How to trial an evening babysitter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What I find interesting is that the nannies can not seem to give any helpful advice specifically related to what would be best for the kids. Immediately the responses go to "what are you paying?!" Or "that's hardly worth MY time!"

If you would choose not to take a job that requires spending some (paid) time with the kids and parents first, that is absolutely your right not to. But there are people who are happy to do it. The question was not would YOU be willing to do zyz, it was what is the best way of going about this? It's really disturbing how little regard some nannies here have for the children's welfare. This sort of attitude makes me even more weary of who I will trust with my kids

The nannies here don't care about anything other than the money. They also seem to think they can command whatever rate they want. Whatever. Everyone who lives in the real world knows better.

Do you go to work everyday out of the kindness of your heart?
I'll bet it's about money.

[Anonymous]

I completely agree with the nannies that have posted in this forum. As a previous nanny, when I was a full-time nanny I would have everyone asking me to babysit their kids. I had too many babysitting offers that I actually put some parents on a waiting list. I had an extensive babysitting background and wouldn't even even consider going to a "trial day" for the parents to observe me awkwardly while I interacted with their kids.

Today, I am a 28 year old that would love to babysit on occassion because I miss babysitting. However, I find the HARDEST time finding a babysitting job because it's been about 6-7 years since I had a nanny position. Parents seem to want someone that is currently watching kids and not someone who is in the corporate world.

In summary, I believe the nannies and understand why they don't want to do a trial run. If I lived really close, I wouldn't mind an hour trial run (paid or unpaid), but if it was 30+ min in traffic I wouldn't want to do it either. Especially with 13+ years of paid babysitting experience. Showing up 30 minutes early for an unpaid run through should be sufficient, along with an initial interview that included references and a babysitting resume.

[Anonymous]

Funny how its all about the welfare of the kids, when a nanny talks about money or the value of her time. Any other time its ALL about money and how little you should be spending and what she should be doing for you.

[Anonymous]

I have about 20 family contacts in my phone so frequently do evening care. When meeting new families, I regularly will come over for about an hour to go over routines, questions, etc, so have no issue with this. I do prefer to meet during the daytime as some nannies have said above, that going over for a meet and greet in the evening when I could have taken a care date wouldn't be beneficial to me. If a family isn't available to meet during the weekday, we meet during the weekend in the daytime.

[Anonymous]

Like the other nannies who've posted I have more offers for babysitting jobs than I can take. I nanny 50 hours a week so I'm not interested in going out of my way in the evenings or during my weekends for an unpaid trial (and all of my jobs are from referral anyway). I would come a little early on the night of for a run through, though. I'm confident in my abilities to feed, bathe, read stories, and put to bed any children I care for so don't think it's a matter of their "welfare" at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the other nannies who've posted I have more offers for babysitting jobs than I can take. I nanny 50 hours a week so I'm not interested in going out of my way in the evenings or during my weekends for an unpaid trial (and all of my jobs are from referral anyway). I would come a little early on the night of for a run through, though. I'm confident in my abilities to feed, bathe, read stories, and put to bed any children I care for so don't think it's a matter of their "welfare" at all.

That's great. I'm not confident in your reading abilities though. It has been stated many times that this is a paid trial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professional nanny who babysits during the evening several times per week. If a new client were to ask me to come over to play with the kids for 1-2 hours on a random night, I wouldn't babysit for her. I would absolutely view you as annoying and high-maintenance.
Good babysitters usually don't need new clients. I wouldn't be willing to jump through your hoops.

That's ridiculous. We're talking about a paid job. Are you intimidated by parents who care who they leave their children alone with? What are you trying to hide?

Probably not trying to hide anything, but it's an evening sitting gig. The kids will be asleep most of the time. You might spend an hour or 2 with them at most, so they really don't need to bond with the sitter that much. If you are seeking someone that will bond with them, then you really should get another type of sitter that will spend more hours per week with them. If it is for a family that I might see once a month, I will not want to spend 1-2 hours with the kids to see if I bond with them. I don't even do that with my regular after school schedule kids, I meet during interview but we don't spend hours together. The parents want someone that can do the job and as long as the kids don't absolutely hate me, then it will work out. Most kids need more than 1-2 hours to warm up to someone anyways. It happens over time, not by forcing them to be in the same room as me with you around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What I find interesting is that the nannies can not seem to give any helpful advice specifically related to what would be best for the kids. Immediately the responses go to "what are you paying?!" Or "that's hardly worth MY time!"

If you would choose not to take a job that requires spending some (paid) time with the kids and parents first, that is absolutely your right not to. But there are people who are happy to do it. The question was not would YOU be willing to do zyz, it was what is the best way of going about this? It's really disturbing how little regard some nannies here have for the children's welfare. This sort of attitude makes me even more weary of who I will trust with my kids

The nannies here don't care about anything other than the money. They also seem to think they can command whatever rate they want. Whatever. Everyone who lives in the real world knows better.

Well, in a way, we can. If every sitter refused to work for less than $15/hr, then the parents would be forced to pay at least $15/hr if they wanted a sitter, right? Some just need the money and are willing to work for $10-13/hr for their evening hours because their personal time obviously doesn't have much value to them. Mine does, and so for me to give up my personal time (especially if I have been not just working all week long, but working with KIDS all week long), then I want to be earning a certain rate to make it worth my time. Some nights, $50 for 3 hours is just not worth it if I would rather stay home and rest because I had a slightly more difficult and tiring week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basically this. I'm happy to have a lengthy phone conversation, provide a reference or two, and come over as early as you want. Maybe if I live nearby I'll stop by for a half hour meet-and-greet but that's it. Anything else is excessive for a job that consists of serving dinner and putting kids to bed.

I agree with this. Happy to come meet you in a public place or at your house for a brief "interview" beforehand, and I'm always very prompt in communicating via phone/email. But I have a full-time job along with more than enough business through word of mouth, so I gravitate toward the families who make it as easy as possible to fulfill what is a simple job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the other nannies who've posted I have more offers for babysitting jobs than I can take. I nanny 50 hours a week so I'm not interested in going out of my way in the evenings or during my weekends for an unpaid trial (and all of my jobs are from referral anyway). I would come a little early on the night of for a run through, though. I'm confident in my abilities to feed, bathe, read stories, and put to bed any children I care for so don't think it's a matter of their "welfare" at all.

That's great. I'm not confident in your reading abilities though. It has been stated many times that this is a paid trial.

How rude are you? Several people have posted saying they're willing to come by for unpaid time; I was merely indicating I am not. Like most, I have a 4-hour minimum so I guess if you want a paid, four hour trial then sure! Otherwise I'll work for the people who don't want me to jump through hoops.

You all like to talk about the market and demand and so on - they are tilted in our favor for evening babysitting jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the other nannies who've posted I have more offers for babysitting jobs than I can take. I nanny 50 hours a week so I'm not interested in going out of my way in the evenings or during my weekends for an unpaid trial (and all of my jobs are from referral anyway). I would come a little early on the night of for a run through, though. I'm confident in my abilities to feed, bathe, read stories, and put to bed any children I care for so don't think it's a matter of their "welfare" at all.

That's great. I'm not confident in your reading abilities though. It has been stated many times that this is a paid trial.

How rude are you? Several people have posted saying they're willing to come by for unpaid time; I was merely indicating I am not. Like most, I have a 4-hour minimum so I guess if you want a paid, four hour trial then sure! Otherwise I'll work for the people who don't want me to jump through hoops.

You all like to talk about the market and demand and so on - they are tilted in our favor for evening babysitting jobs.

I agree 100%. There are a surplus of babysitting jobs and not enough babysitters to fill them.
We control the market right now.