How to find a nanny/full time sitter

[mrsfrenchy]

DD1 is normally in the on-campus daycare during the semester and the plan is to have both DD1 and DD2 there in the fall (and until DH and I both graduate). For several reasons, I'm not happy with it, but can't afford a better center.

DH and I are throwing around the idea of hiring a full time sitter (7-8 hour/day, 4 days per week, maybe only 3.5days/week) for the girls. But I'm not sure where to start on finding some potential people. I feel like a lot of college students are ruled out because, unless they are taking all night or online classes, our schedules wouldn't mesh.

Any ideas on where to look or ask around? I've already posted on my FB page and am planning on posting on the FYT area (though my area isn't really busy). I'm a little skeptical of posting on craigslist (has anyone done this?) and we don't go to church anywhere, or I would consider asking around there.

Thanks.

[colleen2851]

You could try care.com or sittercity.com (I've used care.com in the past). Post an ad, then if a response sounds good to you, THEN begin a membership.

I've also used craiglist.com for a nanny. But I'm WAH, so I felt a little better about the lack of screening since I could essentially do my own screening. Good luck!

[mrsfrenchy]

I didn't know that you could post without first paying for a membership, which is why I was going to exhaust my other options first.
I'll have to look into that further.

[One_Girl]

If your college has a career center then I think you should try posting there just in case. You may find a student that has a schedule that works with yours, especially if you have a large campus. I got a job through Craigslist as a sitter and it worked well and I am also posting at our career center and craigslist for a part time sitter now. I am willing to put $40 out there for a background check once I find someone I think will work so that is an option that works for us. I think it is important to use whatever options you can because there are a lot of sitters, at least in my area, who want a lot of money to babysit. I have had several people request more than I will be making working in a daycare that pays really good money for our area, some of them have requested twice what I make. You need a lot of sources so you can find someone reasonable and good.

[notneb]

Would you consider using more than one person? IME, many college students schedule their classes either M/W/F or T/TH in order to work the alternate days of the week. If you could find 2 college students who were good fits and had classes on different days of the week, that might work well.

Do you have any friends who are SAHP and who might be interested in supplementing their family's income by watching your kids for some or all of the time you need care?

[moonyoungi]

Just another option to throw out there is home-based daycare/preschool. It's hard find good ones, but when you do, I think it's really ideal for some families. It's usually more affordable, intimate home-like environment, and also having other children to play with and such. I found my dream family childcare through a mom that I hung out with at the park. It was such a lucky draw that she referred me to my DCP, because you can't really find her through google! If you know any like-minded mamas, I would ask around that circle.

Also, I would not dismiss craigslist just yet. It can be a good resource. Of course, you get good with bad, so you have to use your discretion and instinct. We found really lovely sitter for occasions here and there, and she goes to same school as I do (I'm an undergrad).

[moobiegirl]

I used craigslist to find an in-home daycare. We tried several before finding "the one". I was very careful in my choice and if I didn't feel comfortable there we didn't go back.