https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:35:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-267881 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:53:05 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 267881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just messaged a few candidates for babysitting to set up an interview! Crossing my fingers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-259284 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:13:14 +0000 PrincessBaby 259284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@purrpletulips: That is awesome info...Thank you so much for sharing! I have no idea what I'm doing!!!</p> <p>@Cole: So I had actually not thought about the public meeting place, and that's a VERY good point. One of the things that contributes to our little situation is that my husband is gone half the time (he works offshore) and this will make the schedule different on the weeks he is home (less hours). So I probably don't need to bring strangers to my home and announce that me, my newborn, and our flatscreen tv are home alone half the time:) And yes- also for the applicants' safety! I mean, I'm normal, but I'm sure a lot of people may not be!</p> <p>@TurtleDoves: You gave me a great idea on how to manage the hours! I had posted an ad saying that I was looking for a nanny from 9-6 on M-Th (when DH is gone). But he wants to take care of her some when he is home. He actually wants to take care of her solely when he is home, but I told him we'd never be able to get a nanny that way, and I still need him to be able to do all the Man Chores he is responsible for during the day - like mow the yard and clean the pool. And that way on the weekends we can be a nice little happy family with only fun activities to do:) So your post gave me the answer, and I revised my ad to say that when he is home, half of the time, it will only be say 11-4 or so, and that the position will be a maximum of 36 hours on the weeks he is gone, and a guaranteed minimum of 20 hours on the weeks that he is home. THANKS!</p> <p>@MrsTiz: I am going to check that out tonight!</p> <p>OH and for anyone that is thinking of using Care.com, I found a coupon for 30% off the membership. The code is THANKYOU. You basically have to upgrade from the free one in order to reply to applicants or to contact anyone. And to see BG checks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-259233 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:34:55 +0000 MrsTiz 259233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a babysitter for a family (I guess I was their nanny) for a little while. I used SitterSearch.org :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-259169 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:54:23 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 259169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a nanny throughout college age 20-22 for a family and loved it. The father was a professor and found me that way...I'm not certified but I was more than halfway through my social work degree and I was (and am) a little girls' soccer coach at a huge school district here ..so I was legit;) they paid me $15/h for 2 kids under 3 (the one was 5w when i began) and contracted me no less than 15h a week and no more than 35h/w. So I was never worried about being there too much or too little. Even if one day 1 kid wasnt there for some reason, id still be paid $15 regardless. I babysat essentially but also took to dr appointments, made their meals and snacks during day and gave baths...all that. I didn't clean the house or do laundry or anything. I only quit because I graduated college and entered a busy grad program while also getting engaged or else I would've stayed.<br /> I would *personally* do a nanny for the year if you can afford it. Then daycare all the way. I love the work from home idea too:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-259082 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:33:35 +0000 Cole 259082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a nanny too and I have used care.com to find positions as well as going through agencies. I found it to be a pretty good process and I think that for the hourly wage you can offer you should be able to find someone great. Like @Mrs. Bird, I love 4 day weeks because I hate inconveniencing the family with random days off for doctor's appointments and such.</p> <p>Two things to watch for, I think you actually have to request the background check on the candidates you are interested in, some families do this before the interview others wait until later. Some people choose to do a more in depth one before having a nanny start with them, I believe the standard one is just criminal and the child abuse clearance so you might want to pull their driving record too.</p> <p>Also, just in case pick a public place (Starbucks?) for the first round of the interview process. It amazed me how many people wanted me to come to their home! Some people balked when I refused to go to their home which I thought was odd.</p> <p>One more thing! A lot of families I have interviewed with/ worked for have found that dad does better screening through the applications than mom but mom has a better gut reaction usually so accept help!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258992 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:00:24 +0000 purrpletulips 258992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jholler25: We were looking for someone to watch our 2 children in either our home or theirs and were open to them watching other children depending upon the number and ages since we will have a 2 1/2yo and a newborn. We've interviewed 5 people so far- 3 in person and 2 over the phone (over the phones ended up wanting too much money in that they really wanted their top pay listed and had zero experience as a nanny). </p> <p>Our interview process was that DH and I met with the person in their home (if that is where care would be provided) or a neutral location (if care was to be in our home) and asked a set of questions we pulled from various sources on the internet. If we liked the person then we set up a second interview that included DD (newborn isn't here yet); we only found one of the 5 that we did this second step. We really liked that person but when we met for the second time she informed us that the number of children she'd be watching was going to be greater than she had originally said and we didn't like that so we are still looking. </p> <p>In our situation we are looking for more affordable childcare for 2. DD is thriving in daycare (has been there since 8w) but it is going to be a stretch to afford 2 and so we're looking for less expensive options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258839 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 22:03:24 +0000 regberadaisy 258839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: oh please don't! It still sucks because it's less time than what you thought had to spend with your new baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258781 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:56:31 +0000 Mrs. Pen 258781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: yeah well I have worked for $8/hr, but like I said, for someone with my experience (and you WILL want someone with infant experience, at least 2 years, and 2+ infants) *$8/hr is an insult... but $10 is more reasonable. I don't have a doubt in my mind that you can find a stellar nanny for $10/hr!!</p> <p>Like @mrsbird said too - there are some perks you could add in too! I had a car to use at one job, gym membership at another. I know some families who add a line on their family plan for the nanny. One family would have me do the grocery shopping and literally hand me their credit card and tell me to buy myself the food I normally eat. Which was AWESOME. I never went crazy, but it was a great perk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258769 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:47:36 +0000 mrs. bird 258769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww, I'm sorry about your shortened leave :( that's super disappointing. </p> <p>I'm a nanny, I've used care.com and I don't think you'd have a hard time finding someone. As much as nannies want to earn a living, we also want to have an enjoyable work environment. You seem like you'd be great to work with:) If you can't do a big hourly rate, there are other things you can do to sweeten the deal, like adding the nanny to your gym membership or cell phone plan, those don't cost you much as an add on, but they save her $$ and make her feel appreciated. </p> <p>As far as 4 vs 5 days a week, I work 4 days because it's better for me. As a nanny, I don't have a 'lunch hour' to run an errand, it's a pain for my bosses if I need part of a day for a dr appt or whatever, so by having Friday off I can make all my appts then so I almost never take personal time, if I worked 5 days, I'd have to. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258766 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:44:12 +0000 PrincessBaby 258766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: I am definitely checking out sittercity! And that's exactly what I want to do is just get a nanny until she's a little bit older and then day care will be great for her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258763 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:42:27 +0000 PrincessBaby 258763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: Great point about the 2 sitters = more options!!! We don't have family here so this person is going to be heavily relied on! Having 2 would be better!</p> <p>@Coco Bee: I did not know you were a nanny! So, I got the $10 rate b/c that seems to be the lowest going rate on care.com and when I did the math for 4 days a week, that's "only" $320 a week which I would have never thought I would have been able to get in-home care for. Day cares here are $200-$250, so the jump to $320 a week is not a huge stretch when I think about not having to drop her off somewhere and she could stay in her house all day and be doted on:) Dude, I wish you lived here too! I would totally hire you! </p> <p>@scg00387: Thank you!</p> <p>@winniebee: Gah! $17! I hope you find someone perfect soon:)</p> <p>@mediagirl: Let me know when you find someone! I'm a little embarassed about my daycare panic attack:( It makes me feel like I sound like I think my child is "too good" for daycare, and I don't think that at all. I just wasn't prepared to send her so soon, and just want to do a nanny for a few months until she is a little older. I'm glad that I'm not the only one panicking over day care though:) It's nice to know that it's a normal emotion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258714 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:17:10 +0000 BabyBruins 258714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: I used sittercity.com and we found a nanny we LOVE. I posted that I would pay $12-$15/hour ($400-$500/week) and I found that the ones who wanted the higher rate were worth it and had the experience that I wanted to take care of my child. We pay $500/week for 4 days (2 of the days I work from home and the hours are a little shorter so I don't have to pay while I'm just driving).<br /> I also looked at daycare and it was tempting because of the lower cost, I really think my little boy is thriving with the one on one attention he is getting from his nanny. Also, when he was sick, she still came to take care of him while in daycare you would have to take him home. Downside, last week she had a personal issue and couldn't work all week and hubs and I had to take some days off, but I was still able to work during naps.<br /> If you can afford it, I recommend a nanny while they are so young and then think about daycare when they are older so they can have some social time. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258713 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:16:12 +0000 mediagirl 258713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: I joined recently and posted an ad for a nanny/sitter for 5 days a week. I have had 4 people respond so far. I'm hoping to find someone who is willing to get paid $1k or less/month in their home. We'll see. I'll let you know how it goes. </p> <p>Not sure if you saw my earlier post on this but I started freaking out when I realized my little girl was going to a daycare. :-( </p> <p>Good luck. Let us know what you decide on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258705 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:12:35 +0000 winniebee 258705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were going to go with daycare but as that date looms large we are looking into nannies again. We hbe one potential lead through a personal contact but if thy doesn't work out I'm going o go trough care. We are looking for 3 dys and that doesn't seem o present a problem. Nannies are like $17 an hour in Boston though : ( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258699 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:10:42 +0000 immabeetoo 258699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I commented on something else you posted about care.com - There are people advertising for 2 hours a day, so I think 4 full days would be well received! Definitely not a drawback.</p> <p>Just make sure you ask for access to their background check and references.. Care.com implies that both are done on each person who signs up for the site, but I know they never contacted my references (I gave the information as well to any family who asks, and they can contact them directly) and it was only after I'd worked for a few families that they requested my background check. Then I can grant access to any families who ask. </p> <p>Hopefully that makes sense. You'll open yourself up to a lot more options if you let moms with their own babies apply - which I think would be fun if they were going to be around the same age! </p> <p>Good luck, hope you find a perfect fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258698 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:09:47 +0000 Mrs. Pen 258698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is my two cents :):)</p> <p>I have been a nanny for a long time, about 7 years. And a babysitter for four years before that. I have worked for four different families, my last (and current) family being 2.5 years. </p> <p>I have used quite a number of websites.</p> <p>My favorite was actually nannies4hire.com - but I know it's a little more expensive for the families (I think over $100 to start up??). I found my first family there.</p> <p>I used care.com and found my current family on there. I really liked it also.</p> <p>As for pay - dude I want to work for you!! Even being a nanny for 7+ years, I honestly don't get paid that much lol. I will be frank and say that I get $10/hr for two kids. Now I would have asked for a raise when they had their second child - BUT I got pregnant only a few months later and considered it enough of a raise that I get to bring my child to work with me.</p> <p>One family I worked for on the side last year only paid me $8, which I was honestly quite offended considering how much experience I had AND that they had two YOUNG kids (6 weeks, 1 year). Needless to say, I didn't work for them for very long :-/</p> <p>So I think it is completely possible for you to find a nanny for $10/hr! I would work for you!! :):) </p> <p>Also, I always liked 4-day work weeks better than 5 anyhow. Right now i'm a PT nanny and I know many students love having the flexibility of a PT schedule, if you choose to hire a college student. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258687 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:02:01 +0000 JerricaBenton 258687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A woman who works for my husband found her current sitter on care.com. She had a very good experience - she interviewed like, 5 or 6 potential sitters and she said there were no 'no way would I let this woman around my kids' types and the one she picked has been great so far. I think one of the advantages to sites like that is that a lot of those women aren't necessarily looking for 40 hrs/week so you are more flexible. If I were in that situation I would seriously think about looking for 2 sitters so they'd both be part time and then you'd have back up if one was sick or going on vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258683 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:00:15 +0000 PrincessBaby 258683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Thank you!</p> <p>@purrpletulips: You are awesome! Thanks for the advice:) Are you looking for an in-home nanny too? Have you interviewed many people? If you haven't hired anyone yet, what made you decide against the person? I am super curious about the interview process. It's so weird that I'll be interviewing someone about MY CHILD and not just for like a job where it's not the end of the world if they screw up and they'll just get fired-lol. I'm assuming that when I meet someone that I "like" then that's the person? What are the things you look for that are important? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258669 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:51:15 +0000 PrincessBaby 258669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Thank you for weighing in! That is so helpful! I will check out that site too! $12 an hour is super reasonable! I would pay that in a heartbeat if the person seemed capable of taking care of my daughter! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258668 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:50:01 +0000 purrpletulips 258668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are currently looking for childcare on care.com and have so far had a pleasant experience. However we found that while care.com lists an hourly rate many of the people charge by the day. As for the number of days, care.com allows people to list their availability/willingness to work different days so you should be able to easily see if someone is willing to only work 4 days instead of 5.</p> <p>Also, do a search for care.com coupons because I did that and got the first 3months of membership for the price of 2; we didn't find the "free" trial of much use since it really limits what information you can see and you can't get any background checks without a paid membership. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258667 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:49:37 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 258667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've looked at care, though ultimately we found our nanny through a personal contact. We would use them again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258665 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:48:14 +0000 PrincessBaby 258665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Good to know, thank you so much!</p> <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: I think so! I think the membership fee is like $75 for 3 months and you can post ads stating exactly what you're looking for...I mean, I don't want to Nanny Shop on craigslist, you know? I actually did cruise the CL ads before and I shudder to recall some of the posts. People offering to care for your children in exchange for a place to stay, for ex...."Yeah, you're hired!!!"</p> <p>@regberadaisy: So I feel like a ButtWipe complaining about 10 weeks, because I know that's a lot longer than many people get:( It's 6 weeks paid for vag, 8 weeks for csection, and I can't use any more than 12 weeks total in a year. Well I already burned 2 weeks of FMLA/STD in the first tri because of bedrest for a Subchorionic Hemmorhage, so that counts against me since it will still be in the same year. So I will take up to 3 weeks of saved up PTO and then whatever unpaid time I can to get me to the 10 week mark. I know it's ridiculous to complain, but before the merger, I would have been able to take 12 weeks unpaid FMLA on top of the 6-8 weeks paid maternity leave:( I had my heart set on that! Sorry for the epic story. And no we don't have family here. They all live in other states. I had a nice little cry in my car today after I got all this info from HR! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258659 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:44:21 +0000 sorrycharlie 258659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: I found my position on sitter city. I'm not a certified nanny or anything, but the family was looking for someone so I applied, having lots of experience &amp; my BA degree is communicative disorders. I took the job knowing it was 3 days a week at first (12/hr), and as time went in my hours changed. 4 years later im still with them! I don't think 4 days a week is unreasonable at all, just say that from the beginning.</p> <p>Also, I might be easy, but i don't get any paid vaca or holidays..just days off if I need them or they don't need me. They've always been generous with bday and Christmas gifts though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258643 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:37:23 +0000 regberadaisy 258643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: aww I'm so sorry *hugs* I went through that same thing. I thought NY State STD paid for a full 6 weeks so I was planning on using a week of PTO and one unpaid to take 8 weeks. Then I realized a few weeks prior that it was actually only 5 weeks paid. :(</p> <p>No experience with care.com but no family members nearby? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258635 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:34:12 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 258635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We may look into this soon for a caregiver. It's worth a shot, no? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258621 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:27:06 +0000 Arden 258621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is a great option. They check out their nannies pretty well, and you can learn a lot about a person by interviewing them.<br /> I don't think it would be a problem to get a nanny four days a week either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannies-on-carecom#post-258616 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:23:21 +0000 PrincessBaby 258616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today I had a pretty rough day because I learned that my maternity leave will be a lot shorter than I had originally anticipated. My company just had a merger, and previously I would have been entitled to a lot more unpaid leave and was planning to take all of it. Today I found out that I will have 10 weeks total. I was pretty devastated. I had been pretty certain we were doing day care, and I thought I'd be going back after 4.5 to 5 months. For some reason, the thought of bringing my 2.5 month old to daycare just made me cry my face off today. Maybe once it sinks in, I'll be okay, and there's NOTHING wrong with daycare (I was in daycare at 6 wks old), I just would prefer to look closer at a nanny until she gets a little bit older.</p> <p>One of the ladies who works in an office I call on for my job told me about Care.com. Initially, I thought the going rate for a nanny in my area was about $500 a week ($2K a month) and obviously that makes daycare more tempting at $250 a week. But on care.com, there are a lot of people that are not necessarily certified nannies but have nanny/sitter experience and will work for say...$10 an hour. </p> <p>Do you know anything about Care.com? They provide background checks on everyone...</p> <p>Also - I know there are a few prior nannies on here...Is it ridiculous to try to hire a nanny for 4 days a week instead of 5? I want to try to work from home on Fridays. I know going through a Nanny Agency- that would not be favorable, but since this Care.com seems much more casual, I was throwing it around... </p>