August 25, 2016- Whether you're heading back to work full-time, planning a night out or looking for an extra pair of hands, child-care providers can help give you a break. But you may be overwhelmed with the variety of child care choices. Whether you can spend a little or a lot, whether you need full-time care or you just an hour of help here and there, there is a provider who can meet your needs.
Mother's Helper
A mother's helper is a child-care provider who helps to watch and entertain a child during the day while a parent is still at home. A mother's helper is often younger than the parent, perhaps around junior high age. Because mother's helpers are often younger, lack the experience of an established babysitter, and are usually not watching a child on their own, rates may range from free (where the helper merely wants to gain babysitting experience) to about twelve dollars an hour. Your best bet for finding a mother's helper is to ask trusted parents in your social circle who know of or have preteens looking for child-care experience.
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Babysitter
A babysitter is any individual you hire by the hour to care for your child. A babysitter may work during the day or night and may watch the child at your home or at hers. A babysitter's main duty, of course, is to care for your child, which can include responsibilities such as preparing food, putting kids down for naps or bedtime, assisting with homework, or providing transportation to or from activities. Pay rates depend on where you live in the country, the age of the babysitter, and the number of children being watched, plus their ages. Most rates are hourly and average from $12 to $20, depending on the region and the age of the babysitter, but $15 an hour is the most common.
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Nanny
Hate having to rush your tot out the door in the morning to get to day care? A nanny typically has a regular and more involved relationship with the family. She may watch the child for multiple hours every day or on a consistent weekly schedule. In contrast to a babysitter, nannies have decided to dedicate themselves to the child care profession. In addition to experience, some nannies will have a formal education in child development or related fields. They will engage in developmental activities as well as possibly cook or clean for the family. Nannies usually charge by the hour, but may be paid once a week or once a month. Rates are often higher than that for a typical babysitter, averaging $15 to $25 an hour. To find a nanny, hire an agency if you want someone else to take care of background and reference checks. Otherwise, try online resources,if you want to browse candidates on your own, or check with local college campuses to see if any students with flexible schedules are looking for work.
Au Pair
Au pair programs are generally the most affordable option for families with more than one child, as you pay per family not per child. An au pair is a person from a different country who provides live-in child care for a family. In French, the phrase au pair means "at par," or "equal to" as the au pair is supposed to be considered a member of the family and not just hired help. Au pair duties can include anything related to caring for the children including child-related household help. In the U.S., the host family provides room and board as well as a stipend based on minimum wage in exchange for a set number of child-care hours. "Au pairs are thoroughly screened in their home countries" Local Childcare Consultant, Alynn Decker, explains, "Before arriving to your home in the U.S., they complete an intensive online training course and spend 4 days at our Au Pair Training School in New York reviewing child safety and development and earning a 2-year adult and pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid certification by American Red Cross instructors.". This option is very convenient for busy families too, "You customize your au pairs schedule according to your weekly needs, as long as they do not work more than 45 hours per week", says Decker, "you never have to worry about snow days, sick days and other times when care is hard to find." Because an au pair lives with you as a member of your family, your relationship with her develops quickly and mutual trust happens much faster than with a daycare provider or live-out nanny. Closely monitored by the U.S. State Department, au pairs are caring and committed, adventurous and educated young people, ages 18-26 years, from many different countries worldwide. They are eager to experience American culture while sharing their own unique backgrounds with their host families. The cost is about $360/week per family, regardless of how many kids you have.
Day-Care Center
A day-care center provides child care in a nonresidential, drop-off facility. Some day-care centers may allow for short, hour-by-hour care, but most provide either half- or full-day care that includes activities, meals, naps, and possibly outings. Day-care centers have monthly fees that vary greatly based on the location and type of care provided. Use recommendations from friends, search engines, or lists from state licensing agencies to find day-care centers near you. Daycares charge steep late pick-up fees, have weather-related closings and strict sick policies.
Family Day Care
A family day-care center, or home day-care center, is child care provided in someone else's home. Family day cares can be cheaper than a day-care center and may be conveniently located in your neighborhood. They often have fewer children in their care, which may make some children and parents feel more comfortable because the home setting, with familiar places and spaces, can help some kids transition more easily into day care. Many state licensing regulations require that family day cares provide age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate activities for the children and have required training for providers. Because family day-care centers often don't advertise much, you can find them by word-of-mouth.
Relative Care
Relative care is when a grandparent, aunt, or other family member watches and provides care to your children. This type of care is beneficial, as someone you already know and trust is watching your child, but it can also add potential stress to a family relationship if you find it difficult to communicate your expectations to a relative. A relative (especially one who is retired) may be willing to provide child care for free, but you should be prepared to discuss some form of payment or compensation for their time and effort.
Alynn Decker is a Local Childcare Consultant and a knowledgeable resource for families anywhere in the country considering hosting an au pair. She can be reached at 215-870-2781 or "adecker.aupairnews.com".
