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Care.com has found that families can spend ½ of their child care budget during the summer months ( about $7,000) since the kids are out of school.
Before you hire a sitter, make sure you check the market rate. With college students looking for work, babysitting rates may be lower than other times of year. This handy salary calculator can keep you up-to-date on the local babysitting rates.
In the summertime, schedules can get crazy between work and the kids’ activities, so prepare a backup list of caregivers. Sitters get sick (or take vacation), so you’ll need extra help.
If you can, try using friends or relatives. Maybe they won’t be your primary babysitters, but just using them as alternates can save money. You’ll just have to help them out in return.
Share Sitters
Share the cost and split a summer sitter with a neighbor or two! This works great, especially if you’re like my family and only have one child who needs a sitter. With the economy the way it is, most regular babysitters are used to these cost-saving arrangements, but you still want to be sure not to overload them with too many children. Try not to have them watch more than three kids under age 6, four kids under age 12, or more than five of any age.
Share the cost and split a summer sitter with a neighbor or two! This works great, especially if you’re like my family and only have one child who needs a sitter. With the economy the way it is, most regular babysitters are used to these cost-saving arrangements, but you still want to be sure not to overload them with too many children. Try not to have them watch more than three kids under age 6, four kids under age 12, or more than five of any age.
Back-up care is especially important in the summer, since sitters and families often go on vacation and schedules can change at a moment’s notice. It’s good to have a list of back-up sitters prepared, so you’re not left in a pinch! And if you want to mention it, Care.com does have back-up services via Care-on-Call - www.care.com/careoncall
Co-operation is key!
Care exchanges or swaps are great for setting up play dates and saving some money. They help parents connect with other families looking to share sitter services (for kids and pets). They’re also an easy way to meet a family like yours and trade off babysitting shifts. However you set up an exchange, remember this–one day a week of free child care equals a 20 percent savings over the whole summer.
Care exchanges or swaps are great for setting up play dates and saving some money. They help parents connect with other families looking to share sitter services (for kids and pets). They’re also an easy way to meet a family like yours and trade off babysitting shifts. However you set up an exchange, remember this–one day a week of free child care equals a 20 percent savings over the whole summer.
Summer Camp Savings
Many families are concerned about summer camp’s cost. There are low-cost alternatives, though. Day camps can be great money-saving alternatives to overnight camps. And church or community camps often attract a wide range of local children, are usually pretty affordable and have a ton of activities for kids of all ages.
Many families are concerned about summer camp’s cost. There are low-cost alternatives, though. Day camps can be great money-saving alternatives to overnight camps. And church or community camps often attract a wide range of local children, are usually pretty affordable and have a ton of activities for kids of all ages.
School’s Out, Education Isn’t
It’s summer break for teachers too, you know. Many of them spend their summers as a tutor to pay the bills. Instead of camp, why not hire one for a day each week to teach hobbies and skills? Make it fun for your kids so they don’t think it’s a chore–pick a subject they’re already interested in and create play dates by inviting friends. They’ll enjoy themselves and their brains won’t go to mush (which makes moms like me happy).
It’s summer break for teachers too, you know. Many of them spend their summers as a tutor to pay the bills. Instead of camp, why not hire one for a day each week to teach hobbies and skills? Make it fun for your kids so they don’t think it’s a chore–pick a subject they’re already interested in and create play dates by inviting friends. They’ll enjoy themselves and their brains won’t go to mush (which makes moms like me happy).
Interview Tips
Kicking off the Interview
Meet in the middle for your first introduction. Pick a neutral location, such as a local coffee shop or the public library. Develop a game plan and come prepared with questions. Of course you’ll want to know their experience and availability. But, what about how they handle an emergency or what they enjoy most about taking care of kids? Remember that the interview is a two-way street. While your goal is to get to know your new potential babysitter, they are interviewing you as well. Come prepared to tell them about your family and describe the job in detail (and be honest). That way, there is less of a chance for surprises once they take the job.
Addressing Payment
Dallas and Decatur are certainly not one in the same. If you live in a big city, expect rates to be a bit higher than in rural or suburban areas. Know that more children equals higher fees. Expect to pay $2 to $5 more per hour for each additional child. If you’re paying the rate of a “babysitter” but are expecting Mary Poppins, including laundry service and having dinner prepared every night, plan to pay extra for the added responsibilities the sitter is taking on. Otherwise, it might be time to hire a chef and housekeeper.
Tough Topics to Address Early On
Be clear about hours and expectations. Are you expecting your babysitter to be available at the last minute or will you be able to plan all services weeks in advance? The needs of every family will be different, but it’s important to determine your schedule expectations before forging a partnership.
How much should you pay?
Care.com has a great resource for people trying to decide on what to pay their sitters. The Babysitter Pay Calculator (www.care.com/calculator) is a tool that shows the going rate for sitters by ZIP code in real time.
Dallas and Decatur are Not One in the Same
If you live in a big city, expect rates to be a bit higher than in rural or suburban areas. Cost of living isn’t cheap after all.
More Kids Equals More Cash
An only child is one thing, the Brady Bunch is a different story. Expect to pay $2-5 more per hour for each additional child that you have.
You’re Paying for a Babysitter, but You want Mary Poppins
If your expectation is that the laundry will be done and dinner will be on the table every night when you get home, you should plan to pay extra for the added responsibilities that your babysitter is taking on. Otherwise, it might be time to hire a chef and housekeeper.
I hope this was helpful info! Click here to check out Care.com’s website and sign up to find your summer care NOW before all the good sitters are taken! 
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)Thanks Care.com for putting together this helpful info for us!
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