IN-HOME CARE/BABYSITTING

In-home care or babysitting is unlicensed full-or-part-time care given in your home. You may find someone by consulting our listings, placing ads, calling other colleges or high schools, posting notices in your community, and/or contacting outside agencies. The nanny or sitter may commute to your house or live in your home. Sometimes in-home arrangements can be made with students in exchange for room and board. Using a babysitter or nanny can be convenient and flexible and can allow for children to attach to a single provider. It can also mean dependency upon a single person for childcare and isolation of the provider. Rates will vary according to your needs. The cost for in-home care is generally between $8.00 and $15.00 an hour and higher. Nannies may prefer a salary, and additional costs to you may be incurred through using a nanny or au pair agency.

The effort and time you put into choosing a babysitter or nanny is very important. You should interview several people, ask a lot of questions, check for references, and, in the end, trust your instincts. Overall, you must make sure you that feel comfortable with the person to whom you entrust your child.

After you have hired a nanny or a babysitter it is important that you spend enough time explaining what you expect from him/her as he/she is caring for your child(ren). Also plan on making unannounced visits so that you can adequately determine what is occurring when you are not there. Observation of your child, both with and without your nanny or babysitter, combined with ongoing communication with the nanny/babysitter will help you determine the success of the childcare arrangement.

The Office of Family Resources can assist you in making informed decisions by providing you with information to help you conduct your search. The Office has compiled a list of Boston University students who are interested in babysitting for students, faculty and staff. By providing this list, the University makes no representations whatsoever regarding the competence, ability, training, or experience of any of these students and is not responsible for the acts or omissions of these students. It is solely your responsibility to choose the appropriate person for your needs.

Please complete the Referral Service Statement and return it to our office if you would like to receive an "In-Home Care Packet," which includes information on finding a nanny, a babysitter, or an au pair or if you would like information about the Office of Family Resources Babysitting Program.