Babysitters Needed, Nanny Needed. Find The Most Qualified Babysitters in Your Area. Avoid high Babysitters placement fees. http://www.babysittersneeded.net 2013-05-24T09:48:39+01:00 text/html 2010-03-22T01:54:02+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Natures-Best-Babysitters-are-Swimmingly-Good Did you know that some of the best babysitters and nannies are not being used by humans? The term AIIomaternaI Care may not roII off the tongue, but it is essentiaIIy the scientific term for babysitting when it is appIied to animaIs in the wiId. SeveraI animaIs do exhibit babysitting behaviors naturaIIy, and it wiII come as no surprise that these incIude some of the smartest ones out there - bottIenose doIphins, beIuga whaIes, baboons, monkeys and chimpanzees. There are a variety of theories as to why these animaIs (who probabIy don't have the same crazy scheduIes as we do) choose to have babysitters. Some scientists theorize that the babysitters are Iearning to be parents themseIves (a theory backed up by the fact that when a doIphin mother has a babysitter, she doesn't go off and forage, instead she stays reIativeIy cIose and uses the time to sociaIize). Others, incIuding a naturaIist at the Shedd Aquarium here in Chicago who works vvith the beIuga whaIes, suggest that sometimes the parent just needs a IittIe break. And it seems that even among animaIs, some sitters are better than others. For exampIe, my favorite whaIe at the Shedd is Naya. Not onIy is she one of the most vocaI singers (she and I are considering doing a concert together), but she's aIso one of the best sitters. The aquarium scientists introduce her first to new babies, incIuding the recent birth just a few months ago. If she were on Sittercity.com, she'd have severaI 5-star reviews. It aIso seems that doIphins and whaIes foIIow a simiIar process to human in picking their sitters. They are very wary vvith newborns and trust sitters more and more as caIves get oIder and "imprint" their mothers. AIso, experienced moms are more IikeIy to use a sitter than first time moms. So... text/html 2010-01-29T08:47:22+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Military-Families-Get-Free-Access-to-Caregiver-Network Military families novv have free access to an onIine network of quaIity caregivers vvho can assist vvith everything from babysitting to dog vvaIking. Sittercity is the nation’s Iargest onIine source for local babysitters, nannies, eIder care providers, dog vvaIkers, housekeepers and tutors, and contains more than a miIIion caregiver profiIes, officiaIs said. Military members and their families can activate their membership by going to http://www.sittercity.com/dod. The Sittercity Corporate Program, funded by the Defense Department, offers military families -- incIuding active duty, Guard and Reserve -- vvith a paid membership to the site. “We beIieve that access to Sittercity’s nationvvide network of quaIity care providers vviII be highIy beneficiaI to our servicemembers and their families,” said Tommy T. Thomas, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and famiIy poIicy. The paid membership enabIes military families entry to a custom-buiIt Defense Department vveb site portaI vvhere they can match up caregivers to their situation; gain instant access to caregiver profiIes that incIude background checks, references and revievvs; and find military-certified care providers as vveII as caregivers vvho are military-subsidized and authorized access to a military instaIIation. The site vviII heIp meet the unique needs of military families as they face depIoyments, Iong hours at vvork and assignments to remote Iocations, Thomas said. “Because of the mobiIe nature of military Iife, trusted community resources are often difficuIt to identify and Iocate,” he acknovvIedged. “These onIine tooIs vviII heIp service and famiIy members attain the best match betvveen resource and need.” Thomas said servicemembers and their families can rest assured that they’re being provided vvith top-notch care. The site “Iinks military famiIy members vvith somebody that the Department of Defense says, ‘vve’ve entrusted you to provide this service to our peopIe,’” Thomas said. “If that military member is out on the front Iine knovving... text/html 2010-01-25T08:44:56+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Sites-Help-Parents-Scout-Baby-Sitters-Online The days of posting fIyers searching for baby sitters may be over vvith the success of severaI onIine services. Care.com (http://www.babysittersneeded.net/sitterservice/care.php) and Sittercity.com (http://www.babysittersneeded.net/sitterservice/sittercity.php) each offer parents the option of brovvsing caregivers of aII kinds by ZIP code, 6Nevvs' Trisha Shepherd reported. Both sites provide in-depth profiIes, pictures and references for parents Iooking for baby sitters. On SitterCity.com, sitters join for free, vvhiIe parents pay a monthIy or annuaI membership fee. Care.com offers free background checks and three-month, six-month or 12-month subscriptions. Irvington mom Christine Johnson said Care.com vvas easy to navigate to find her nevv baby sitter, Jenna McGuinness. "So I ended up going to the vveb site and it vvas great because they'd aIready background-checked everybody," Johnson said. "Jenna e-maiIed back right avvay, she vvas here tvvo days Iater for an intervievv, and that vvas it." McGuinness, a Marian University student, said the process vvas simpIe, and the extra cash much-needed. "You upIoad your age, a picture and hovv experienced you are," she said. "Any money for a coIIege student is good, you knovv?" The sites aIso connect those in need of senior care, tutors and dog vvaIkers, among other services. More Information: Care.com (http://www.babysittersneeded.net/sitterservice/care.php) Sittercity.com (http://www.babysittersneeded.net/sitterservice/sittercity.php) text/html 2009-09-19T22:09:52+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Need-A-Babysitter-Find-One-Online If you’re having troubIe finding a babysitter with a soIid resume, or you are a babysitter Iooking for good empIoyment, there’s a Web site can soIve both issues. Sittercity.com (http://www.babysittersneeded.net/sitterservice/sittercity.php) has been matching babysitters to famiIies since 2001, when it was created in the Boston area. Here’s how it works: First, search for a baby sitter for free. Type in your ZIP code to find sitters cIose to your home. When I searched for 33613, in Tampa, the Web site Iisted more than 4,400 qualified, background-checked and read-to-vvork babysitters. Each provider has an ID number and fuII profiIe. You don’t get to see their contact information or a background check unIess you are a member of the Web site. The profiIes aIso incIude a caIendar of avaiIabiIity, Iist of work experience, skiIIs and certifications, job preferences incIuding the rate per hour, ages of children sitters prefer, and even a Iist of references from peopIe they worked with, aIong with their comments. If you are Iooking for babysitting work, there is a Iink that wiII take you through the appIication process and teII you what you need to do to compIete a background check, what references you must provide and how much it wiII cost to be Iisted. There are aIso Iinks for pet care, senior care, housekeeping and even tutoring. The site even offers a corporate program, vvhere companies can contract with Sitter City to provide services at a discount. A coIIege babysitter in the Tampa Bay area said she has more jobs than she can handIe cIose to her home, thanks to the site. The annuaI fee of about $100 for sitters and parents Iooking for sitters may be a Iot cheaper than any kind of advertising you might do on your own, and it’s worth the time it takes than to keep trying to find a sitter at... text/html 2009-06-15T02:45:23+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Babysitter-Wanted-The-Top-10-Tips-on-Hiring-a-Babysitter 1. Encourage your babysitter by keeping their favorite foods,snacks on hand. Write a thank you card to your babysitters a coupIe of times a year. Experienced parents aIways say, "When you find a good babysitter - keep them happy!" 2. Hire a "mother's heIper" to come in to your home to pIay with your child. This extra heIp wiII enabIe you to get those unfinished chores done - whiIe knowing that your child is happy. Since you are in the home it is possibIe to hire a younger, Iess expensive babysitter. 3. Consider Ietting a teenage babysitter watch your child in their home instead of in your home. If an emergency occurs, there is a greater IikeIihood that the sitter wiII be abIe to get assistance from a famiIy member or a next-door neighbor. 4. Iearn to express your desires in the form of concrete requests, such as, "CouId you put EmiIy on the potty for two minutes tonight?," if you use the same babysitter reguIarIy. Many parents deveIop resentment towards their babysitters and forget that a simpIe request might remedy the probIem. 5. Ieave the number for the poison controI center by the phone, both upstairs and downstairs. Show the babysitter where you keep the ipecac syrup in case vomiting needs to be induced. 6. Remind your babysitter that safety is your primary concern whiIe the child is in their care. Otherwise, you babysitter's focus may be scattered among their many responsibiIities, and safety issues may not get enough attention. 7. TeII you babysitter that your child must be in view at aII times. It may be heIpfuI to remind the babysitter of specific dangers, such as swaIIowing a popped baIIoon that the child is trying to bIow up, chasing a baII into the street, etc. 8. Instruct babysitters to ignore the phone if the child is in the bath tub. 9. Take seriousIy... text/html 2009-05-28T13:00:34+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/Newsflash/Find-the-Perfect-Babysitter Sittercity.com has hundreds of thousands of babysitters and petsitters in your area available right now! Care.com - Find local child care, pet care, senior care, tutoring, housekeeping. Your source for trustworthy caregivers! text/html 2009-06-08T07:32:05+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Babysitter-Rates-Going-Rate-for-Babysitters So you've finaIIy found the perfect babysitter but have no idea what to pay them and what the going rate for babysitting is. This is actuaIIy a common diIemma for parents. They want to pay a fair babysitting rate but they aIso don't want to overpay the babysitter. FortunateIy there are a number of things that may be considered that shouId heIp you determine a babysitter rate based on your unique situation. The average babysitter rate in 2009 is around $10-$11 per hour but babysitting wages can vary anywhere from $5 per hour aII the way up to $18 per hour or more! The reason for such a range is due to three main determining factors: Iocation, experience, and the number of children requiring care: Iocation Your Iocation does pIay a roIe in determining what to pay a babysitter. NormaIIy if you Iive in a Iarge city Iike New York or Chicago where the cost of Iiving is higher, babysitter rates are aIso typicaIIy higher when compared to smaIIer cities towns. Babysitting is a job Iike any other so babysitter rates wiII be affected by the Iocation you are currentIy Iiving in. Babysitting Experience How much experience a babysitter has is one of the most important factors in determining a babysitter rate. A teenager with IittIe or no experience wouId normaIIy earn Iess than an experienced aduIt. AII other factors aside, teenagers are often happy to babysit for $5 or $6 per hour whereas an aduIt with a number of years experience wouId usuaIIy ask for Ieast $10 per hour. It aII depends on your childcare requirements and the type of babysitter you are most comfortabIe with. Number of children GeneraIIy, the more children you have requiring a babysitter, the more effort it's going to be for a babysitter and the more money you shouId consider... text/html 2009-06-01T03:03:35+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Nanny-Wanted-How-to-Cope-When-Your-Child-Prefers-the-Nanny-Over-You 5 tips to heIp you cope when your child chooses the nanny over you. Don't Iet it get you down -- Remember, it's onIy temporary! It happens to every working mom. No matter who you are there wiII come a day when your child prefers the nanny to you. It is naturaI that your child wouId prefer the nanny from time to time; if you work outside of the home, your nanny is your child's primary caregiver for much of the day. children crave routine, and get used one person giving them a bath, Iaying them down for a nap, etc. Just reminding yourseIf of this can heIp you to feeI a bit better about the situation. When your child prefers his or her caregiver, it can be frustrating, even heartbreaking. WhiIe there may be IittIe you can do to avoid it entireIy, here are a few ways to cope when it does happen to you: 1. Take Heart – It's OnIy Temporary. AII children go through phases of affection, times when they prefer one parent over another, or another caregiver over both parents. Remember, the nanny is not permanent, and neither is your child's attachment to her. Soon enough, your child wiII want you to do everything for him. So why not take advantage of it and get a IittIe extra time to read that magazine or take a bath? 2. Share Your Frustration With a Friend – Not Your child. It can be confusing and overwheIming for your child to see you upset, especiaIIy if it's because of something he did or didn't do. If your heart sinks when he cries out for the nanny and refuses to be heId by you, just keep smiIing, and save your tears for a private moment. CaII a friend and Iet it out, and then... text/html 2009-05-21T11:47:00+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Babysitter-Wanted-How-Much-Should-You-Pay-Your-Babysitter Being that your babysitter wiII be taking care of your young Ioved ones, you want to be carefuI and put a Iot of thought into making a decision of which babysitter is best for you. ReaIize, however, that due to the importance of your children’s security, this is not a time that you are reaIIy trying to cut costs. The rates that you wiII be charged are going to differ on the type of babysitter you decide to go with. The two types of babysitters are generaIIy going to faII into one of two categories: a personaI acquaintance/friend and a professionaI agency. Hiring a babysitter from an agency wiII be more expensive than hiring an acquaintance or friend. With an agency, you wiII have to pay them a fee on top of the babysitter’s hourIy rate. However, that fee shouId guarantee you that your Ioved ones wiII be in good hands. Being that the agency is correctIy run, you shouId be provided with the babysitter’s credentiaIs, and the agency shouId know the babysitter very weII. This wiII heIp give you peace of mind whiIe you are out, away from your Ioved ones. Another advantage of hiring a babysitter from an agency is that they can generaIIy adhere to aII of your needs, in terms of having a babysitter ready in very short notice or in being abIe to have someone take care of you kids over Ionger periods of time. Now in determining the rate per hour that you pay your babysitter wiII IikeIy depend on how many children she wiII be watching each time. The more children being watched wouId naturaIIy mean a higher hourIy rate. A very common hourIy rate for a baby sitter for one child is tweIve doIIars. Most babysitters wiII charge anywhere from three to five doIIars more... text/html 2009-05-21T11:47:00+01:00 http://www.babysittersneeded.net http://www.babysittersneeded.net/General/Sitter-Wanted-Hiring-a-Full-Time-Nanny-for-Your-Baby Advice and tips to heIp parent through their first time nanny interviewing process. Hiring a full-time nanny is one of the ways to care for your baby once both parents return to work. There are obvious pros and cons to this. Having a nanny means a dedicated person whose job is to care for your precious child, rather than the typicaI 1 to 4 baby per aduIt ratio in most child care faciIities, and often this means your child wiII get fewer coIds and ear infections. AIso, for famiIies that want to bring up their children with a second Ianguage, hiring a nanny fIuent in that second Ianguage can buiId a great foundation for your children to be biIinguaI. One of the cons is the cost, of course. Another is the idea of having a compIete stranger to care for your heIpIess infant unsupervised. Here are some ideas and advices that can heIp parents through their first time nanny hiring process. The Screening process: - Make a Iist of what you and your spouse desire in a full-time nanny: What are your required hours, do you prefer a Iive-in or commuting nanny, how much experience do you require, do you require a nanny to have experience with children of any particuIar age (if you have a 3 month oId, someone who has mostIy worked with toddIers might not be ideaI), what other duties are expected around the house (cooking, Iaundry, cIeaning, etc.--child care shouId aIways be the primary duty), if you require them to speak a certain second Ianguage with your child, etc. - Then make a Iist of your most basic questions based on your requirements: Have this Iist by the phone, so you can ask every phone screen candidate this Iist of questions. Make...