How to Hire a Babysitter to Support You & Your Family
Here’s the expert advice you need to find a babysitter you can trust, including where to search, how to screen, and how much you can expect to pay.
Source: William Fortunato
It can be tough to hire help—especially as a stay-at-home mom. In many of the conversations I’ve had with women in the gray area between full-time career and stay-at-home motherhood, moms admitted they didn’t consider themselves worthy of paid help because they didn’t earn an income.
But caregiving is work, and just like any job, it requires time off–to rest, reset, and tune in to your own wants and needs. It’s a sentiment echoed by Kelly Hubbell, the founder of Sage Haus, a company that teaches moms how to operationalize domestic labor and find the right support at home.
“Moms deserve an outlet for whatever passions they want to pursue,” says Hubbell. “That means having the ability to hire part-time or full-time childcare.” If hiring a babysitter is beyond your budget, consider a solution like trading childcare with a friend or bringing in a mother’s helper at a more affordable rate. Know, too, that support can come in a variety of forms, whether it’s school, daycare, part-time sitters, nanny shares, or friends and family.
If you have the ability to ask for help—whatever that looks like—it can be a gift to your children to see you invest in your own care. But you may be asking, how do I find a good babysitter? Consider this your guide to hiring childcare you can be confident in.
Meet the Expert
Kelly Hubbell: Founder of Sage Haus, a company that teaches moms how to operationalize domestic labor and find the right support at home.
1. Determine How Much Support You Need From a Babysitter
Before you even start your search for a babysitter, Hubbell recommends getting clear on just what sort of help you need–and how much. Perhaps you need morning care that includes transportation to school. Or maybe your family could benefit from an extra set of hands at bedtime. If it’s a handful of hours you need each week to make strides on a new business plan, put that down in writing. Don’t shy away from asking for what you need, even if the hours feel limited.
“There’s someone out there who will think this job is the perfect fit for their lifestyle,” Hubbell says. “They may be looking for this exact job as a side hustle.”
To determine the level of support you need, Hubbell recommends factoring in your family’s budget, pain points (e.g., folding laundry or picking up toys), and job expectations. “Do you need someone for five hours each week? Then list out the things you want someone to accomplish in five hours and be really clear about it,” she adds.
2. Write a Job Description for Your Ideal Babysitter
When it came time to hire a babysitter, my husband and I each made lists of our must-have and nice-to-have qualities. We agreed that our ideal babysitter would have experience caring for multiple children who were around the same ages as ours. We also would require fluency in English, a willingness to work in tandem with me while I was home, and a gentle, playful nature.
There’s someone out there who will think this job is the perfect fit for their lifestyle. They may be looking for this exact job as a side hustle.
Our nice-to-have, negotiable qualities included a flexible schedule, background in childhood education, and an interest in cooking and kids’ nutrition.
Armed with our lists, I then wrote up a job description for a babysitter, detailing requirements, responsibilities, and job expectations. To kick off our childcare search, I shared this job description with friends and family to pass along.
3. Search in the Right Place: 6 Places to Find a Babysitter
Finding the answer to how do I find a good babysitter begins with searching in the right place. There are numerous places to search for a trustworthy babysitter, both online and in your community. In addition to searching within your personal network, inquiring about caregivers your friends and family have relied on, consider one of these options:
Local Agencies: Starting with a local caregiving agency allows you to narrow your search and focus on babysitters and nannies near you. A Google search will yield agencies in your city, many of which offer the same safety checks and assurances as national databases do, such as standard background checks, driving records, and drug screenings. Additionally, these smaller companies are often helmed by fellow moms, and may offer more hands-on support during your search.
Sittercity: “I really like [the Sittercity] iOS application, which makes it easy to find a caregiver in your proximity,” Hubbell notes. In addition, Sittercity offers comprehensive screening and safety measures, such as background checks and motor vehicle records. Caregiver profiles also include ratings and reviews from families who have hired them, making choosing a childcare provider just a bit more personal.
UrbanSitter: UrbanSitter touts its well-trained algorithm as a tool for narrowing down your babysitter search at top speed. I recommend focusing on filtering for your exact needs and wants to help wade through its vast network of caregivers. Everyone who lists their services on UrbanSitter must complete a thorough background check and go under review by the company’s ‘Trust and Safety’ team.
Care.com: With Care.com, families can search for local childcare providers, such as nannies and babysitters. Post job listings, browse provider profiles, and reach out to potential hires via direct messaging. The company conducts a thorough background check on all its caregivers, and requires recurring checks to ensure your family’s safety.
Facebook: “There are some places moms are forgetting to look for childcare–like Facebook,” says Hubbell, noting how local Facebook groups can be a reliable way to connect with other parents and find childcare recommendations right in your own neighborhood.
Schools & Universities: Depending on your needs, local colleges and graduate schools sometimes have boards of students offering their services for after school help.
4. Schedule an In-Person Interview
Even if you have chatted with a candidate by phone or direct message, it’s always a good idea to meet face-to-face. If you’re comfortable, I’ve liked inviting potential babysitters into our home so that I could get a sense of their demeanor and presence. In the past, I’ve looked for confidence with kids, comfort, and kindness. I’m sure they were interviewing me as much, and so I typically shared information about our family and routines. This was an excellent time to talk about discipline styles, anything that came up with previous families, and more. When I interviewed our current babysitter, I had my daughter with me, and there was an easy and gentle nature I saw between them right away.
5. Conduct a Safety Check Before You Hire a Babysitter
No matter where you complete your babysitter search, give yourself peace of mind by implementing a few safety measures before you make the job offer. Hubbell advises parents to include a request for three professional references within your job description. “The best way to learn about a [potential hire] is to ask someone they’ve worked for in the past,” she adds. When I have called to check references for babysitters, I’ve always made a point of asking for recommendations on what could have made their relationship better, (this is typically illuminating), and how they set their relationship up for success.
The best way to learn about a [potential hire] is to ask someone they’ve worked for in the past.
If you haven’t gone through an agency that conducts criminal background checks on its caregivers, you may want to request one of your own through a reputable company, given your potential hire gives you the go-ahead.
Once you have hired your babysitter, go through with a trial day. I consider this a crucial step and a way to get a real sense of how your kids are going to vibe with this person. Even if it’s just a confirmation of your confidence, it gives you some training ground for you both to get comfortable. Start with a half day just in case in the first hour you know things don’t feel right. Equally, if anything comes up that you’d like done differently, this is a great time to set expectations. If it works, move onto a one week trial.
6. Know What to Pay a Babysitter in 2024
Knowing how much to pay a babysitter is dependent on the area you live in, the level of experience a potential babysitter has, and responsibilities of the job, Hubbell says. To determine the going rate for a caregiver in your area, you might put an ask out to your local parenting Facebook group, compare with friends, and talk over salary expectations with your candidates.
While there are plenty of factors that influence babysitting rates, here’s a look at the average hourly cost of a babysitter across the country:
Chicago, IL: $19 - $19.50
New York City: $21 - $22.50
Los Angeles, CA: $21.25 - $23.75
Austin, TX: $20.25 - $21.75
Miami, FL: $20.25 - $22
Denver, CO: $20.25 - $21
Phoenix, AZ: $18.50 - $19
Charlotte, NC: $17.75 - $19.25
Philadelphia, PA: $17.75 - $19.75
Data Source: Care.com
The work involved in raising children is 24/7 and every parent deserves support, whether they work outside the home or dedicate their days to family. And with a burgeoning industry of caregiving agencies online, along with the recommendations of trusted friends and family, you’re sure to find a babysitter who helps bring a sense of ease into your home.
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