Hiring a mother's helper

[Anonymous]

I want to hire a mother's helper - ideally a college student studying ECE or something similar who is available a couple of afternoons per week to help with an infant, 3 year old, and 5 year old. I would ideally have this person start in late August/early September. When should I start looking? I assume most students don't have their fall schedules set up yet, so they're not yet looking/not able to commit?

[Anonymous]

A mother’s helper is a tween/young teen and it’s their first time watching young kids while a parent is home. A college student will expect to be paid a lot more than a mother’s helper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A mother’s helper is a tween/young teen and it’s their first time watching young kids while a parent is home. A college student will expect to be paid a lot more than a mother’s helper.

Yes, of course I'm willing to pay a college student more than a 10-12 year old. What would you call this person if not a mother's helper? Not a nanny because I'm home, not a babysitter because I want set hours.

[Anonymous]

She would be a very part time nanny, and impossible to find

[Anonymous]

I would probably begin my search a month ahead of when you would need them to begin.
This way you will not feel rushed to make a decision.

This might appeal to a younger person - - preferably someone still in high school.

Reason being is that anyone older like a college student, would likely want to earn upwards of $25+/HR for this type of work.
Well most college-aged girls and above wouldn’t want to work side by side w/a SAHM……they likely would want full autonomy so likely would prefer a Nanny position vs. a Mother’s Helper position.

When I envision a Mother’s Helper, I envision a very young girl >> one who is just starting her career in the childcare field.

[Anonymous]

You need more than a Mother's Helper to watch 3 kids under 5.

[Anonymous]

I have a babysitter come from 5:30-8:30pm about 2-3 days a week. I schedule her about a month in advance for certain dates or time I know I’ll be busy with work. I have a 6-year old and a 4-year old. She picks up the kids (using my car) from their summer camp, and helps me get them fed, plays outside with them, and gets them bathed and ready for bed. I work full-time and my husband frequently travels for work. I often have to catch up on work at night or take my son or daughter to soccer or baseball. She’s 21, is a part-time day nanny for another family and plans to attend beauty school in the fall. I’m in the Midwest and pay her $20/hour, which I know is steal compared to DC rates (we used to live there). I found her on my local area FB childcare page. It works well for us and I hope to find another college student in the fall looking for extra cash. GL!

[Anonymous]

You still call them a nanny or even a babysitter. A mother‘s helper is a completely different age category.

Plenty of babysitters have set hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would probably begin my search a month ahead of when you would need them to begin.
This way you will not feel rushed to make a decision.

This might appeal to a younger person - - preferably someone still in high school.

Reason being is that anyone older like a college student, would likely want to earn upwards of $25+/HR for this type of work.
Well most college-aged girls and above wouldn’t want to work side by side w/a SAHM……they likely would want full autonomy so likely would prefer a Nanny position vs. a Mother’s Helper position.

When I envision a Mother’s Helper, I envision a very young girl >> one who is just starting her career in the childcare field.

High schools students get $20/$30 an hour for three kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A mother’s helper is a tween/young teen and it’s their first time watching young kids while a parent is home. A college student will expect to be paid a lot more than a mother’s helper.

Yes, of course I'm willing to pay a college student more than a 10-12 year old. What would you call this person if not a mother's helper? Not a nanny because I'm home, not a babysitter because I want set hours.

A part time nanny. You are looking at $30/35 hr.

[Anonymous]

Yes a nanny even if you are home. Lots of moms are home and have nannies.

[Anonymous]

My 13yo works as a mother’s Helper once or twice a month.
If you want that because you just need someone to play with kids or feed a baby then I’d try that route, maybe local list serve, or post on Facebook.
If you want someone more hands on, take older kids to a park, story time at library etc, or manage 2 kids at once, hire a babysitter over 18.
Depending on what u mean by afternoon hours You might be able to find a Nanny with school age kids, to work from 12-3 a few days a week.
After school hours are harder for everyone, That’s what everyone is looking for. Pay well, even if you’re home.

[Anonymous]

I doubt a college student, actively in classes, would want this job. Just hire a high school student if you’re going to be home.

[Anonymous]

I did this. I found 5 PM to 8 PM the toughest time to juggle all three kids, plus dinner plus bedtime. Having another set of hands was AWESOME. She and I tag teamed - maybe I'd make dinner and she'd take them on a walk, or she'd do bath with 1 and I'd read to 2. If DH was around, even better - the kids loved getting one on one attention.

I don't remember being particular about the job title, whether it's nanny or mother's helper. My person was 19 years old, not in college, figuring out life. I paid her $20/hr. The job was super flexible, we planned on Mon-Fri and if she couldn't make it one day, no big deal. Honestly she became like family. She was with us for maybe a year and then went on to a "real" job, which we were very supportive of!