Nannies, sitters, and other childcare providers can be expensive when you consider base pay, experience and other factors. Here are 8 ways to reduce the cost of child care.
- Hire a College Sitter. Hiring a college sitter is a great way to save extra money and gain a sitter with a more flexible schedule. Most college students have schedules that allow them to be available to babysit during the 9-5 hours when most of us are at work. There are some majors, such as Nursing and Early Childhood Education, where students have coursework on safety and receive certifications in CPR and First Aid. Since college students are on the younger side, they may not have the experience level that older babysitters have and will not ask for a higher pay rate. If flexible schedules and a lower pay rate aren’t enough—a college sitter can make a great role model for young children too.
- Consider an Au Pair. If you need full time help consider an au pair. An au pair is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living with a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family’s responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use. Au pair schemes are subject to government restrictions which specify an age range usually from late teens to mid to late twenties. In Europe, where the concept originated, au pairs are only supposed to work part time, and they often also study part time, generally focusing on the language of the host country, but in the United States, they are permitted to provide full time childcare.
- Ask About Experience. A great question to ask any babysitter is how many years of experience they have in babysitting; a great follow-up question is how many years of experience do they have babysitting someone not related to them. All of us have watched and cared for younger siblings, cousins, and even nieces and nephews. Although this gives a babysitter valuable experience, it does not give her experience caring for children she does not know. If the number is different in the second answer, see if the babysitter will take a $1- $2 deduction in the pay rate she is asking for.
- Hire a Mother’s Helper. A mother’s helper is someone who assists the mother with the care of the children while the mother is home. Many new moms who have young children and now have added a new baby to the family opt to have a mother’s helper assist them during the day. This support can be a huge help for a stay-at-home-mom too. Since the mother is home, the base pay for this type of babysitter will not be as high, about $3 – $5 less in most cases. If the parents choose to have a night on the town, the mother’s helper stays with the children and the pay rate usually stays the same.
- Cook Before You Leave. Prepare your children’s meal prior to the babysitter’s arrival. Asking the babysitter to cook for the family can increase the base pay almost instantly. By setting aside time to make a quick-and-easy meal before you head out, you are saving yourself additional money that would go in the babysitter’s pocket. If time is crunched, leave money for the babysitter to order pizza or take-out for the family.
- Go Out At Night. If a babysitter is only there to “house watch” (and you feed, bathe, and put your child to bed before the sitter arrives), you may pay less.
- Swap a Night with Your Friends and Neighbors. Many of your friends are in the same boat as you are—trying to find child care they can afford. Ask your friends if they would watch your children one night and return the favor in the future. This system can save two families a lot of money over time! And give the children a fun adventure with playmates.
- Keep Transportation to a Minimum. Offer to pick the babysitter up at her house so she doesn’t have to drive to yours. If the children have activities they need to get to, see if another mother or father can pick your child up and do a carpool. Many babysitters will charge extra for any additional transportation that is needed. If you can find alternatives to the babysitter driving, you are saving money in the long run.
Remember, first and foremost a babysitter is ultimately keeping your children safe. You want to pay for that service. When you hire a babysitter, talk to her about what she expects to be paid and see if you both can agree on a price you are both comfortable. A good place to start when hiring a babysitter is to check what the local babysitting rates are to see what the pay rate is in your area. You and your babysitter can negotiate a price from this starting point. Having an open, honest conversation about pay and paying a babysitter fairly from the beginning will help you to establish a long, trusted relationship together. Child care costs can be overwhelming, but if you do your homework and research your options, you can save money—and enjoy an evening out!
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