How do you handle babysitting jobs where the parent is working from home?

babysitting or nannying while parents are working from home, sitter for work from home parents, nanny for work from home parents, child care while parents are home

8 tried-and-true ways to provide child care and work together with work-at-home parents

Babysitting or nannying while parents are working from home can all too often become a case of ‘too many cooks in the kitchen.’ Children often want to stick close to mom and dad, and the sitter may struggle to distract them enough to give the parents some space. We asked UrbanSitter’s experienced babysitters for tips on how to navigate the nanny/parents relationship and provide exceptional child care while parents are home — here’s what they said!

1. Communicate
The only way to ensure that both you and the parent(s) are on the same page is to talk about it. “Before starting the actual sitting, I have a conversation with the parents about the developmental stages of their child,” says nanny Nadia Joseph. “I ask if I can make any suggestions and we go from there.” Open communication can be a way to encourage teamwork and set a standard for honesty for everyone.  You can say:

  • I’ve noticed as baby grows out of infancy she has become better at recognizing who her primary caretakers are. What are some ways we can work together to make sure she doesn’t get confused or upset when you are working from home while I take care of her?

This strategy worked for Joseph, who says that “while initially we had some pretty challenging situations, with major temper tantrums when kids heard or saw their parents, we agreed on a plan and strategies and the parents are on board.”

Looking for babysitter and nanny jobs? Create a free profile at UrbanSitter.com and start applying today!

2. Establish boundaries
“The best way to co-exist with a parent at home is to accept that there are boundaries,” says UrbanSitter member Christy Chan. When working with parents who are accepting of your role as a childcare provider, use this to your advantage. Use professional language to clearly establish what is and is not fair, and come to a common agreement. Examples may include:

  • Baby tends to get confused when he sees you coming in and out of the office during his playtime, which makes him fussy. We are going to stay in the living room and nursery today so that he doesn’t get mixed up. Would you mind if I got some one on one time with him?
  • When toddler has multiple people in her room shortly before naptime, she has a hard time falling asleep. Would you like to be in charge of putting her down today, or should I? We can take turns.

Babysitter Safiya Taylor has been able to use this technique well, saying, “generally the kiddos know that I am in charge once I show up, so they don’t really run off to the parents when they don’t get their way!” Sitter Dalia Cabrera Martinez agrees, stating that this type of sitting works best when “they usually close their office door and try not to come out unless they want to spend time with the kids.”

3. Say goodbye
Experienced nanny and mom Susan Malone says “learning to say goodbye happily” is crucial. In this case, you and the parent set the tone for the child, so cheerful goodbyes help to create an environment in which the child is happy to be in your care, even when their parent is also at home. Going through familiar goodbye routines can help the child understand the transition from being in the care of their parents, to being in your care, even if the mom or dad remains in the home.

4. Make it a game
Another tip when providing child care while parents are home, making a game out of goodbyes is a fun and helpful coping mechanism, generally best for older children. This method has worked for UrbanSitter member Dori Heather, who says that she and the children she take care of “make a game out of it somewhat,” with rules such as needing to stay quiet outside of the parents’ office door. You can make up the rules of the game as you go, with suggestions such as:

  • Asking the kids to be ‘as quiet as a mouse’ or to ‘tiptoe as softly as a cat’ near the area where the parent is working.
  • Pretend the floor is lava and the office space is a volcano, and thus off limits.

5. Take the kids outside
“I usually choose to take the child outside of the home, returning briefly for meals, naps, et cetera,” says baby sitter Ava Martinez. This achieves two goals: both bringing the child away from the immediate temptation of being with their parents, and engaging them in fun activities outside of the house, affording them opportunities to learn and to have fun. It’s a win win for uninterrupted work – the parents can concentrate on working from home and the babysitter can provide the child care without distraction.

6. Change as needed
As children grow older, their needs change. Whereas a toddler may not have a need to be close to their parent every single moment of a day, a breastfed infant must be in close physical proximity to her mother. Being respectful of both the parent and child’s needs is crucial. With new parents, sitter Alexandra De Martini suggests being “especially mindful of the mom or partner just starting back to work, as they might not be totally sure what they want and their needs will evolve over the next few weeks.”

7. Have fun with it
“My current nanny family, the dad works from home and honestly it doesn’t bother me whatsoever. We have an excellent relationship and he respects me as a nanny so I am never bothered! I act the same as if I were home alone,” says Pennsylvania sitter Caleema Lawler. Actively put work into establishing positive camaraderie with both the parents and children so that you all feel totally comfortable in each others’ presence. This can come in many forms—intentionally spending time together with both the parents and children together to get to know one another and having monthly scheduled meetings to communicate successes and issues are two suggestions.

8. Move on it it’s not right
If you are aware that babysitting while the parent works from home is something that you wouldn’t be comfortable with, move on from the opportunity. Instead, take roles that allow your natural talents to shine and leave these experiences to other sitters.

Looking for babysitter and nanny jobs? Create a free profile at UrbanSitter.com and start applying today!

6 Tips for Moving on After a Breakup…With Your Nanny Family

Leaving a family—whether it be on good or bad terms—can be one of the most difficult relationships for a nanny to navigate. Sometimes, it can feel less like leaving a babysitting job, and more like a breakup. You can make the transition easier by acting professionally in all of your interactions, being straightforward in your communications, and having the confidence to be secure in your decision. We asked UrbanSitter’s experienced nannies and babysitters to weigh in with their best advice. Following these tips can encourage a positive changeover for you, the children, and the family.

 1. Give two weeks notice
“I would give the family an appropriate amount of time so that they can find a replacement,” says Sacramento babysitter Morlyn Walker. Two weeks is the nanny industry standard, and offers the family enough space to make arrangements for when you leave.

2. Put in in writing
Writing an email ensures that you can clearly communicate everything you need to say. You can edit your thoughts until you’re sure they’re perfect. When dealing with sensitive topics face to face, families and sitters can freeze up and avoid the subject altogether. Emails can also be referenced if your departure turns into a game of ‘he said, she said.’

3. …but have a face-to-face conversation
That being said, talking about it in person will be necessary at some point. By sending an email primer, you’ve prepared the parents for the conversation. Sending a two week notice via email, then following up with a conversation in person can adequately prepare both you and the parent for the subject at hand. Having a conversation in person with the children present can be a good opportunity to share and reminisce about your favorite memories during your time working together.

Looking for nanny jobs? Create a free profile at UrbanSitter.com and start applying today!

4. Help find your replacement
UrbanSitter member Geraldine Ang says, “If I knew of a good fit, I’d refer the family to another sitter and offer help during the transition!” This gesture of goodwill can work wonders to make sure you maintain a good relationship with the family, as well as ensuring that the kids will be well cared for in the future.

5. …and train them
Dedicating time to making sure the new baby sitter knows the ropes shows your commitment to the kids. This may also be a rare opportunity to work side by side with another childcare provider and learn from each other.

6. End on good terms
Leaving on a job on good terms can open the doors to opportunities to use your experience there as references later. It can also help with hard transitions when leaving the kids that you’ve come to care about so deeply. If you end your professional relationship with no hard feelings, it opens the door towards possibly creating a friendship between you and your employers.

Try and approach leaving a job with respect for your employer, and respect for yourself. By following these simple tips, you can make your transition easier on everyone. Do you have any suggestions for leaving a babysitting family? Let us know!

Find great babysitter and nanny jobs with UrbanSitter!

How to Land Nanny Jobs

If you’re considering joining the ranks of the 1.3 million Americans who have careers in the field of child care, you may be in the market for a nanny job. Before you decide if a nanny job is right for you, make sure you understand the role and job expectations, and consider the skills and background required to be a top-notch nanny.

What is a Nanny?

A nanny is a child care specialist who works in a family’s home to provide customized, personalized care for children. A nanny job may be full or part-time, and may or may not be a live-in nanny arrangement. Nanny jobs require a love of children and genuine interest in their well-being, growth and development.

Nanny Background and Skills

Nanny job candidates typically have experience caring for children, either babysitting or caring for their own kids, or working with children as a teacher, counselor, nurse, or daycare provider. Typical core skills for a nanny job include dependability, emotional maturity, high-energy, and adaptability. You should have the ability to focus on a each child’s needs, provide a safe and stimulating environment, and remain patient and calm under pressure.

“In addition to understanding how to protect and enrich the lives of the children in their care, a professional nanny needs to be able to communicate effectively with his or her employers,” says Marcia Hall, first vice president for the International Nanny Association (INA). “Good nannies excel at caring for children, the great ones can also interact with the child’s parents with ease and honesty.”

Nanny Training and Certification

While there is no formal training required for a nanny job, there are many specialized classes and certification programs that will help you become a more knowledgeable caregiver, and make you more attractive to parents looking to hire a nanny. These include:

  • CPR and First Aid Certification— According to the INA nearly 83% of nannies are CPR and First Aid Certified. You can find a class for training and certification (certification typically lasts only two years, so you may need to be re-certified) through the American Red Cross, which also offers Water Safety Education classes; or the American Heart Association.
  • Early Childhood Development and Education—It’s difficult to care for a child and meet his developmental needs without an awareness of typical development. You can find a course at a local community college by searching the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Newborn Care—Local hospitals provide basic newborn training classes to teach diapering, bathing, infant behavior, sleep patterns, recognizing illness, and comforting techniques.

Typical Nanny Duties

Just as no two families are the same, no two nanny jobs are exactly alike. The key to being a successful nanny is understanding a family’s unique needs and knowing how to best use your skills set to nurture, care for, and manage childcare so the family can function to the best of its ability. Here are some typical nanny job duties:

  • Attending to each child’s safety and needs.
  • Planning and providing developmentally appropriate play and learning activities for children in and out of the home.
  • Providing intellectual stimulation and helping older kids with homework.
  • Providing necessary transportation to school and activities.
  • Reinforcing the family’s rules and discipline techniques for the children when appropriate.
  • Meal planning and preparation for the children.
  • Basic household management related to the children, such as doing their laundry and keeping their belongings clean and organized.
  • Traveling with the family.

Nanny Job Specialties

There are several nanny specialties—in addition to a general nanny who cares for one or more children. Specialty nanny jobs, which typically require more experience and training, and therefore, offer higher pay, include a newborn nanny, who provides care for the first months of an infant’s life; a multiples nanny, who specializes in caring for twins, triplets or other multiples; a temporary nanny, who provides sick care or short-term backup care; and a special needs nanny, who has extensive knowledge and experience caring for children who need specialized care, such as those with ADHD, Autism Spectrum, or developmental or physical disabilities.

Expected Pay for a Nanny Job

Nannies salaries vary based on location (bigger cities tend to pay higher wages), experience, job duties, and number of children. An INA Salary and Benefits Survey shows that live-out nannies (nannies who do not live with the family) who work part-time are paid, on average, an hourly rate of $7.25 to $20 or more per hour. Full-time, live-out nannies earn a weekly salary of $350 to $1,000 or more. To see what nannies are making in your area, view UrbanSitter’s nanny salary survey.

Finding the Nanny Job That’s Right For You

A nanny job can be a rewarding, fun experience that provides you with the opportunity to have an impact on a child’s life. To find a nanny job that is right for you, have open and honest conversations with potential employers about job duties and expectations to be sure you are in synch. A good rapport is also essential for a successful relationship.

If you are interested in child care, but are not certain that a nanny job—which often requires a full or part-time commitment—is for you, you may want to consider babysitting opportunities, which offer excellent experience if you decide to pursue a career as a nanny at a later date.

To find babysitting and nanny jobs, let family and friends know you are available, check local job boards or sign up with UrbanSitter, which allows you to create a personal profile to showcase your skills, experience, and availability so you can easily connect with parents searching for child care.

You can also browse babysitting and nanny jobs on UrbanSitter to find job opportunities near you.

By Dawn Van Osdell, Contributing Writer for UrbanSitter

The Ultimate Guide to Nanny Shares

What is a nanny share? Two families share one nanny to give personalized attention and offset the child care cost.

Let’s face it: child care is one of the most significant expenses in a family budget, and that’s why so many parents are keen to set up a nanny share, which promises personalized care with more affordable costs. In this guide, we’ll explain what a nanny share is and how it works, review the pros and cons, address frequently asked questions, and give you tips to set up your own nanny share.

What Is a Nanny Share?

A nanny share is a child care arrangement where two or more families split the cost of one nanny. The nanny, who is paid a premium over nannies who care for just one family, has her salary split between two families—typically caring for all of the children together.

How Does a Nanny Share Work?

The families typically coordinate their schedules, choose a suitable location for the care, and establish clear agreements regarding responsibilities, compensation, and logistics. The nanny’s attention is divided between the children from both families, fostering a shared learning environment.

Benefits of Nanny Shares

Affordability tops the list of unique advantages that a nanny share provides, making high-quality care accessible without breaking the bank. Personalized attention and tailored learning experiences are also highlights, allowing your child to thrive in a nurturing environment. Social interaction is crucial for development, and nanny shares provide built-in playmates, fostering essential social skills from an early age. Lastly, reduced exposure to daycare center germs means fewer sick days for kids and adults alike.

Cons of Nanny Shares

While nanny shares come with numerous benefits, it’s essential to consider potential drawbacks. Coordinating schedules among two families can be complex, collaborative decision-making might lead to conflicts, privacy boundaries could blur, and dividing a nanny’s attention between children could pose challenges. Additionally, logistical aspects like transportation and contingency plans need careful consideration. 

Finding a Compatible Family

The cornerstone of a successful nanny share lies in finding a compatible family. This involves more than matching schedules; it’s about shared values and parenting philosophies. Where do you begin? Local parenting groups, online platforms, and recommendations from friends are excellent starting points. Engage in open conversations, discuss expectations, and ensure both families are on the same page to build a strong foundation.

Tips for creating and managing a successful nanny share:

  1. Choose a Nanny Who Suits Both Families
    The first nanny share tip is it’s often best to choose a nanny together with another family—finding one that works equally well for both—rather than joining an existing nanny relationship. Interview potential nanny candidates to gauge rapport, and ensure that he or she meets both families’ needs and that all three parties share the same expectations. Check references and reviews from other families to confirm that the nanny is well qualified for the job. Caring for two families at once is not without challenges, and isn’t the right fit for all nannies.
  2. Find the Right Family
    Choosing a family for a nanny share arrangement is just as important as selecting the nanny. While no two families will share the exact same parenting style, you will want to find a family with similar views on diet, discipline, and screen time since the nanny will be caring for your children collectively. Many parents find that it works best when their children are the same ages and share similar schedules, needs and activities. Once you find the right family, decide where the nanny will care for the children, likely at your home or the other family’s home, or perhaps alternating homes by the day, week or month.Kids playing together in their nanny share
  3. Create a Thorough Contract
    An employment contract should be in place before the nanny begins work, and can be referred to throughout the relationship to keep the arrangement on track. It should include the nanny’s pay rate and pay schedule, hours each family agrees to pay, tax responsibilities (both families are considered by the IRS to be employers with tax responsibilities), and policies for late pick-ups, holidays, vacation time, and sick days (for both the nanny and the kids she cares for), as well as termination. The contract should also include a detailed description of the nanny’s child care and household duties.
  4. Stay Connected and Coordinated
    A successful nanny share requires consistent, open communication between families and their nanny. To keep up with changing needs, commit to frequent meetings or phone check-ins with the other family, and a regularly scheduled, three-way meeting with the nanny—perhaps at pick-up, weekly or biweekly. Discuss how things are going, make adjustments to logistics or schedules, and agree on changes or tweaks that will make the relationship smoother and stronger.
  5. Contribute Fairly to Shared Supplies and Equipment
    Our fifth nanny share tip is also quite important—decide upfront who will pay for and supply meals, baby supplies, and any equipment needs, such as a portable crib, baby swing or car seats. Typically, a family supplies whatever food and equipment their child needs, and contributes to shared items, such as a double stroller and snacks. Agree on how you will replenish shared supplies so no one feels taken advantage of for having to pick up baby wipes, for instance. Decide how you will communicate needs—via text, email or a quick chat at pick-up–to determine who will make the pick up. To create goodwill and fairness, be generous, bringing fruit or treats for the children to share or extra diapers when you know that your child will inevitably require a back-up from the host family’s supply.
  6. Expect Change
    Eventually—either because your needs change or because you are no longer happy with the relationship—you or the other family will want to exit the nanny share. It’s advisable to give a minimum notice, likely four weeks or longer, or to pay the nanny in lieu of the notice. “Advance notice of your intent to leave a nanny share ensures that the other family involved is not stuck footing the nanny’s full salary, and allows them to either find a replacement for the share or alternative childcare,” says Lynn Perkins, CEO of UrbanSitter. “It also gives your nanny time to look for other employment, if necessary.”

Nanny Share Costs

Nanny shares offer a cost-efficient childcare solution, but it’s essential to grasp the cost breakdown. Key considerations include the shared nanny’s salary (see average nanny salaries by US city here), additional compensation for tasks like transportation and housekeeping, taxes, benefits, administrative fees, shared expenses, backup care costs, legal documentation expenses, and long-term planning adjustments. Open communication about these costs ensures transparency and effective financial planning for both families involved. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I find a compatible family for a nanny share? Seek out like-minded families through local groups, online platforms, and recommendations. Shared values and open communication foster compatibility.

  2. What’s the best way to interview a potential nanny? Beyond qualifications, inquire about child development, emergencies, and conflict resolution to gauge compatibility.

  3. How should we handle sick days and vacation time for the nanny? Incorporate sick days and vacations into your agreement, deciding on paid time off or backup care solutions.

  4. What’s the best way to divide responsibilities and communication? Establish a communication plan, decision-making methods, and clear responsibilities to ensure harmony.

  5. Are there legal requirements for a nanny share? Yes, cover legal aspects like contracts, taxes, and liability to comply with regulations and protect all parties.

Additional Considerations

Beyond logistics and costs, there are other nuanced factors to consider when setting up a nanny share including: 

  1. Cultural Alignment: How to ensure that both families’ cultural values and practices align within the nanny share. Addressing cultural differences early on and finding common ground can contribute to a smoother experience for everyone involved.

  2. Nanny Share Dynamics: Exploring the potential dynamics that could emerge between the children, the nanny, and the families. Understanding how to foster positive relationships and navigate any challenges that might arise is essential.

  3. Child’s Transition and Adjustment: Strategies for helping children adjust to the new environment and routine of a nanny share, particularly if they’re transitioning from another childcare arrangement or home care.

  4. Emergency Protocols: Developing a comprehensive emergency plan that outlines procedures for medical situations, accidents, and unexpected events. Ensuring that both families and the nanny are well-prepared for various scenarios can enhance safety and peace of mind.

  5. Conflict Resolution: Detailed insights into how to address conflicts that may arise between families or with the nanny. Strategies for open communication, compromise, and problem-solving are vital to maintain a healthy and functional arrangement.

  6. Sibling Dynamics: Tips for managing situations where one family has siblings and the other doesn’t, including how to address potential disparities in attention, activities, and sibling interaction.

  7. Transitioning to Preschool or School: Planning for the transition when one or both children are ready to attend preschool or school. Discussing how to manage the change in schedule, transportation, and the impact on the nanny’s responsibilities can be helpful.

  8. Additional Costs and Budgeting: Beyond the nanny’s salary, exploring potential additional costs such as activities, outings, and extra supplies. Creating a realistic budget can prevent financial surprises down the road.

  9. Communication During Nanny’s Absence: Strategies for maintaining communication and coordination when the nanny is on sick leave or vacation, ensuring minimal disruptions to both families’ routines.

  10. Long-Term Planning: Discussing the potential for a long-term nanny share and considering scenarios such as one family’s needs changing or children starting school. Preparing for the future helps create a stable foundation for the arrangement.

A nanny share can be an ideal child care solution for families who commit to open communication, flexibility, and mutual respect for each other and the nanny who cares for their kids. Services like UrbanSitter offer a convenient way to find qualified nanny candidates for your nanny share.

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10 Reasons Why College Students Should Consider Babysitting Jobs

These days, college students are working harder than ever to supplement the exorbitant cost of their education. If you are one of them, a babysitting job could be the perfect solution. Not sure it’s for you?

Here are 10 reasons why you should consider a babysitting job as a valuable moneymaking opportunity:

  1. Flexible Scheduling

You can work around your schedule, rather than build a schedule around your work. It can be hard to find a part-time job that fits around the 15-credits per semester class load required to complete your degree in four years. Babysitting jobs are flexible. You babysit when it works for you.

  1. Good Pay

Babysitting jobs pay well. Forbes Magazine reported on a list of Top 10 Jobs for College Students put out by salary listings website PayScale. Nanny—a demanding, often more time-intensive babysitting job—was the #3 most lucrative job for college students. The site noted the “best potential perk” of the job as the ability to carve out extra study time while the kids are napping. Check out UrbanSitter’s nationwide survey to see what babysitters and nannies are making in your area of the country.

  1. Resume Building

It’s great experience, whether your major involves children in any way or if you intend to have some of your own someday. Babysitting jobs are also great for showing initiative, responsibility and dependability. Future employers will take note.

  1. There’s a High Demand for Holidays and Weekends

You have the time! Many babysitting jobs are available when you have the most time to work—weekends, holiday breaks, and summer.

  1. rp_IMG_7378-300x199.jpgSteady Work

A study conducted by Citi and Seventeen Magazine shows that money-related issues top students’ list of biggest concerns while in school. You always need cash! Why not get your name on a few parents’ speed dial lists, so you’re a first call when they are ready to spend on childcare?

  1. You’re Well Qualified

If you’re reading this, you likely have a bit of babysitting experience under your belt, maybe sitting for a neighbor, helping out with your own siblings, or serving as a summer nanny to help pave the way to college. In addition to childcare experience, you may have taken the time to get CPR certified, completed a first aid class, or studied a bit of early childhood education.

  1. Mentorship

You have a lot to give! In addition to being available, responsible and ready to earn, you’re a vibrant student of the world with lots of interests, hobbies and experiences. Babysitting jobs give you a great outlet to share that experience with children who could benefit from your skills and mentorship. You can tutor, help with homework, share your soccer skills, or teach a young child to read and write.

  1. Easy Commute

There’s rarely much of a commute. There are plenty of families with young children living near campus who are ready to take advantage of your service. You can pick and choose babysitting jobs that fit your needs and possible limitations, such as choosing jobs that are on the bus route or within walking distance if you don’t have a car.

  1. You Have Backup

You can likely find a replacement if a conflict comes up or you come down with the flu. If you are interested in babysitting jobs to make extra money, your friends are, too. Although parents hiring sitters need someone who is dependable, it’s nice to be able to call a friend to cover for you if ever the need be.

  1. Great Networking

It’s the job that keeps on giving. Good babysitters are hot commodities for any parent. Take good care of their children, show responsibility and reliability, and your employer will not only continue to call you to fill a babysitting job, they’ll likely be more than happy to refer their friends to you for days and times when they don’t need you. With a little effort, you can build quite an employment network, and in return, become a go-to resource for parents needing babysitting.

Are you sold on the idea and wondering how to score these great gigs? Let your neighbors, family and friends know you are interested in babysitting jobs, post your availability on a campus or local job board, or use an Internet service like Urbansitter.com to connect with parents who are looking for childcare. UrbanSitter allows you to post a profile, list your preferences, and even provide your availability so parents can immediately see when you are available to work. If you are trustworthy, dependable sitter material, there are plenty of parents who are looking for you now.

Meet Kate Talbot: Successful Author, Content Creator, and Digital Strategist… and an UrbanSitter Babysitter!


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Kate Talbot has built her successful career by using digital storytelling to empower communities at brands like Kiva and Virgin America, as well as scale early-stage startups for growth. In her free time, she writes for online publications like Social Media Examiner and KISSmetrics, educating small business owners and entrepreneurs on how to successfully use millennial social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to build their brands. Recently, she published a book on the topic of Snapchat Marketing. Of course, like any city girl she was at the Dry Bar downtown on a recent Monday morning getting glam for an important event and ran into UrbanSitter CEO Lynn Perkins (whom she babysat for years back) and they got to chatting…

Here, Kate shares with us her experiences with UrbanSitter, what it’s been like having written a successful book, and more insight into her career and life.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you know UrbanSitter CEO and Co-Founder, Lynn?
For me, I am all about the side hustle. SF is expensive and any avenue in which you can use technology to create multiple revenue streams is important. My girlfriends and I (as many of us) have babysat since our tween years, and after business school in 2012 we all signed up for UrbanSitter. This was a great way to supplement our job incomes off the bat.

I learned from my friend Lisa, who is a babysitting all-star, that the best way to build your babysitting profile is to reply to jobs right away and babysit on a Saturday night. From doing so, I ended up replying fast to a query and booked a job during the 2013 holiday season for Lynn. I had a wonderful time babysitting for her son and she was highly supportive of my own story and helping me succeed. We connected on LinkedIn, and I always loved following all the news about UrbanSitter; especially this amazing feature in the First Round Review on Lynn and UrbanSitter.

As fate happens, I ended up running marketing for a First Round Capital company—which also funds UrbanSitter—so at a dinner roundtable I met Daisy [Downs, Co-Founder of UrbanSitter] too! I let the other attendees know that even though I was in the tech space, I also was an UrbanSitter babysitter, which delighted everyone.

You mentioned going to business school, where did you study?
I went to the University of San Francisco, where I focused on Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

I grew up in Moraga in the East Bay —I have lived in New York City, too—but I knew I wanted to be in the Bay Area long-term. My dad and brother both went to USF for law school, so I knew I’d be getting a great education.

Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re doing now?
I have my own consulting firm where I lead growth marketing for early stage startups—whether that’s influencer marketing tools or cybersecurity technology—it really runs the gamut but I love it all.

I also write on the side. I do that because it’s a passion of mine.

In fact, when I babysat I am able to write when the kids are asleep. One of my favorite articles I wrote on Snapchat was written in a Pacific Heights apartment overlooking the Bay, while babysitting for a great family.

You just wrote and published a book about Snapchat, what was the process like?
I combined the writing which was already published on the topic and leveraged my community. I’m extremely fortunate to have contacts across all industries at big brands and media entities, and they were able to provide case study insights into their own execution of the platform. My mentor, a VC from Onset Ventures, who encouraged me to write the book, wrote the foreword about the future of enterprise marketing and Snapchat.

I also mentor at Stanford for an undergraduate course in media and technology. From this class, I was able to hire a recent graduate to design all the creative assets. That was probably my favorite part, because we had so much fun thinking outside the box and what would help the audience understand the platform from a visual perspective.

What interested you about Snapchat enough to write about it ?
I’ve always been really in tune with the millennial, and now Gen Y, audience on what the next trends will be. As a user myself and talking with my 22-year-old god-sister and her friends, I realized the power of Snapchat as an authentic way of telling stories and connecting with friends. Since I’d already been writing about social media for Social Media Examiner, I pitched the topic of Snapchat for Business. I was one of the first writers to do so, and it’s led to amazing opportunities speaking at business schools and conferences. I figured next steps, why not write a book!  

What has the reception been like for your book?
It did amazingly well! I felt so thankful for my community that downloaded it. During the 5-day free promotion, it went to the #2 spot in all of Business Marketing and Sales on Amazon. It was also #1 on Amazon for Advertising and Professional Development and #1 on Product Hunt books.

To wrap up: If you could give advice to sitters using the service, what would it be?
My advice would be to think of your profile as a personal brand. Fill out your profile in the best light possible. Also, remember parents are really looking forward to their date night or event they are off to, so be as professional as possible and always make sure you are doing your best! I know it can be tough sometimes, but keep trying to babysit more and more even if you get overwhelmed.

Babysitting in SF is a great way to explore the different neighborhoods—I didn’t know about all the parks that were out there—and connect with the families! If I hadn’t followed up with Lynn, I wouldn’t be in this position. You never know what will happen!

You can pick up a copy of Kate’s book, Oh, Snap! You Can Use Snapchat for Business, on Amazon, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and see more of her work on her website at http://www.katetalbot.me/.

 

Meet Katie: Nurse Practitioner, Hockey Fan, & Babysitter

Katie Bell

As a pediatric nurse practitioner at the top hospital in the US, Katie makes her living helping children. Since joining UrbanSitter in 2015, she’s expanded her services to include babysitting for some of Boston’s coolest families. A lifelong Chicago Blackhawks fan, she says she uses her own passion for sports as a tool for connecting with new families and kids, and loves babysitting because of the lasting relationships she builds with families.

A Chicago-native, Katie recently moved to Boston to attend graduate school. Here, she tells us more about her life as a nurse practitioner, her passion for helping others, and what she loves about living in Boston.

You’re from Chicago originally. What brought you to Boston?
I came out here to go to grad school at Boston College, where I studied pediatric nursing.

Tell us a little bit about your work as a nurse.
I’m on the inpatient general surgery service as a nurse practitioner, and I manage children ranging in age from hours old to well into their 20s. Patients come from all over the world to have the surgeries that our hospital offers. My job mostly entails before and after surgery; getting patients prepared for the operation and making sure they are healing appropriately afterwards. At the end of the day, you have this goal of doing something good and changing a child’s life for the better. It can be hard, but it’s also really rewarding.

As a pediatric nurse and a babysitter, what is your schedule like?
I work four shifts of ten hours a week and then every fifth weekend, so I have random periods free time during the week. I have a lot of families that I sit for regularly, and I’ll send them my work schedule and they’ll work around it. A lot of families I babysit are not typical 9-5 families; they’re doctors or lawyers and so the changing hours work for both of us.

Can you tell us a little bit about some of the families you sit for?
Boston is such a big city and so the families you meet are all very unique. I have babysat for dozens of families in Boston; some just once and some regularly. I’ve built relationships with parents who are professors, prosecutors, doctors, stay at home moms, and families traveling together for vacation or business who need a break from their kids.

Each family is unique and I enjoy the challenge of having to adapt to each family. I have one family that doesn’t even have a TV and another family that is fine with just giving the kids the iPad and letting them entertain themselves.

How did you first get into babysitting?
I was probably 12 when my neighbors asked if I could watch their kids for a few hours. I did it all through high school, and it was never about the money but more about helping out families that I knew. I’ve always loved kids! I was also a hockey coach in Chicago. I had a family that I met when coaching hockey and I loved the kids so much that I would have offered to sit for that family for free.

How did you first discover UrbanSitter?
When I was in grad school, I chose not to work. So when I graduated it was top of my list to get back into babysitting. Before I sat for my nurse practitioner boards, I was working at a prep school summer camp and one of the girls working there told me, “You have to get on UrbanSitter!” I’ve been using it for about a year now. I babysit maybe 3-4 times a week, and I make enough that I can afford the monthly payments on my student loans.

What do you do in your spare time?
We live right in the heart of downtown Boston, which I think is so fun. Being able to afford to live in the middle of the city and experiencing everything here is so great. My girlfriend and I also travel a lot, which we’re very fortunate to do. We’ll go skydiving, book an impromptu trip in Europe, or jump on a flight to visit friends across the US. We figure, why not do the fun stuff now?

From Portland to San Francisco: Meet Katherine, A Part-Time Babysitter and Nanny

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Portland-native turned San Francisco-transplant Katherine describes childcare as her “absolute passion.”  She’s been a sitter and nanny on UrbanSitter for the past four years, using babysitting as a way to help her pay her way through college, and has done everything from overnight sitting jobs to traveling internationally with families. She’s worked with over 100 different families in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now nannies part-time for a family with a young daughter.

Katherine graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Media Studies in June and recently joined the UrbanSitter corporate team as a summer intern! Here, she shares a little bit more about her life, time as a babysitter, and experience with UrbanSitter.

When did you first start babysitting?
I started working with kids in high school, as a mother’s helper and teaching Sunday school at my church. When I went into college I didn’t think childcare would be my passion as much as it is has become. I moved from Portland to San Francisco to attend USF, and didn’t start to babysit again until my sophomore year. And it just captured my heart. I was studying Media Studies at the time, and I added Child & Youth Studies as a minor.

How did you discover UrbanSitter?
I found all of my college babysitting jobs via UrbanSitter. I was in a Lyft one day, talking to my driver about my life. I didn’t know if my studies we’re taking me in the right direction, and the driver happened to tell me about UrbanSitter and I signed up. The first family that booked me hired me because I speak French, and from there on [UrbanSitter] felt like home. It felt really intimate and wasn’t a faceless, soulless retail job. It was the best thing, it was like coming home.

What has your experience been like as a sitter on UrbanSitter?
For a lot of college students, the opportunity to shape their own lives is not always afforded to them. So to have the resource of UrbanSitter has been confidence building in a lot of ways, it’s like being my own boss. And the families are so incredibly generous with me, beyond even words. I’ve been able to pay my way through college because of the families [I’ve met on UrbanSitter]. They’ve been so supportive of my college career, as far as working with my schedule, giving me advice, and just supporting me in every way.

What’s the most rewarding thing for you personally about working in childcare?
I really prefer to form relationships with families and with kids, and so it’s rewarding both for myself and for the kids and the families. The family that I work for now, I started when their daughter was 6 weeks old and now she’s turning two, and she continually surprises me and just gets better and better. There are so many things that I could never have predicted about [the child I nanny], that are solely her own making. And so to be an observer of that, fulfills my soul in so many ways. To see the personality traits that are so uniquely her is so special. It gets to be my job that I get to nurture somebody and be a part of somebody’s family. It’s wonderful.

The bonds I have with my bosses just get deeper and deeper, and I don’t feel like an employee but like a member of the family. It’s beyond words. I get to go on vacation with them, I eat all my meals at their house. I get paid for something that I love doing. It’s actually a career for me.

What’s the hardest thing for you about working in childcare?
It’s definitely hard when families move away. It’s hard to emotionally handle it when you’re attached to the children and the family.

What would you consider your philosophy as a nanny/sitter?
My childcare philosophy is somewhat influenced by how I grew up, I went to Waldorf school for the first 8 years of my life. As I was going through college, I decided to take some classes in RIE parenting (Resources for Infant Educarers). I’m a huge fan of it. As far as child care goes, I’m a firm believer in saying ‘no,’ though I wouldn’t never say ‘no’ without a reason. Instead of saying, ‘Don’t touch the stove’ I’ll say, ‘Don’t touch the stove, because the stove is hot’ or that sort of thing. I think discipline is very important to teach children, but I never want to force my opinion on a child. RIE is really about respecting the child, and I like that.

Tell us a little bit about your own childhood.
I’m from Portland, Oregon and we spoke french in my home growing up because my dad is french. I had a really happy childhood. Portland is a really incredible place to grow up, because the people are really, truly kind. I have a really wonderful relationship with my parents and my brother who is six years younger than me.

When you aren’t babysitting, what do you like to do?
Ride my bike! Portland is a pretty bike friendly city, and my parents are avid bikers. My dad built a beautiful bicycle for my mom as a wedding present, so I inherited that when I moved down to San Francisco. Now I bike in Marin and the East Bay. I just love it.

Meet Kendall: Chicago-native, Vanderbilt Student and Babysitter!

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With over 35 glowing reviews on UrbanSitter, it comes as no surprise that Kendall has an upbeat and bright personality. Now studying child development at Vanderbilt University, Kendall hopes to transition her people skills and passion for helping others into a full-time career after graduation.

Here, Kendall shares with us what life is like as a student at Vanderbilt, how she first got into babysitting, and her perspective on the parent-babysitter relationship.

You go to college at Vanderbilt, what are you studying?

I’m studying child development and English and sociology, so I have a major and two minors. Honestly, most kids at Vanderbilt probably have some combination of that: multiple majors and minors. I started as a special education major and then realized I wanted to work more with people in general, not just kids, though I had always babysat and worked with kids. It’s been interesting to learn to what makes people tick and how people interact and work with others.

Right now, my part time job on campus is in the admissions office, so I’d love to work as an admissions counselor after college. That would be working with 18- year-olds instead of two-year-olds. There is a lot of travel and meeting people and reading applications, taking care of different tasks at a time in the same way I keep up with my UrbanSitter account.

What drew you to Vanderbilt, specifically?

I’m from Chicago—the suburbs originally—so I’m about an 8 hour drive away from home while I’m at Vanderbilt. There’s 5-10 kids per year that come specifically from my high school to Vandy, so I always figured it could be an option. I liked the balance of rigorous academic curriculum and a community of people that are supportive, but not so cut-throat or competitive.

How did you first get into babysitting?

My very first sitting job was down the street from my house and I was a mother’s helper, but then she started leaving me with the kids. Through high school I sat on weekend nights, but I was also very involved in high school—I danced and participated in a lot of activities—so I just started right on my block where my parents could watch me walk there and walk home.

Who first introduced you to UrbanSitter?

When I came home after my freshman year of college, I had set up a full-time nanny job but it fell through. My dad actually had heard of UrbanSitter and he was the one who encouraged me to go for it. That was summer of 2014—and I was a Brand Ambassador with the UrbanSitter team in Chicago, which was a great way to get acquainted with the platform. And now I have a great basis to explain to parents how [UrbanSitter] works.

Has UrbanSitter helped you achieve any specific monetary goals or ambitions?

All of my spending money for when I studied abroad came from UrbanSitter! There are things that I’ve been able to do—I go to a school where people have a lot of money—and experiences and trips can feel really inaccessible to people who don’t have that kind of money. I went to Amsterdam and Prague and all over Europe because of the money I saved from UrbanSitter.

What do you love most about babysitting?

I have loved babysitting, not only because I love working with kids, but because the parents that I work are for are generally the generation between myself and my parents. So getting to know those parents and seeing how they are adults, without being exactly like my parents or other college students, has helped me see what life is like 5-10 years beyond college. . I see a lot of value in making relationships with parents, too, because you can learn or be exposed to other experiences through them.

What would your babysitting style is like?

I would characterize my babysitting style as pretty warm, though I will enforce rules and boundaries because I know how a lack of boundary-setting will affect a child developmentally. I don’t like to skimp on rules for one night just because I’m the babysitter, not only because it makes it harder on the parents when they come home, but also because it makes it harder on me if I come back to watch the kids again. I try to view my relationship with families as being part of a team. I establish myself as someone who will lay down the law if I need to, but if the kids don’t make me lay down the law, then they know we can have fun.

What tips would you give to sitters just getting started on UrbanSitter?

I would say it’s important to wait for the families that you feel like you’ll vibe with. I’ve worked with families that weren’t a good fit for me and the difference between that and the families I’m really great with, is almost worth more than the money. I would say waiting for families that you feel value you and what you bring to them, and care about your time and experience, there are those families on UrbanSitter; and it’s worth making sure that you are clicking well with anyone you work for.

Hire Kendall today on UrbanSitter!

Sign up to be a babysitter today for free at www.urbansitter.com!

Parents: Discover your community’s most-trusted sitters and nannies.

Meet Mara: Babysitter and Future Genetic Counselor!

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Mara has been working with kids and families since she was in middle school so it comes as no surprise that she’s now pursuing a career in genetic counseling, where she’ll be able to help people each and every day. Since joining UrbanSitter in 2012 Mara has sat for around 100 different families, and says that babysitting has provided her with income while still allowing her to keep a schedule flexible enough for school, volunteering, and applying to a Masters program.

Here, Mara shares with us a little bit more about her life, her adventures in babysitting, and what she plans on doing in the future.  

How did you get started as a babysitter?
I grew up in a suburb of San Francisco in a neighborhood that had four cul de sacs that were connected, so it was a pretty good place to find babysitting jobs because there were a lot of families. I don’t remember how I got into babysitting exactly, if I decided if I was old enough or if a neighbor approached me.

We had this little newsletter for our neighborhood and it showed which families were in which houses and listed the names of the kids who lived in the houses, too. The kids’ names had boxes next to them that said whether or not they were willing to do yard work or babysitting or things like that.

I made $4/hour to start, as a Mother’s Helper. I was pretty bad at it, because the mom was working at home, and so the kids would just go bother her. And then I’d come home with my $12 dollars in my hand, but you have to start somewhere!

How did your babysitting career advance after that?
I wanted to do more babysitting as I got a little bit older. I took a class about babysitting at the local community center and of course got CPR certified. In high school I went around my neighborhood with flyers and knocking on doors and got a regular babysitting job out of that, that I had throughout high school and my first year of college.

I also took a gap year and was an au pair in Switzerland for 10 months. I went to the  German-speaking part of Switzerland and couldn’t even count to ten in German when I got there, but I picked it up. I was so excited about it that I went with the very first family who chose me (I applied through an online service not an agency) and just said “Yes! I will be your au pair!”

How did you first get started on UrbanSitter?
I’ve been on UrbanSitter for four and a half years, and it was pretty small when I started. I remember that somebody contacted me for a phone interview, and I remember being in a parking lot walking to my car and I got this call from a woman with a really beautiful Irish accent. Both parents were from Europe and the dad was working as a postdoc at UC Berkeley, they didn’t have any family in the area and hadn’t had a date night in forever.

It was a good start because they were a really nice family and just so appreciative. Their little girl was adorable. They gave me a good review and then someone else booked me. So [my time on UrbanSitter] started out slow, but it picked up from there.

You’re studying genetic counseling now, can you tell us a little bit about that?
A genetic counselor talks to people who might be at risk for hereditary medical conditions. Like cancer for example, if a person has a strong family history of cancer they’ll talk to a genetic counselor and decide whether or not to do specific testing to see if they have that genetic predisposition. Genetic counselors also meet with people planning a pregnancy or who are currently pregnant to provide information and counseling about any health problems that run in the family as well as about prenatal testing options.

Has babysitting had any effect on your choice to pursue genetic counseling?
In genetic counseling you’re working with a lot of different people, people trying to plan a family or start a family. And in my babysitting adventures each family is different, with different personalities, and I’ve always found that pretty interesting. In the field of genetic counseling I’ll get to continue to meet different people and work with different people, and I think it’s good to have a foundation in that already.

There’s a particular family that I work for regularly that goes out a lot. They were so, so supportive about this particular application process [for my Master’s program]. They would give me advice and try to help out. It’s a pretty competitive program that I was applying for, so I was very stressed. The dad’s sister is actually a genetic counselor and so he set up a meeting for us, and she gave me really helpful advice and support.  The kid is so great, too, she’s always cheerful and runs to the door when I get there – now that I’ve started graduate school, I find babysitting is a good way to relieve stress!

Babysitting has been really helpful, because I had to do a lot of volunteering to be accepted into the Master’s program that I’m in now. I’ve been preparing for this program for three years. In July of last year, I left my job at Children’s Hospital to be able to take on more volunteering, and an internship, and to take more classes. So babysitting was all of my income, and it let me be flexible.

Saturday night to me is like babysitting night. I think I’ve worked the majority of Saturdays in the last year. And that has really allowed me to support myself in this last year of preparation for the program. UrbanSitter was so helpful because I know I wouldn’t have found as many jobs as I did without it.

Sign up to be a babysitter today at www.urbansitter.com!