Finding reliable childcare for the school year is one of the most common challenges parents bring to us. Many families have an arrangement that works for a season – a generous friend, a neighbor, a relative – only to find that it won’t carry over into the next year. Often the search begins while school is still in session, because parents can already feel the stress of lining up dependable before and after school child care for the months ahead.
We hear from parents in this exact position all the time. Consider a single mom, new to a city, who finds a home daycare for her son – but it doesn’t open until 8 am when she needs to be at work by 6:30. How do you find care for just two hours each day, with someone you can trust? It can feel like flying blind: not knowing how to connect with a nanny who wants a very part-time position, what to offer to make a couple of hours of care worth their time, or what that working relationship should even look like.
The good news is that these connections happen every day. Sometimes a single well-placed post is all it takes to find a wonderful nanny your children adore – someone dependable who becomes a trusted part of your family’s routine.
Finding a nanny to provide before and after school child care is one of the most challenging types of care to find. It’s an uphill battle from the start that involves:
- Connecting with someone who has availability with their schedule to provide care when you need it for a short duration of time in the morning… and then again in the afternoon.
- Finding someone in close enough proximity to your home where this makes sense for their schedule (for example a nanny likely won’t commute for 30 minutes one way to work only for a two hour chunk of time). However, if the position is before or after their own classes or another job, this might make sense for them.
- Offering compensation to your nanny that makes the position worthwhile. A nanny isn’t going to turn down a position offering more hours or a higher wage for something very part-time, unless it matches up with her own schedule well/is convenient for her, and compensates her adequately.
So, how do you find a nanny for before and after school child care? Check out these seven tips to help find the care you need for your family:
1. START NOW!
Time is your friend! Even if the school year just ended, the parents who are really on top of things have already begun their search. It can take a little longer to connect with just the right person to work a few hours each day or to do a split shift. We normally recommend allowing two months for your nanny search, so aim to start well ahead of the beginning of the next school year. Start your search early and, if using Nanny Parent Connection for your search, post often! If you don’t find someone right away, don’t panic! Some students might not have their fall school schedules until later on in the summer. Remember, NPC members can also ask us for help with your search!
2. Network
Talk to EVERYBODY about your search for a nanny. Chances are that someone knows someone. Seriously. Your barista, your dental hygienist, your co-workers, that parent you’re always bumping into at the park. Someone has a friend, a neighbor, a son or daughter, or a friend of a friend who knows someone looking for just such as position. But you will never make this connection unless you talk about it!
3. MORE networking!
Nanny Parent Connection is a great place for networking with over 20,000 members! Make a post with your need to the main feed and also to the #npcschoolcare thread. Another option might be to connect with another family (possibly someone from your child’s school in a perfect world?!) in the #npcnannyshare thread. Don’t assume that if you can’t find a post from a nanny who fits your needs that they are not out there. Nannies will often post their availability, but they also like to browse the parent posts and choose who they would like to contact. Bump your post (comment to move it to the top of the feed again) periodically to keep it in front of everyone. Ask us for help with creating an ad that will get attention or if we know of anyone who may be a good fit for the position. We have both nannies and families reach out to us on a regular basis and we connect dozens of members each week!
4. Compensation Package
Part time nannies aren’t the easiest to find. Consider a compensation package instead of just an hourly wage for your nanny. Even part time nannies are now looking for positions that provide them with guaranteed hours, mileage reimbursement, and paid time off. Sick pay accrued at one hour per forty hours worked is now the law in Washington State, as of January 2018. Our Nanny Payroll Service can help you to navigate payroll and track sick time easily.
5. Consider Offering More Hours
You may only need three hours of before and after school child care each day. But could your family use some extra help around the house with organization, folding laundry, grocery shopping, meal prep, or walking the dog? Think about if your family could offer a nanny some extra hours by having her help with some household management duties. Make sure to list these duties in the contract with her and discuss and agree upon any new duties that she will take on.
6. Job Perks
Get creative! Do you need your nanny to arrive at an early hour, like 6 am – or even earlier? Consider offering incentives like a monthly Starbucks stipend, allow her to eat breakfast at your house each day, or if she’s a student let her do some studying while the kids are still sleeping. A nanny who arrives at 6 am might appreciate being able to relax, nap, or study until it’s time to get the kids up – a small gesture that shows how much you value her willingness to be there at such an early hour. Perhaps your home is on the bus line. You could potentially attract a nanny by providing a bus pass for the position.
7. Consider an Au Pair
An au pair can be an affordable option if you’re open to hosting and have the space to do so. Au pairs can work up to 45 hours per week. If you don’t really require child care for all of those hours, think about how you can have help with meal prep or built in date nights with some of those extra hours! Bonus: never be without care for those between semester days off school, early release days, days kids are sick, or school break week days again! Need someone to shuttle the kiddos around to activities? You’re covered there, too.
More about working with an au pair from NPC member, local mom and au pair consultant Shannon Kearney Lessard:
“As busy parents, it’s important to find child care that works for your schedule, budget and lifestyle. Cultural Care Au Pair’s childcare and cultural exchange program offers your family flexible, live-in childcare with an international perspective. Your au pair lives with you as a member of your family, and your children benefit from personalized attention and consistent care in the comfort of your own home. All Cultural Care au pairs are between the ages of 18 and 26, proficient in conversational English, and have documented childcare experience.” For more information about au pairs, click here.
Hooray, I found a nanny!! Now what?
Now that you found your nanny, don’t forget to run a background check, have an agreed-upon contract, and get set up with a payroll service. Does your nanny need some time off? Find child care in our #npcdaytime threads or with our Last Minute Care Text Message Service.
Finding quality childcare that fits your needs can be stressful. We hope the tips above reduce some of that stress and help you connect with some great nannies to cover your before and after school child care needs. Don’t forget to reach out to us if you need any help! 😊
Don’t forget that the Nanny Parent Connection is the largest community of parents and care providers in the Pacific Northwest! If you are looking for a nanny for before or after school child care, join our community. Membership starts at only $8.99/month! 
