Whether it's because your family leave is coming to an end or you need extra support; you've decided it's time. You're ready to hire child care!
Now what? Where do you begin?
The idea of starting the search might feel overwhelming to you. Especially if you're new to the world of child care and you've never gone through this process before. Because who wants to start something new without any direction?
Plus, you're most likely already making a million little and big decisions for your family throughout the day. Trying to figure out where to start and how to compare different the options feels like one more thing to add to your decision fatigued brain.
Wouldn't it be nice if someone could just give you a reference guide...a cheat sheet....a road map...(you get the idea)...showing you where you to start? Giving you a some sort of direction before you begin.
If you agree keep reading! Below you'll find a break down of 3 ways you can start your search and what to keep in mind with each one.
Download the free reference guide here if you, like me, like having something you can print and keep on the fridge.
1) WORD OF MOUTH
Word of mouth is a great way to get reliable recommendations on everything
from daycares to nannys to mother's helpers.
Talk to people whose judgment you trust; parent friends, colleagues, coworkers, and even neighbors.
Think about the people you in frequently interact with within your community.
Do you take your child(ren) to activities like music class or story time. Talk with the other parents, or even the teachers, at these activities. Ask them for recommendations or personal experiences.
Other nannies and babysitters are great resource to find potential recommendations. If you frequently run into the same nanny or babysitter at the playground or story time reach out to them. They
A) may be connected within the local child care network and know other child care providers.
B) have insight into the local daycare centers.
KEEP IN MIND
A child care situtation could be a good fit for one family but not necessarily for yours. This is why the interview process is SO invaluable. It helps you to figure out if someone is going to be the right fit for your family. Asking around also involves a lot of time and effort. You may need to talk with lots of people before getting any solid leads.
2) LOCAL GROUPS ONLINE
Check out local your parent or caregiver groups on Facebook.
To find a local group search your area with mom or parent; ie "Syracuse Moms." Different groups should start to appear in the drop down bar. You can also search for babysitter, nanny or daycare groups. Use the same approach; "Syracuse Babysitters" or "Syracuse Daycare Providers."
The parenting groups are a great place to ask for recommendations. Anything from
reputable daycare centers to names of reliable babysitters. People in these groups are usually more than willing to give feedback on their experiences with different daycare providers.
Babysitters, nannies or in home daycares will often post their availability or openings in groups specifically for child care providers. You can search through the recent posts to find a potential match or post your own job listing in need of child care.
KEEP IN MIND
While most of these groups are private- in reality anyone can join. So avoid posting anything too personal like your address, children's names or their schools. Posting and searching in these groups doesn't cost any money. But, it does require quite a bit of time and effort. You'll need to make sure your post is concise and stands out, keep an eye on reponses/ direct messages, and follow up with people.
3) NANNY SITES
These platforms are great if you're specifically looking to hire private care; someone to come into your home to provide child care.
Online sites like Nannylane, Urbansitter and GoNannies allow families to search for nannies and babysitters in their area. You can filter searches based on your needs; things like location, availability, and hourly rate. Then you can search through a variety of profiles to find a match.
KEEP IN MIND
Most sites offer background checks but don't necessarily require them. A nanny may opt out of a background check because this can be an expensive cost. Background checks ensure the person you're hiring is safe and responsible. As you get further down the hiring process you can always pay for a background check on a candidate.
You may need to pay a membership fee to access all the features of the site. This can add up if you're a member on more than one platform.
Some parents have a lot of success with nanny sites. Other families find that the follow- up rates are low OR there are a limited amount of profiles in their area. This tends to be more an issue for smaller cities and suburban areas.
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