Sara Mauskopf
Sara Mauskopf is the co-founder and CEO of Winnie. She’s also the mom of three young children and vocal advocate for high quality child care and early education for all.
At Winnie, we know there is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of your children. When you are starting your search for a babysitter or childcare, it can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s time to head back to work, get a haircut, or go out on a date with your partner, you want to know your children are in the best of hands.
Fortunately, there are many options available and with the right information and preparation, you can find the perfect fit for your family.
What is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?
In the context of this article, we use babysitter and nanny interchangeably, but they both generally refer to a caregiver who watches a child one-on-one or with their siblings or close friends.
Different caregivers prefer different terminology. Some people may like being called a nanny, while others prefer babysitters or just sitters. If you are unsure what to call someone, you can always ask!
Why would I choose a babysitter or nanny over daycare?
For some families, daycare is the best option but it isn't for everyone. If you have a non-traditional work schedule or just need more flexible care, a babysitter or nanny may be what you're looking for.
There are some real benefits to having your childcare right there in your home.
- Individualized attention: With a nanny or babysitter, your child gets personalized attention.
- Trips and activities: A babysitter may be willing to take your child to the park or to classes and activities throughout the day.
- More control over your child's day: With 1:1 care, the caregiver can follow your child's lead more closely.
How do I find a babysitter?
Once you figure out the type of care you need, the next step is filling in all the details. Make sure you specify the hours you need coverage, pay, location, ages of your children, and any other requirements like language fluency.
Knowing what you’re looking for in a babysitter or childcare provider is half the battle. The other half is actually finding that person. There are many ways to find that perfect caregiver match once you have your requirements.
- Post the job in your local parent’s network or on a childcare site.
- Ask your friends if they have anyone they recommend and if they can help you spread the word. Referrals from your network are more likely to be vetted, which means less work down the road when you’re checking references.
- Find an agency to do the heavy lifting. Choosing a provider can be a daunting task, so let someone else do the work. There are agencies and experts out there that can help narrow down your search for you, for a fee.
- There’s an app for that! Use Winnie's daycare directory to find drop-in childcare or other flexible options in your area if you want your child to be cared for in a group environment.
What to do after you interview a caregiver
Anyone can look good on paper, but it’s important to do your due diligence and dig beyond the surface with a phone interview and/or in-person meeting. This is a chance to really get to know the person you will entrust with your child’s life. You can ask how they've handled a cranky, crying, or sick child in the past to make sure they’re prepared (and have the patience) for a difficult situation. You may want to setup a trial run with yourself, the future caregiver and your child. This will give you a better feel for how they interact with your child and it’s also a chance for you to provide on the job training.
Background checks offer valuable information to make sure you are hiring exactly whom you intend to. In addition to a background check, consider checking off the following boxes when finding the right provider for your family.
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Emergency preparedness: Though we never want to think the worst, it’s important to know in the event of an emergency your children will be surrounded by individuals ready to spring into action. Ask for the CPR/First Aid class your provider last attended and request they take a refresher if it’s been awhile.
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Shots, shots, shots: It’s important to know and understand immunization requirements at potential childcare facilities, as well as the immunization status of your provider.
- Parental approval: Ask for references and call them. The more information on a facility or individual, the more comfortable you will feel leaving your children in their care. If it’s a daycare facility, look it up on Winnie and see what parents have to say about it.
If the care is being received in your home, consider putting one or more monitors in place to see what’s going on. It’s good practice to let your caregiver know where the cameras are. If you are recording audio, you are legally required in some states to get permission due to wiretapping laws.
How to prepare to leave your child with a babysitter
The first time you leave your child with someone new, make sure you set them up for success by preparing them for how things should go. Approximately what time will your child want to eat/drink and what should they feed them? Should they be giving your child a bath? What are some tricks for calming your child down if he/she is upset? Also, be sure to inform your provider about any allergies or other medical conditions.
As you know, things don’t always go as planned, especially when kids are in the mix. You also need to make sure your childcare provider is ready for some worst-case scenarios by equipping your child’s caregiver with the answers to the following simple questions. Make sure these key answers and contact information is also printed out and displayed somewhere, not just told verbally as it’s easy to forget in an emergency.
What’s the emergency plan?
If the care is being provided at your home, your caregiver should also know how to evacuate your house in case of emergency and what a good rendezvous spot should be, like the nearest coffee shop or library. They should also know where the closest Emergency Room is and to dial 911 in an emergency.
Where do you keep the important supplies?
Let your caregiver know where to find first-aid materials like bandages, a fire extinguisher, and a flashlight. Be sure to instruct your caregiver on what medications they are/aren’t allowed to give your child.
Where will you be?
Make sure anyone you leave your child with knows how to contact you in case of an emergency and where you’ll be. They should also have a backup contact or two in case they can’t get in touch with you.
Do they have medical consent?
If all parents/guardians will be unreachable for a prolonged period of time, you probably want to consider putting a medical consent in place so that your child’s caregiver can make medical decisions for your child in your absence.
Ask other parents advice on finding a babysitter and share success stories by signing up for Winnie and connecting with other families in our community.
Updated August 23rd, 2022
