It’s a safe bet that if you’re reading this right now, you could use an extra hand in some area of your life. This tumultuous year has thrown us all for a loop, challenging us to overcome obstacles in our work lives and home lives. Creative solutions for making life more manageable, in turn, have risen to the forefront.

Accessible, affordable, and high-quality childcare is paramount across all fronts; keeping the country and the economy moving forward, and supporting the working parents, teachers, nannies, and children that rely on that childcare.

Fortunately, finding at-home childcare is easier than you might think. Here are some important tips for finding the right childcare solution for the unique needs of your family.

Proper Planning

Sometimes securing the right childcare provider can feel like dating. And we all want to avoid going on a string of unsuccessful dates, right? So, being prepared before your search is critical.

That means establishing a few things upfront:

The rate you’d like to pay
The maximum rate you’re willing to pay
Number of hours per week
Scheduling (set or flexible)
Benefits offered (if any)
Applicant requirements (experience level, CPR-certified, special-needs, tutor training, etc.) \
The number of children and their ages
Job requirements and expectations

As someone with 5 years of nanny experience, I can tell you that the last bullet, job requirements and expectations, is the most important thing to establish in advance. Think through your expectations so that they can be clearly established from day one. Do you expect your nanny or sitter to provide meals, do housework, drive to appointments?

Make a list that describes your ideal candidate and establish your non-negotiables. Maybe your number one need is a nanny who is safety conscious. Or perhaps you’d like a nanny that is bilingual or physically active. Whatever you’re looking for, define it ahead of time. Then, make sure your pay rate appropriately fits the bill. (Or, you may have to make some compromises on your list of expectations.)

Not sure how to determine your nanny/sitter pay rate? Check out this list to see the current average hourly pay as well as regional data for your city and state.

Digital Solutions

The fact of the matter is, much of life is virtual right now. More traditional ways of finding childcare may not be as effective and may not give you the easy and accessibility that you deserve during a time with heightened stress.

Consider exploring a nanny & childcare service that gives you access to a wide pool of nannies, infant caregivers, tutors, and more, screened and vetted to fit your needs. It’s 2020. Which means finding, scheduling, and paying for your childcare shouldn’t be a headache -- it should be seamless and virtual.

Imagine interviewing hundreds of childcare providers to find the absolute perfect match for your family. Well, solutions like NannyPod essentially handle that part for you. So you get the quality that you deserve with the simplicity that 2020 demands.

Additionally, while many of us do our best to limit screen time and minimize virtual connection in the house, this time during the pandemic sometimes requires the opposite. Much of our connection comes from digital interactions.

Oftentimes it’s the video chats with grandma, the family movie nights, and the Zoom calls that help us maintain a sense of normal. Virtual learning portals and apps that help support healthy childhood development like Kinedu are powerful tools to alleviate the level of disruption caused by distance. So, remember to go easy on yourself if you find yourself relying on digital solutions more than you used to. You’re human!

Establish Your Family COVID-19 Guidelines

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This is a big one. Defining clear protocol within your family will help avoid the possibility of working with nannies, sitters, or tutors that don’t match your expectations and comfort-level (or vice versa!) in regard to COVID-19.

Make a clearly defined list of rules and guidelines for inside and outside of the home. Establish expectations for your caregiver and also define what you are committed to upholding for the protection and safety of your caregiver as well.
Check here for the latest CDC Guidelines.

It Takes a Village

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More than likely, your childcare solution will end up looking more like a mosaic than a painting. What do I mean by that? It will be made up of lettered pieces and moving parts. Different solutions for different needs.

You may have kids of different ages attending school virtually, in person, or with a hybrid approach. You may need to partner with other families in your neighborhood or switch off days with members of your own family.

To maintain your sanity, try to remember these two things: (1) The way things are right now won’t last forever. Distanced learning and separation will ease and dissipate in due time. (2) Your best is all you can do. (And sometimes less than your best is still okay.)

NannyPod provides long term nanny matches and short term occasional date-night babysitters and infant care on demand, at an affordable price. Our service is convenient, safe and secure for families and our staff. Parents can request childcare instantly by using the NannyPod app. Get started with NannyPod today and find babysitters or nannies for your childcare needs!

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