Babysitter vs. Nanny

When thinking about child care there are options to consider, if you chose to hire an experienced individual to care for your child than you are among about 5% of Americans. The stereotype is a wealthy mother and father who hire someone to do their child rearing for them. This is of course completely ridiculous, many people hire in-home help because for whatever reason they do not wish to put their children in daycare. Mother's helpers were becoming increasingly popular before the recession hit.

But for the sake of discussion, who do you have working for you? A babysitter or a nanny? Typically a nanny is an employee, she works 30 or more hours a week and it is her main source of income. Technically a nanny should be declared on your taxes...but no one actually does that. A nanny should be a professional in the sense that she has certifications in CRP, first aid and epi pen, she should also hold some kind of education in the field of child development or many years experience. A babysitter is usually a young woman looking for some extra money, she probably doesn't have much experience but comes with excellent recommendations or is a family friend. Even if she works on a regular basis she is not a nanny without some kind of professional qualifications. There is a difference in terminology and I know I wouldn't want to be called a babysitter.

There are a few other child-care professionals out there that work for individual families. In this economy I am seeing a lot more than just your run of the mill nanny.

1)The Unemployed Teacher- breaking into the nanny-field in an effort to stay within their comfort zone while still pulling in some cash.
2)The Stay-At-Home-Mom or (SAHM), you'll find these on craigslist, desperately seeking children to watch so they can be home with their own child and make money while out of work.
3)The Summer Nanny, usually a college student, prepared to work long days in exchange for cash from June-August. (cough-BEER MONEY-cough)
4)The Doula, a non-medical midwife who assists during labor, may also be a postpartum doula that helps with the care of older children and emotional support for the new baby and mother. Has special training and "special" pricing.
5)The Mother's Helper, could be anyone who is physically able to do tasks for a mother while she is home, kind of like a maid that plays with the kids once and a while.
6)The Mommy-Friend, another mother you can exchange child care with, no money involved. (Very hard to compete with.)

While I do not resent the fact that the field of child care is also a dumping ground for anyone with boobs, it's very hard to stand out as a professional nanny when so many people chose this as a back-up career. Daycares and homes are filled with women who couldn't do anything else so they chose to do child care. Since this is something I feel strongly about and wish to dedicate my life to, I am understandably frustrated with the situation.

Like all things in life we must take the good with the bad. I may have to fight 40 people for a job I know I am qualified for, but it helps that the parents I do work for appreciate me and treat me as family. Whether babysitter or nanny, the person you trust to be alone in your house should be someone you truly want to have in your life.