and you should still check references. And if anything seems to be a little bit out of sync to you, go with your instincts.

You can never be too trusting when it comes to hiring someone for child care of your children. However, you have just as much of a chance of finding a good babysitter online as you do off line. The truth of the matter is that we really never know anyone. A friend may recommend a good babysitter but not be aware that the teenager has a drinking problem or an abusive boyfriend. You are better off to have as many options open to you as possible, including online services, when you are choosing child care for your children.

When you use an online agency for child care, take the time to do your due diligence with regard to investigating their background, their references and talking to them. See how they interact with your children. You should do this no matter who you hire for child care, even if it is the child of a neighbor who you trust. Above all, trust your instincts when it comes to finding the right person for child care. You have just as much of a chance hiring a good babysitter online as you do hiring a babysitter from anywhere else as long as you take the proper precautions, ask the right questions and listen to your instincts.

How Much Should I Pay a Babysitter?

When you are looking for a babysitter, the million dollar question is how much you should have to pay for this service. If you go through a babysitting service, chances are that they will have a set rate when it comes to sending a babysitter to your home. If you hire a babysitter on your own, you will most likely have to come up with a price on your own. While some babysitters have a set rate when it comes to child care, others will not know what to charge.

Consider it this way – when you hire a baby sitter, you are asking someone to guard over those who are most precious to you. Would you pay someone a pittance to guard over your wallet or a bank safe? No! You would want the best person for the job in order to take care of your material possessions. Sadly, many people pay more for their bank lockers than they do for baby sitting services.

The amount that you pay a baby sitter depends on a number of different variables. These include the following:

  • The number of children you have.
  • Any special needs that the children have.
  • The age of the children.
  • How long you intend to be away from the children.
  • Whether the child care is at your home or in a center.
  • The experience of the baby sitter.

All of the above should be considered when you are wondering what to pay a babysitter. Parents who have older children and simply want someone to come in and make sure that they keep an eye on the kids, get them to bed on time and make sure that the house does not burn down in the meantime can often pay less than those who have an infant who needs to be fed.

Parents who expect to be gone all day at work and need full time child care can also expect to pay more for baby sitting services than those who just want to go out for a few hours in the evening. Those who have special needs children need to take their needs into account. All parents of children who are left in the care of others should be assured that any babysitter who they hire knows what to do in case of an emergency situation and will make sure that they keep their children safe.

If you have several children, expect to pay more for child care services than you would if you just have one child who needs care. If you intend to spend the night away from home, you should also be aware that you will be paying for the time the babysitter is in your home, regardless of the fact that they will be sleeping over.

Most babysitting services as well as individual baby sitters will charge by the hour for how many children you have. This is one type of service where you do not want to scrimp. You should look for a quality babysitting service that not only knows how to handle all children in all types of cases, but also can insure that your children are in safe hands with care givers who are trustworthy, will look after your children as if they were their own and will also know what to do in case of any type of emergency situation.

Nannies: Live-In vs. Live-Out

Nannies tend to become a part of your family, but it’s a personal choice as to whether or not they will actually sleep under the same roof as you. Many nannies appreciate the live-in option because it offers job security and the ability to focus on their work. Live-out nannies are able to maintain their own lives and identities and not become completely ingrained in your family. There are advantages to both arrangements depending on what your situation is.

Live-In

The common misconception about live-in nannies is that they are available to work around-the-clock non-stop. If this were the case, it would be extremely unethical. Nannies are employees like everyone else, and even if they live in your home, they are entitled to their own personal space and free time.

With that said, most live-in nannies have flexible work schedules, and their free time can be worked around your needs. Nannies that live outside of the home come and go on a set schedule and work within a specific timeframe. This is fine for some people, but if you have a newborn baby for instance, you may need your nanny to be responsible for nightly feedings. You may be someone that travels a lot for work and needs someone to be in your home overnight while the kids are asleep. If you have an inconsistent schedule and need your nanny to be flexible and work nights and holidays, then live-in is probably the way to go.

The possible disadvantage of having a nanny live in your home is that you will suddenly have another adult living with you and you will lose a certain degree of privacy. The importance of the privacy factor varies with each person, but if you do find that you long for privacy, you can always create a nanny living quarters that is separated from the rest of the home. Many live-in nannies have their own bathrooms and kitchens.

Live-Out

If you operate on a more set schedule and can survive perfectly well between the nanny’s visits, then live-out is probably the best option for you. The advantage to having your nanny live outside of your home is that you can maintain your family privacy and have alone time. Not everyone wants to adopt a new adult family member into their home.

Maintaining personal space will prevent any boundaries from blurring. Sometimes issues arise when the children seem to be favoring the nanny over their parents, but creating your own separate time with them can prevent this from happening. You can still be the matriarch of your home most of the time, while still experiencing the benefits of a ton of help.

If your nanny lives outside of your home, you will not run the risk of abusing the relationship or putting too much work on her. She will have a more clear idea of exactly what her responsibilities are and how much time she has to complete them.

The possible downside to live-out nannies is that you run the risk of occasionally having them arrive late to work due to car trouble or any number of possible set-backs. Nannies that don’t reside with their employers tend to have busy lives of their own and possibly their own children to take care of, which can result in needing more days off work than a live-in nanny would need.

When deciding which type of nanny you should employ, take a look at your own lifestyle to determine which nanny would better suit your needs. How much will you be depending on her and can you survive a day or two in her absence? Try to anticipate how the family dynamics may change with the addition of either type of nanny and the decision should be easy to make.

Tips for Preparing Your Child to Stay Home Alone

As children get older, parents may decide that they are old enough to stay home alone. If your child has reached the legal age to stay home alone, you can get started by preparing them for this important milestone. It is important to discuss rules, expectations, and talk to your child to see if he or she has any questions. Most importantly, make sure this is an arrangement you are both comfortable with.

Here are some basic guidelines for helping your child to become prepared to stay home alone for the first time.

Emergency Contacts

Have a list of emergency contacts posted in a place that is accessible to your child. Discuss whom to call in the event of an emergency, or if your child is in need of an adult. You can also make sure these numbers are programmed into your child’s cell phone. The emergency contact list should include the work and cell numbers for both parents, the home and cell numbers for the nearest neighbor, relative, or friend, as well as fire, police, poison control, and 911. You may want to write down your full address.

Safety

Make sure your child knows the rules for how to stay safe. Do they know not to answer the door to strangers? Do they know what to say if someone calls on the phone? Are they able to prepare food for themselves? It is important to make sure your child knows where to find things like bandages or the first aid kit, or lock the door when they get home.

Rules and Expectations

It is important to make sure that your child is clear on the rules and expectations for staying home alone. Make sure you establish what you expect of them. Do they have to complete homework when they get home? Are there chores you expect them to do? Establish what your child is not allowed to do when they are staying home alone. Make sure you are clear that you do not want him or her playing videogames for hours, inviting friends over, or walking around the neighborhood.

Practice

Start with a few practice sessions. Go for a short trip to the store or to put gas in the car just to see how it goes. If your child does well, leave them home while you go to the grocery store or a dentist appointment. You can gradually work your way up to longer stretches of time until you feel comfortable leaving your child home alone while you are working.

Helping to prepare your child to stay home alone will help to make both of you comfortable with the transition, and ease your child into this important step in growing up. More important, it will give you the peace of mind that your child will be okay while you are away at work.

Researching a Childcare Provider

Choosing the right childcare provider is an important decision that working parents have to make. For many parents, unfamiliarity with childcare laws, policies, and how daycare centers work makes this task particularly difficult.

Here are some guidelines to help parents in the search for a quality child care provider:

  1. Childcare Laws:
    Research the childcare laws in your state. Familiarize yourself with adult/child ratios, sanitation and food policies, and the other rules. This will help you to ask the right questions as you work towards choosing a childcare center.
  2. Contact the Center:
    Contact the childcare centers you are interested in to find out if they have room for your child, and when your child will be able to start. Make an unannounced visit, or set up an appointment to meet with the center’s director to answer any questions you may have.
  3. Adult/Child Ratio:
    Check up on the ratio of adults to children. How does the center meet the requirements? Are there extra staff on hand for emergencies? How many children are in each room? Once your questions have been answered, decide if this is a scenario you can be comfortable with.
  4. Cleaning/Sanitizing:
    Find out how the center handles cleaning. How do they sanitize the changing tables? How do they prepare tables for eating? What are the policies for hand washing or hazardous waste? When you tour the center, check for cleanliness. Ask to see the bathrooms and kitchen. Does the center seem clean?
  5. Food:
    What is the food policy at your center? Do you have to provide formula or pre-made bottles? What about baby food? How do they prevent mix ups? Find out if the center provides breakfast or snacks. It is also important to find out what your center’s policy is for dangerous food allergies or other food ailments.
  6. Violations:
    Most states have websites where you can view the results of state inspections on the facility. You can check violations for health policies and childcare laws. Check to see what kind of violations are listed for the center you are looking at.
  7. Reviews:
    The best source of information on your center comes from other parents. Do you know other parents that have used the facility? Would they recommend it? You can also find ratings and reviews online. There are many sites that provide information and reviews for local childcare centers.

Make a list of what you feel are the most important standards for a childcare center, and review what you discovered during your research. Childcare is a need most parents have, however, good, quality childcare is a necessity for every child.

Buying and Using a Nanny Cam

When it comes to having strangers in your home, you shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting some surveillance. Many businesses and offices have cameras in their buildings, and while you’re away, your home is somebody’s work place too. The only thing you need to decide is what kind of camera you need and where it should be placed.

What is the purpose of your nanny cam?

Encouraging good work habits. It’s not necessary to keep the fact that you have cameras a secret. Many people leave cameras out in plain sight and respectfully tell their employee that they’re there. When your nanny or cleaning person knows that a camera is running, they tend to behave professionally and do exactly what is expected of them.

This is a good arrangement for situations where you don’t necessarily suspect your employee of any wrong doing, but want to avoid them watching your television all day instead of interacting with your kids or getting their job done.

You can tell your nanny that you have these cameras when you hire them, or if that would be too uncomfortable, you can simply leave them visible and let the nanny assume they are for home security. Either way, the employee will know that they are on camera for one purpose or another and will behave accordingly.

Catching theft. Hidden cameras are very useful in catching an employee that you suspect is stealing or going through your personal belongings. Of course, if you don’t trust the person working for you, you should let them go. But if you want to follow through with prosecution, you will need evidence, and cameras are the best route. Cameras are available in many creatively hidden forms such as clocks, stuffed animals, lamps, and even air purifiers.

Peace of mind. If you don’t want your employees to know that they’re under surveillance, and you don’t suspect them of wrong doing, you can have hidden cameras in your home simply for peace of mind. This is a good situation to use wifi cameras that stream video directly to your work computer allowing you to check in whenever you feel like it. There’s no use of pouring through hours of recorded video unless you actually suspect something illegal is going on.

Where should you put the camera?

Depending on your concerns and how many cameras you are purchasing, these are the best places to set them up:

#1 The living room. Or any room that has a television in it. One of the most common caregiver pitfalls is that they spend too much time watching television instead of interacting with the child. The living room is also a common area for children and caregivers to play so you will witness a lot of their interaction here.

#2 The kitchen. This is another high traffic area of the home and you will probably witness a lot of the interaction between caregiver and child in this room. This is also where meals are prepared, so if nutrition, meal preparation, and too many snacks are among your concerns, the kitchen is a good surveillance area.

#3 The bedrooms or nursery. If you are concerned about your child’s sleep schedule or the manner in which they are put to sleep, such as not wanting your child to cry themselves to sleep, then the nursery is an ideal place to put a camera. You may also want to put cameras in adult bedrooms if theft is a concern.

#4 Playroom. If there is a playroom or certain area of the house designated for play, then you should set up a camera in that area. It will give you a glimpse of the caregiver interaction with the child and also an idea of how much time a day the child spends alone.

#5 The home entrances. Not only are door cameras a great home security feature, but they can also let you know if your nanny is sneaking outside to have cigarettes or letting anyone else into your home when you’re not there.

Having surveillance means that you take the well-being of your children, pets, and home seriously and ensures that you will only employ people who feel the exact same way.

How do you Research a Babysitter?

Naturally, when you are hiring a babysitter, you are going to want to do research on their background to make sure that they are the right person for the job. After all, you will be entrusting your children to their care. It is imperative that you do research into their background to make sure that they have no secrets that can end up endangering your children or causing you problems in your home.

There are several ways that you can conduct research on a babysitter. Here are a few of them:

  • Ask for references and follow up on them.
  • Do a criminal background check.
  • Hire a private investigator.
  • Do internet research on convicted sex offenders.
  • Use an agency that provides background checks as part of their service.

Most parents who are looking for child care will opt for checking references. This is the cheapest way you can find out something about the background of a babysitter. You can ask other parents who have used the baby sitter what they thought about their services and also check with their personal references. This is no guarantee that you are getting a good babysitter, but it can work well, especially if you are just looking for a neighborhood teenager who will watch your kids while you go out to dinner.

A criminal background check is easy to get today thanks to the internet. For about $50, you can do a criminal background check on anyone. You do need to get their permission to perform this check. However, be aware that juvenile records can be expunged from these background checks. While these investigations can turn up convicted felons, they do not guarantee that the person who you hire to baby sit your children does not have a drinking or drug problem for which they have yet to be caught. You are better off using references along with a background check.

Hire a private investigator. This may sound a bit the extreme but if you know someone who is in this field, they can find out a bit more than just an ordinary background check. You do not need permission in order to investigate anyone, although this type of research can be costly.

Check out the sex offender registry online. These are available for free and can easily be accessed through the internet. Beware that only those offenders who are registered are on these lists. Child abusers and sex offenders will usually seek out positions where they can be around children, so it pays to take a few minutes to check this out. If you have kids, you should know who the sex offenders are in your area anyway.

You can also use a baby sitting agency that performs an extensive background check on those who they hire for baby sitting services. Some child care agencies do all the research work for you as part of their service to you so that you can get quality babysitters who you can trust.

You are better off to learn as much as you can about a baby sitter as possible before you hire them to watch over your children. Also, do not think that �relatives are safe� automatically because they are relatives. Studies indicate that most children who are victims of abuse are victimized by people who the family members know and trust.