Ease of finding afternoon nanny

[Anonymous]

I know it has been covered, and mileage may vary, but wanted to see when should I start looking for an afternoon nanny beginning late August/September...

Looking to pay like $20/hr, with about 15 hrs per week (3:30 PM - 6:30 PM). 2 elementary school children (8 and 10 years old)... The job will be basically picking up kids from school, and then taking one of the kids to some after school activity (a parent will take the other one), or observing 2 kids in a house (kids pretty much tend to themselves). Northern VA, outside the beltway. Not sure if any other reasonable job would "fit" in the morning hours for something like this....

Is that feasible? I looked at care.com, but it appears that more of care givers are interested in summer job now, and I'm assuming most of them will be doing something else in a school year... Should I wait or start looking? Will need to come up with a back-up care for sick days/teacher workdays, but would like to even understand if the after school nanny is an option.

Thank you in advance

[Anonymous]

We pay $25 an hour for a college student to pick up one preschooler at daycare at 3:30 and play and read to him until 7PM. She is not available for sick days or holidays.

We started looking for her just a few weeks before we needed her to start and had two other decent applicants. We also needed for this babysitter to have a car and we provided the car seat. She sometimes goes to the grocery store with DS for us and will do a little dinner prep when asked. So far (since January) so good -- but not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pay $25 an hour for a college student to pick up one preschooler at daycare at 3:30 and play and read to him until 7PM. She is not available for sick days or holidays.

We started looking for her just a few weeks before we needed her to start and had two other decent applicants. We also needed for this babysitter to have a car and we provided the car seat. She sometimes goes to the grocery store with DS for us and will do a little dinner prep when asked. So far (since January) so good -- but not great.

Oh, and we only need her three days a week (Mon, Tues and Thurs - not working on Fridays was a draw apparently) - so 12 hours guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

I do this but I work other jobs around it.

[Anonymous]

Can you offer closer to $25/hr? You'll have better options.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. I guess we can go higher on the rate. We also provide a car for all transportation needs.

I'm not sure that I will be comfortable with HS Student driving my kids...

Thank you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. I guess we can go higher on the rate. We also provide a car for all transportation needs.

I'm not sure that I will be comfortable with HS Student driving my kids...

Thank you all.

College student, at the least. Preferably a graduate student in a child related field would be my best suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. I guess we can go higher on the rate. We also provide a car for all transportation needs.

I'm not sure that I will be comfortable with HS Student driving my kids...

Thank you all.

I don't think any PPs suggested a high school student?

[Anonymous]

Start looking in mid-July, and try at the lower rate first.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't want a HS student. Must be an experienced nanny who can fit it around other gigs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a HS student. Must be an experienced nanny who can fit it around other gigs.

Lol. "Experienced nanny." Get ready to pay $50+/hr for your 3 hours a day then.

[Anonymous]

Unless that nanny has another job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a HS student. Must be an experienced nanny who can fit it around other gigs.

Lol. "Experienced nanny." Get ready to pay $50+/hr for your 3 hours a day then.

Probably $30-35/hr should be enough.