Anonymous wrote:OP we are looking to hire someone in exactly this situation now. Where are you and your DD located? We are looking f for someone who like us is taking social distancing very seriously.

We're in Montgomery County. DD is still looking the right family. She is taking online summer classes in June, so she's only available part time next month.

Anonymous wrote:It would honestly cause less spread to just send the kids back to school / camp than bring random college kids into homes who will be out at restaurants and bars etc. Society has this so backwards.

+100

I’m interested in knowing the going rate too!

OP we are looking to hire someone in exactly this situation now. Where are you and your DD located? We are looking f for someone who like us is taking social distancing very seriously.

Yes.

Just curious- what does a college student charge for this service? Is it the same rate as a nanny?

I was considering this, but coronavirus has hit some of our friends recently and I thought they were being really careful. I am now having second thoughts.

Yes we’ve had a college kid watching our 1 and 3 year olds since daycares closed in March. Our jobs are intense and we cannot work full time and take care of our children full fine. It’s just not possible. The babysitter helps so much!

We are doing this and it's going really well so far. We came to an agreement on what rules both of our households would follow in terms of distancing. When I called references, I asked about this - is she mature enough to keep these rules, has she discussed distancing with you, etc. I was also impressed by how she described the precautions she takes, some of which aren't things I had thought of. There are no guarantees of course. We are both having to trust each other because our health is at risk and hers is too. But for us, hiring childcare was non-negotiable to keep our jobs and this felt like the lowest risk option.

We're thinking of this for the Fall. My wife is a professor so mostly off for the summer and will be with kids in the summer but however school starts again in the Fall we'll need childcare and I don't think we're sending them to preschool this year..

Oh yes. It’s cheaper (and less exposure) than a divorce lawyer, and that is where we are heading. Mostly kidding but yes absolutely. There have been a few posts on my neighborhood list serves too, so people are definitely looking.

My spouse is a teacher so we are set for summer. But if we do this again in the fall, I am absolutely hiring someone. I can’t have three full time jobs and that’s fine.

ABSOLUTELY. If she is interested in watching a 1 and 3-year-old in Arlington, let me know.

I would be more concerned that DD would bring coronavirus back home to me, than if others would hire her. Children are germy. Would rather my DD wear a mask and be a personal shopper than be with kids without a mask.

I would hire a college student if she only worked for my family. I would want to know what steps your family is taking to socially distance. I would not hire someone if a member of their household was working as an essential worker - grocery store, medical field, etc.

We plan to hire someone for the summer - but we both work from home full time. I would not invite someone into my home if one of my kids was going to preschool/camp or if an adult was commuting and coming into contact with others at work.

Just had this conversation this morning with DH. I hired a college babysitter to start in May. I vetted for social distancing. We have rules in place. My kids are so excited. We’ve really struggled with trying to work full time and entertain preschoolers.

DH is having second thoughts.

My rationale is at some point we have to take a calculated risk. The trade off is keeping our jobs for some risk. We don’t make enough money to be able to survive off of one salary.

A babysitter who is social distancing is less of a risk than a camp with 100 kids and 30 counselors...