Nannies & Sitters

Park Slope Parents, (PSP), a great resource for parents in Brooklyn, did a "Nanny Compensation Survey" of over 1100 parents in June 2008. I read the entire thing (and it isn't short),  but it really dissected a lot of questions and issues people ask or have when hiring a part-time or full-time nanny. I am sure other parents and nannies will find it really insightful- you can use it to gauge where you are in terms of pay, responsibilities, vacation pay and more. For the entire survey and results visit their site here.

Local Parents Groups for Nannies and Sitters
Parents Groups
The link above is to all of the parents groups in Brooklyn. If you join one of the groups (especially the one for your neighborhood), do a search in their database for "sitter" or "nanny" in the archives. People are constantly posting about their sitters' or nannies' availability (including shares). You can also post a search for what you are looking for in a nanny or sitter. I would also suggest going to www.parkslopeparents.com and registering there for ParkSlopeParents_Classifieds. This is a huge marketplace where you can find nannies and sitters.

Babysitters.com
http://www.babysitters.com
Whether you need help for the long term, or just for the day, you can create a job posting for nearby sitters. They will also let you know about new sitters that register in the area.  This is a for-pay online service where you can browse profiles, see references, and find out people's availability before having them come in for an interview... Its $30 for the first 3 months and $9 a month afterwards. They do background checks and references.

Baby Sitters’ Guild
212-682-0227
babysittersguild.com
Price is dependent on the ages and number of children being supervised.

Despite sounding like it should be a tween fiction series, the Guild, established in 1940, is the grande dame of sitter services. These are the people who visiting executives and diplomats call to watch their kids in hotel rooms while they’re off establishing corporate takeovers or signing treaties. My call to the Guild was answered by a live operator, so I knew right away this was a major operation. Even still, I wasn’t expecting the $25- an- hour fee I was quoted. Nor was I anticipating the confirmation call I received at the relatively late hour of 9PM—after I’d put my kids down to sleep—telling me to expect Ilsa the following morning.

Ilsa arrived exactly on time, as if her watch were synchronized with my home clocks. She was a very proper looking middle-aged woman, with the air of a European governess about her. I didn’t have to offer up any information; she walked in with all of her questions ready: “When should he get his first bottle? How does he like to go to sleep? Should I rock him?” Though Ilsa was nothing but cordial, I was slightly intimidated, suddenly worried that our apartment wasn’t clean enough, that my son’s wadded-up pajamas under his bouncy chair would be seen as a sign of lackluster parenting. Dash was all smiles, though, as Ilsa cooed to him tenderly. For the four hours that I worked in my office, I heard almost no noise from behind the door. I assumed the silence meant Dash was napping most of the time, so I was surprised to hear afterwards that he’d only slept for just 25 minutes.
-Christopher Healy, Time Out Kids

Barnard College Babysitting Service
(212) 854-2035
(212) 854-2412 fax
Established in 1965, the Barnard Babysitting Service is a nonprofit, student-run agency designed to provide
employment for Barnard College students and to provide parents with a convenient and relatively inexpensive source of childcare. There is an annual nonrefundable registration fee, which enables you to post your jobs for one year (day and evening, regular, sporadic or one-time).

Baruch College
(212) 802-6718
(212) 802-6728 fax
A babysitting job description with specifics submitted to Baruch College will be posted on their bulletin
board. Students respond directly and the college is not involved in the placement.

College Quick Jobs
http://www.collegequickjobs.com
support@collegequickjobs.com
347-497-5312
CollegeQuickJobs.com connects local NYC residents with students from Columbia, NYU and other top colleges.  Our focus is on short-term household jobs like babysitting, dog walking, tutoring, running errands, etc.  You can register, post a job, and view the resumes of the students that apply for your job for free.  If you like what you see, you can get the contact information (phone number and email address) of students for $12.99.  Each additional student after that is $1.99.  You can then call or email the students directly to arrange the final hiring details.CollegeQuickJobs.com was started by Michael Gugel and Kelly Lewis as students at the University of Virginia.  Since graduating last May, they've moved to NYC and relaunched the site in New York City.  People are welcome to post a babysitting job (or any other short-term job) from anywhere around New York City.  The students we have on the site are scattered around the city and most are more than willing to commute.  If you need to reach us by mail, our address is PO Box 090784, Brooklyn, NY 11209.

Greataupair.com
http://greataupair.com/

You create your family profile so that Au Pairs and nannies can find you and notify you of their interest in your position. The membership fee for 90 days is US$120 and the membership fee for 30 days is US$60. The 90-day membership is actually more economical in the long run as it works out to be only $40 per month.  The aupair’s average weekly salary for 40 to 45 hours of childcare is US$140 and may be less in other countries. An aupair’s living expenses, which include room and board, are covered by the family, unless the aupair requires unique dietary items for which she/he should be responsible. Also the aupair is responsible for all personal items such as toiletries, health supplements, hair care items, etc. A private bedroom should be provided for the aupair.

Back when I was an intern in college, our firm worked with GreatAupair.com, another nanny site. It always got great feedback and I know for a fact it's completely safe. I actually considered signing up for it myself this summer in need of some extra cash! But I would highly recommend this site to any parent looking for a nanny.

Julliard
(212) 799-5000 ext. 313 (Placement Office)
(212) 579-9802 fax
Babysitting jobs submitted with description, salary, hours, and any specific requirements of the student
(experience, availability, etc.) will be posted. Students respond directly and the college is not involved with the placement.

Manhattan School of Music
(212) 749-2802 ext. 486 (Career Planning)
Babysitting jobs with specific job descriptions can be called in to a counselor at the above number and they will post it. Students respond directly and the college is not involved with the placement.

Now Nanny
www.nownannyny.com
718-522-2580
210 Douglass Street
Suite 1A
Brooklyn, NY 11217
You can get a nanny by the hour or a permanent one or hire out for children party's assistants and custom packages.  Rates start at $15.50 an hour.  Now Nanny is a service that pairs childcare workers and families together on a temporary, occasional, emergency and permanent basis. Now Nanny will handle all of the logistics including interviewing,  checking backgrounds and references, scheduling and payment from the client as well as to the caregiver.  Now Nanny will find caregivers by referrals from local parents and other caregivers.  When a caregiver is needed, the client can choose to call or email their request and Now Nanny will find the caregiver who meets their needs and make the arrangements.  Now Nanny will take special requests when scheduling such as a caregiver that speaks a specific language or has experience with twins.  Parents can also request a caregiver they have used in the past.  Caregivers can also be hired to assist parents during children’s parties, pick up children from school and take them to after-school activities when needed or as a mother’s helper.

NY City Explorers
nycityexplorers.com
388 Atlantic Avenue
(between Hoyt & Bond)
Brooklyn, NY 11216
718.625.6923
info@nycityexplorers.com
NYC Explorers is hosting some time-saving and fun events for parents and children this spring.
Beginning today (!) this Wednesday, March 5th is Wednesday, Midday Drop-Off: Every Wednesday from
9am-1pm for all ages. You may reserve 2-4 hours of childcare each Wednesday, and must reserve your child’s space by the Monday prior to each Wednesday to ensure there is space for your child(ren). The fee is $25 for 2 hours, $35 for 3 hours, and $40 for 4 hours. Siblings are ½ off. 
Friday, Movie Date Night: Every Friday from 5:30pm-10pm, All ages will enjoy a fun and healthy dinner with a group of their
peers and see a cool movie in their comfortable playspace while you enjoy a night out in Brooklyn. The
fee is $50 for the evening. Siblings are ½ off.
Sleep-in Saturdays: Every Saturday from 8am-1pm, All
ages will have breakfast, lunch, and a fun, exciting time through structured and free play. Reserve your
child's space early to ensure availability. Theyoffer local pickup for families within 5 blocks each way of
our space. You must reserve your child’s space by the Thursday prior to each Saturday to ensure that space is available. The fee is $60 per Saturday. Siblings are ½ off.
Smash House Saturdays: Every Saturday from 5:30pm-10:30pm (Children 6 and up). Drop off the older ones for a fun evening complete
with games, a healthy dinner, and a movie while you enjoy an evening out in Brooklyn. You must reserve your child’s space by the Thursday prior to each Saturday to ensure that space is available. The fee is $50 per Saturday. Siblings are ½ off.

This place has everything you want in a neighborhood play space and activity center. Their play space is clean, colorful and laid-back. There is a lounge and eating area where you can drop your shoes before indulging in the toys and space.  In the back they have a classroom where they host birthday parties and their academic- inspired classes like history, math and drama.  Their in house teacher Andrea  has her masters in curriculum development and has taught for seven years, so you can be sure she knows how to handle a roomful of energized kids. I have seen her at work and the kids adore her spirited guidance.  In addition, NYC Explorers offers special weekly events: Wednesday Dropoff Childcare, Friday Night Date Night (you get the date, the kids get lots of fun), Sleep-in Saturdays and more.  In addition, they offer adult support groups, after-school pickup and a babysitting service  either at their place at your own. They call it “edutaining”.  It is open 7 days a week from 9-6 pm. It is $10 for drop-in play or buy play packs or a discount packages.
-Karen

 

Pamela Potischman
The Nanny Bridge
www.nannybridge.com workshops@nannybridge.com
718.928.2421
Expert advice for nannies and caregivers. Pam holds workshops and does consultations for parents and nannies.  She also has a blog: http://blog.nannybridge.com/

Pinch Sitters 
http://www.nypinchsitters.com
212-260-6005
They charge $17 an hour with a 4 hour minimum.  They also do overnights.  They offer pet sitting and house sitting as well.

I started off with Pinch Sitters, mostly because I’m a sucker for a good pun. For 18 years, this agency has been dispatching experienced baby-watchers—all of whom hold college degrees—to every corner of NYC. My call was greeted with voice mail, but I got a response in less than an hour, and I was happy to hear that they had a sitter, Sandy, who lived near my Brooklyn neighborhood. When she arrived the next morning, she apologized for showing up five minutes early, then got right to work with the casualness of an old pro (she’s been babysitting for 17 years, easily half her life). She immediately got down on the floor to play with Dash even as I filled her in on all the important details, like when he takes naps, and where to find bibs and wipes. As I worked two rooms away, I heard my son giggle constantly—whatever they were doing in the living room, he was having a blast. The only time the happy noises stopped was for a solid hour-and-a-half lull, during which Sandy got Dash to nap in his bassinet (something I often have difficulty doing). Sandy also got bonus points for handling a diaper blowout with aplomb—Dash’s soiled clothes were rinsed clean and hanging dry over the tub when she left. I’ve already considered booking her again (you can request specific sitters, though there’s no guarantee they’ll be available) for the next time my wife and I need a night out.
-Christopher Healy, Time Out Kids

Sitters in the City
646-246-6024
sittersinthecity.com
$18 per hour, cab fare surcharge up to $10 after 9PM

My Sitters in the City experience also started with voice mail, and when no one got back to me by 5PM (the end of their business day), I figured I’d missed them. So I was pleasantly surprised to have one of the owners call me back after-hours to make sure I could get next-day coverage. However, I was less thrilled to hear about the $10 outer-borough surcharge that had not been mentioned on the company’s website. The following morning, Dash got to meet Lisette, who’d just moved from the West Coast to pursue a dance career (if she’d been watching my five-year-old daughter, Lisette likely would have been asked to pirouette for four hours straight). Her background, however, was not all leaps and leotards; she’d been watching kids as a side gig throughout her schooling. Lisette had a calm, subdued nature, and it rubbed off on Dash. She handled him very gently, and spoke to him in soft whispers. And she got him to nap for more than two hours—an interesting contrast to the raucous party that seemed to take place on Sandy’s watch. Not bad, just different.
--Christopher Healy, Time Out Kids

SitterCity
http://www.sittercity.com/index.php
You enter your zip code to see what sitters they have located near you.  The site will display names, reviews, qualifications and closeness of the sitters near you.  You can narrow the search by putting in specific criteria- from times available to rate charged to certification and languages spoken.  You can then view full profiles including reviews, references, a personal statement, photos, contact info and an online resume.  You can also do a job posting.  Last, you screen and interview offline. 

Comments

[Elaine]

What a nice blog you have (and I'm not just riffing on Little Red Riding Hood!). One question: I went to your link to local parents groups in Bklyn and the site couldn't be found. Is it possible to re-post it? I'm in Brooklyn Heights and expecting - having a fun time (not) trying to find infant daycare centers in the area... Many thanks -

[Nanny Search]

Nanny Available allow families and domestic personnel candidates the ability to quickly and easily find each other without the inconvenience and extra cost of an agency.