Approaching daycare caregiver about babysitting

[Anonymous]

Our DS is about to turn 1 and has some separation anxiety. My husband and I would really love a day to ourselves but we'd worry that leaving him with a new babysitter during the day would freak him out (so far we've only left him with grandparents + babysitters at night where he doesn't notice).

Is it alright to approach one of the daycare providers to ask them if they'd be open to babysitting on the weekends or off days? I've heard of others doing that, so I'm curious how do you go about doing that? Just approach them during pick up or drop off?

[Anonymous]

This depends on your daycare (is it a center, in-home, small/large, etc.), but I would first ask the owner/administrator/whomever is in charge. I think this is generally acceptable, but depending on your daycare, they may have some sort of non-poaching rules around this. As long as permitted, yes, I'd just do exactly as you proposed. Does he have a main provider or are there several? If it is a small place, the owner might even know which providers are interested in evening/weekend gigs if you start with that discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends on your daycare (is it a center, in-home, small/large, etc.), but I would first ask the owner/administrator/whomever is in charge. I think this is generally acceptable, but depending on your daycare, they may have some sort of non-poaching rules around this. As long as permitted, yes, I'd just do exactly as you proposed. Does he have a main provider or are there several? If it is a small place, the owner might even know which providers are interested in evening/weekend gigs if you start with that discussion.

Great points, thanks! We are at a small center (not one of those chains but not in-home) and our son has several care givers in his room that he would feel comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Ask the director if it’s okay. Our preschool (not a daycare) doesn’t allow it.

[Anonymous]

Ask what their policy is. We were once at an in-home where the owner strictly forbade her employees from sitting for current families.

[Anonymous]

DD is a preschool teacher, and her school doesn't allow it. But she still does it on occasion.

[Anonymous]

just ask the teacher. the director doesnt want to know about it. it puts her in a bad spot.

[Anonymous]

Just ask. Our old center had a list posted of teachers that also babysat.

Just be prepared that it can be $$$.

[Anonymous]

Former teacher / director here.

Our formal policy (at four different programs) was not to advertise or endorse any teacher for babysitting. We hired them only for our program and did not want to take on the liability of having supported their employment in a private home.

Families could directly ask teachers to babysit (and many did). Lots of teachers appreciated making $$ during holidays and school closures. The kids are easier to babysit when you know them. Parents already trust the teachers.

As a parent at a different center, I did ask teachers casually, "do you ever do any babysitting?" We have had very few people watch our child, but the few times I had a later afternoon meeting or something and needed a babysitter, our one trusted babysitter was our kid's infant room teacher. I paid her $20/hour + ordered whatever delivery she wanted for dinner. She basically just had to walk kid home after work and eat dinner with him.

I would always be respectful if teachers said no... some view teaching as their profession and may be insulted that you equate that to babysitting.

As a former infant / toddler teacher, I always declined and told parents that I preferred to keep my work and private lives separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask the director if it’s okay. Our preschool (not a daycare) doesn’t allow it.

Probably because they don’t want staff to be poached for nanny jobs.

[Anonymous]

Our daycare doesn't allow it. I have never asked because I wouldn't want to get teachers in trouble. If one of them was quitting (for non-performance reasons) I might give them my cell phone number and offer.

My toddler adjusted really well to a new sitter (from Care.com). Try to find one with nanny experience or get a rec from a friend. They're out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS is about to turn 1 and has some separation anxiety. My husband and I would really love a day to ourselves but we'd worry that leaving him with a new babysitter during the day would freak him out (so far we've only left him with grandparents + babysitters at night where he doesn't notice).

Is it alright to approach one of the daycare providers to ask them if they'd be open to babysitting on the weekends or off days? I've heard of others doing that, so I'm curious how do you go about doing that? Just approach them during pick up or drop off?

No. It is not all right. The center may have rules prohibiting moonlighting and you would be putting employee in a bad situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a preschool teacher, and her school doesn't allow it. But she still does it on occasion.

She will be found out and fired and this will follow her in all references.