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When it comes to choosing personal child care for your children, it pays to be careful. If you
aren't lucky enough to live close to family or friends, chances are you will need to find a sitter
sooner or later. Or perhaps you need more regular in-home care, such as a nanny or au pair. But
where to turn?
A quick Google search for baby sitters in Jackson calls a plethora of options to the surface,
from ads on Craigslist.org to sites such as Care.com and Sittercity.com. But all Web sites are
not created equal, and parents are wise to be selective.
Shannon Scholten, spokesman for Allegiance Health, says staff members are occasionally
asked for advice about finding child care. The hospital has a few written guidelines, and
suggests doing some research to find the best in-home care, such as asking friends or
neighbors if they know any reputable sitters. Interviewing potential sitters can help parents see if
they have found a good fit, and it can be a good idea to observe the sitter regularly with the
child.
The nonprofit Child Care Network, 536 N. Jackson St., focuses primarily on helping parents find
out-of-home care, such as day care. But in the case of in-home care, Diana Rickman, a
resource and referral specialist, recommends interviewing the provider and doing a background
check.
It can also be beneficial to discuss matters such as pay and vacations ahead of time.
Sitters should have training in CPR and first aid, Rickman says. The South Central Michigan
chapter of the American Red Cross offers baby-sitting training for people between the ages of 11
and 15.
The Jackson office is located at 3425 Francis St.
Child-care providers who offer care in their homes or at day-care facilities should be licensed by
the state, but sitters and nannies are not governed by laws, but by their reputations.
Genevieve Thiers, chief executive and founder of Sittercity.com, designed her Web site to give parents
peace of mind when choosing a sitter. With more than 1 million caregiver profiles nationwide,
Chicago-based Sittercity is one of the largest and most accessible databases for baby sitters,
nannies and pet sitters. As families become more transient, this service is even more valuable,
Thiers says.
Thiers says her site has become what Match.com is to online dating sites: "We took the
caregivers in the country and put them in one place," she says.
The site makes it easy for parents to go through a four-step screening process once they've
found a sitter's profile they like.
The remaining three steps are conducting an interview, checking
references and doing a background check - all of which are available through the site. The site
offers an internal feedback system, so parents can read comments from others about sitters,
and includes free access to a rate calculator to determine the average pay for sitters in a
specific area.
The estimated per-hour rate in Jackson for a sitter watching one child is $8.75.
In Jackson, there are more than 1,250 sitters listed. The site is free to join, but sitters must be
at least 18 and their rankings on the site are based on how often they work. Sittercity offers a
free seven-day trial period for parents looking for care.
Those who want to get memberships can
pay either an annual rate of $95.88, or a $39.98 sign-up fee along with $9.99 per month.
The Child Care Network doesn't have directories of in-home child-care providers, but Rickman
suggests people look for sitters at area colleges and universities. Colleges often can
recommend students seeking sitting jobs.
Rickman stresses the importance of bringing an educated sitter into one's home - specifically,
someone who understands how to work with young children. Students studying early education,
for example, would be great potential matches.
Finding a sitter committed to educational games
and activities rather than plopping a child in front of the TV could have long-lasting benefits,
especially if he or she will be spending significant time in the home.
"There's an awful lot to consider," Rickman says.
"The years between 0 to 5 are so important." n
Is your sitter doing a good job?
Assess the match
Even though a sitter may have great references, it doesn't mean the setup will work for your
children. As soon as you invite a sitter into your home, pay close attention to interactions with
your children.
Communicate
A major part of any strong child-care relationship is communication. Provide your sitter with a list
of questions you'd like to discuss for no more than five minutes once you return.
Observe
Keep an eye on your child's (and sitter's) behavior over time. Also, ask a trusted neighbor to
keep an open eye and ear when you have a sitter over.
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