Hello, Nashville Moms! My name is Rachel Adkins and I own Nashville Nanny Agency. We place the most qualified nannies in the area with families in need of high caliber in-home care.
I get asked questions on a regular basis regarding how much you should pay a babysitter or nanny and what the difference between the two are. I am here to help you better understand what you should expect when you expecting a childcare provider.
CPR and basic first aid are a must!
First things first (I cannot emphasize this enough!): please make sure your babysitter or nanny knows CPR and basic first aid. All of our nannies go through training with a local company, Precious Hearts CPR, which anyone can take CPR classes from at a time that works for you. They even offer at-home classes for $35 a person or a $200 flate rate for parties less than 6 people. This would be a great option if you have parents, grandparents or anyone that might be caring for your child.
What are the differences between a nanny and a baby sitter?
Generally, babysitters care for children of any age who are in need of supervision for a few short hours. Most sitters will work either by specific occasion or on a regular schedule (after-school babysitters, date night babysitters and weekend babysitters are common). Their main tasks are watching the kids, playing with them and maybe putting them to bed. They usually work for hourly rates, but may be paid extra if they agree to handle additional services such as cooking, tutoring and light housekeeping.
A nanny is someone who is fully invested in a child’s development and well-being. Generally, a nanny will care for children full-time (25-50 hrs./week) while both parents work. It’s a nanny’s responsibility to create daily schedules and engage in activities to ensure healthy mental, physical and emotional growth in the children they care for. Most nannies will be tasked with preparing meals, helping with some light household work (children’s laundry, dishes, etc.), driving the children to and from activities and assisting with homework.
Some families need a mix of babysitter and nanny. They need someone to care for their kids a few hours a week (maybe only Monday through Wednesday or only after school). But they want a caregiver who will be more involved than a typical babysitter. A part-time nanny is usually the answer. This option can provide the best of both worlds for families trying to juggle responsibilities.
What should I pay a babysitter and for how many kids?
You can expect different things from sitters with different levels of experience but generally speaking, pay increases with level of experience, job responsibilities and special skills (such as tutoring or special needs experience).
Care.com offers a handy tool that will calculate a babysitter’s rates based on your zip-code, number of children, the sitter’s years of experience, and hours per week. (click on ‘Recalculate’ to input your information). For instance, if you are looking for a sitter with 2-5 years of experience in the Green Hills area for 2 children, you can expect to pay $13/hr.
What can I expect to pay a nanny?
Most full time (more than 25 hours per week) nannies’ salaries range between $14-25 per hour in the Nashville area. Part time (less than 25 hours per week) nannies are generally paid between $12 and $15 per hour. According to the International Nanny Association’s Salary Survey, the national average hourly rate for a nanny is $18.66. However, the nanny’s salary may be more or less depending upon experience, education and job requirements.
As many of you already know, having a childcare provider that your children love and you trust is priceless!
If you would like to know more about our agency, please visit
Our website: www.nashvillenannyagency.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NashvilleNannyAgency
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (615) 942-8851