nanny

Choosing and Having an In-Home Care Provider: a 6 step process

Step 2: Where to look and the search

Once you have determined which sort of care provider you are looking for it is time to begin looking.  

You can start by writing an ad, even if you don’t plan on posting a formal advertisement, writing down what and who you are looking for will help make things clear, if later you decide to post an ad or are using a referral service you will have your needs already written down and ready to post or share.  On the other hand you may consider writing a list of what you don’t want; feel free to be honest with this list since only you will see it. If you are in a parenting team make time to go over your needs together. If your child or children are of speaking age get their input, your 2 year-old may ask for a mermaid in which case you’ll have to make room for disappointment but on the other hand that request can be interpreted as a wish for someone with a familiarity with folklore and children’s literature which is valid search criteria.

When making either list, consider questions such as:

• Would you prefer that your care provider be of the same faith or nationality as your family?
• Are you open to the idea of a manny (male nanny) or male babysitter?
• Are there factors you would be willing to work around for the right candidate such as making a few schedule changes, postponing your care start date, or hiring a cycle commuter when you had originally wanted someone with a driver’s license?
• Are you open to the idea of a care provider bringing their own child? If you are open to that, do you prefer their child be the same age as your own?
• Considering that in Portland many rely on bicycle and Trimet for transportation, if your home is inaccessible by bus or bike would you be willing to work around your caregiver’s transportation needs or do you require that they have their own transportation?
• How much are you willing to spend? You don’t have to know a specific hourly rate, just have an idea ahead of time of what your cap is.
• If you are searching for a postpartum doula do you prefer that they be certified through a specific organization such as CAPPA (Childbirth And Postpartum Professional Association) or DONA?
• If a care provider is uncomfortable with large dogs would you be willing to take Fido to doggy daycare during care time?

The more specific your job description and search criteria, the less time you will spend screening and interviewing candidates who may not meet your needs.

Ok, you now know exactly who you are looking for, what you want them to do, how much you can afford to spend, and when you want them to start, amongst many other facts regarding your potential in-home care provider; now to get the word out.

Babysitters, nannies, and mother’s helpers can be found in your community by  word of mouth, local ad postings on community boards, via online sites such as craigslist.org, sittercity.com, or care.com, or through a local nanny agency which can be found by a simple google search.  The benefit of using a nanny agency or care provider search website is that these organized communities offer screening services and background checks (more about background checks in next week’s article).  Postpartum doulas and collectives will post service information at birthing centers and baby/mama boutiques as well as other community spaces. CAPPA and DONA certified postpartum doulas in your area can be found through the organization websites.

I have known families to write an ad and email it to past nannies, sitters, and other parents as a means of searching within their network.  Consider also parks, libraries, and other community areas.  Most reputable nannies are snatched up the moment they become available so don’t be afraid to strike conversation with a nanny you may see regularly at a park or other community area, she or he may be becoming available soon or may know a nanny who is searching; just be careful to respect that they are working and their first priority is the care of the child they are working with.  Some families have found it beneficial to create a calling card to easily share their contact information in the chance that they meet the perfect caregiver in line at the grocery store or at a restaurant; it never hurts to be prepared.

Next week’s article will be the third in this 6 part series on choosing and having an in-home care provider.

Return next week for Step 3: Interviewing
Read last week’s Step 1: Who are you searching for?

Works Consulted:
Sears, William M.D. & Martha R.N.. The Baby Book.  New York: Little Brown & Company, 1993.

About the author

Celina Wigle is a Postpartum Doula and Infant Multiples Relief Nanny.  Since 2000 she has provided care for over 60 families as a nanny, babysitter, mother’s helper, teacher, and doula.  She received a  degree in writing from PSU in 2006.  More about her background and services can be viewed at www.celinawigle.com.

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(The following article is the first of a six step process from Celina Wigle, Postpartum Doula and Infant Multiples Relief Nanny.  One step will be discussed each week for the following six weeks.  Please post comments or questions below that you may have for Celina or visit her website: www.celinawigle.com.)

 
Choosing and Having an In-Home Care Provider: a 6 step process

Step 1: Who are you searching for?

The first step in searching for a care provider is to think about what sort of care you need.  Depending on the age of your child, the hours of care you will need per week, and your proximity while receiving care you may need a babysitter, a full or part-time nanny, a mother’s helper, or possibly a postpartum doula.

The following are general job descriptions for each form of care provider.

 
Babysitter

A babysitter’s services are utilized generally on an on-call basis.  The implications of a babysitter’s services include entertaining and providing basic care needs such as serving a simple meal or two, putting to bed, changing diapers or helping with the potty in the absence of the parent, essentially holding the fort down while you step out for a while. 

Cost*: $8.50-$15 per hour depending on number of children, expected duties, and experience

 
Nanny

While a nanny also provides basic care needs the services of a nanny far extend beyond the basic.  A nanny’s services generally include incorporating educational intentions and goals into play activities with any age of group and working with the parents towards certain behavioral goals such as chores and manners.  In younger care cases an infant nanny will be able to help with sleep training and the introduction of new foods and monitoring a baby’s needs while providing or making arrangements for the next developmental step.  The goals of a nanny usually include maintaining and contributing educated insight into positive behavioral patterns in both the child and family.  A nanny is a part of the family unit working regularly and intimately with family members towards cohesive care.

Cost: $12-$25 per hour depending on number of children, expected duties, and experience

 
Mother’s Helper

In the case of both a nanny and a babysitter there is an assumption that care may or may not be provided in the absence of the parent. If you will be home during the time in which you are searching to hire an alternative care provider you may consider hiring a mother’s helper.  A mother’s helper often fills the role for a stay-at-home parent that a secretary may fill for a business professional.  A mother’s helper may run a few errands for you or help with family meal prep or help with household chores. Their role is to function as an extra pair of hands so you have more time and energy to direct towards parenting. A mother’s helper may have experience with children but perhaps not as much as a nanny, they may be working towards becoming a nanny or another form of care-provider, in any case it is assumed that your attention will be on your child or children and their job is to help you, not necessarily to babysit.

Cost: $8.50-$10 per hour depending on expected duties and experience

 
Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula is another form of mom-centered in-home care provider.  A postpartum doula provides physical and emotional support for new moms and new families.  Her first and primary responsibility is the new mother and whatever  needs to be done to nurture the bond between the new mother and baby, whether that be helping the mother with a load of laundry or light cleaning, or just listening and offer a voice of experience.  A postpartum doula will have knowledge of breastfeeding and baby care but is not to be confused with the advice and information provided by a medical practitioner. Postpartum doulas provide care within the newborn phase, at 3 months of age arrangements for alternative care should be made.

Cost: $20-$25 per hour depending on experience

*Costs are based on 2011 minimum wage and average costs for services in Portland, OR.

 
Next week’s article will be the second in this six part series on choosing and having an in-home care provider.
Return next week for Step 2: Where to Look.

  
 About the author:

Celina Wigle is a Postpartum Doula and Infant Multiples Relief Nanny.  Since 2000 she has provided care for over 60 families as a nanny, babysitter, mother’s helper, teacher, and doula.  She received a  degree in writing from PSU in 2006.  More about her background and services can be viewed at http://www.celinawigle.com/.

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