How to Find a Babysitter or Nanny without Paying for Agency Fees by:Doreen Lee

Your child deserves the best nanny or babysitter that you can find

. For your peace of mind, you also need to find somebody who is perfect for the job. You need to make sure that you are leaving your child to someone who can take care of him and keep him safe while you are away. This is why most parents opt to go for nanny agencies to ensure that they are screening candidates who have already been pre-screened for their credibility.

A nanny agency can bring you suitable matches according to your requirements. With its diverse database of potential candidates, you are bound to find somebody in its roster who will be able to live up to your expectations. But the thing is you need to pay for its services to take advantage of this benefit.

But you don't really have to spend a lot in order to find a good babysitter for your children. In fact, there are several venues where you can find one without paying an agency to match you up. Here are some ideas.

Recommendations from friends and colleagues

Before you go to an agency for your search, you want to ask for recommendations from family, friends, and colleagues who have children as well. Ask them to refer you to babysitters and nannies they have employed before to give you a good head start in your search. After all, who could better give you suitable candidates than those who have already employed babysitters and nannies before?

Local community groups

Healthcare facilities, YMCA, and other local community groups tend to provide babysitting and childcare seminars regularly. Find out if there is one being hosted in your area and request for a list of local babysitters who have participated in the event. This is one way to make sure that you're talking to potential babysitters who have gone through proper training in handling children or administering first aid.

Go to the local colleges and universities

If you live near local colleges or universities offering degrees in child development, healthcare, or primary education, you can take your search for a good babysitter or nanny to these places. You can contact the school's counselor or post an opening at the university's job board to invite students to apply for your request.

Going online for your nanny search

Another convenient way to search for a suitable babysitter is by going online. The Internet is home to a wealth of information on babysitters and nannies. There are a lot of online bulletin boards where you can post your request or even seek candidates who are ready to offer services. Try online classified listings such as Craigslist or you can also go to websites especially made for parents.

Babycenter , for instance, offers relevant information on how to find babysitters and nannies in your area. Participate in the local community forums in the site to get referrals from other parent users about finding nannies. You can also go directly to babysitter and nanny search sites on the Internet. Many of these sites would not charge you as much as a local nanny agency would and there are even those that offer free services.

About the author

Doreen Lee helps parents get instant access to thousands of qualified babysitters around their area by leading them to http://www.hireasitternow.com

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