I would also suggest placing an ad in the paper. I know that where I live it is almost impossible to find reasonable child care and nobody wants to do it part time so my husband and I work opposite shifts. I work 6-2 he works 4pm to 12:30am. I was quoted $660/month for six hours a day of child care only. :o I have two kids and I won't even make the $1200/month at my job to pay for it. I work for peanuts, just so my kids don't have to go to child care. I am getting off topic here, but place and ad and check references and do a background check with police dept and also check DMV records if they will be driving. I would also suggest a 30 day trial run, if you don't like them you can let them go. Good luck!!

I would definitely go to an agency. They vet their employees, insure them and are all round more reliable. I'd never want somebody I chose randomly from an ad in the paper to be around my kids and in my home unsupervised. I think agency nannies may even charge less than you think but it would be worth it for the added security.

I agree that you wouldn't want to randomly choose someone out of the newspaper. But it is a safe alternative to an agency as long as you conduct proper interviews, background checks, and require several references and follow up on each of them.

Of course. That's just me being lazy again, I guess!:D But just another idea to toss in the pot, as well. I think people sometimes rule out agencies because they assume they will cost too much.

It really is frightening to leave your children under the care of a stranger.....thank goodness my husband and I juggled childcare ourselves to this point.

I am blessed as my mother has agreed to start the ball rolling the end of Aug.........I am going to pay her $500 per month for part time childcare plus housekeeping and meal prep. Some days (almost two weeks of every month my hubby will be home in the mornings) I will need her for after school rather than before school.

I am going to keep looking as I don't expect my mother to do it for the long haul. It is great to know that I don't have to worry about it right away and maybe I can bring someone in gradually that can work along with my mom for awhile.

I have appreciated all of your suggestions and insights.

L

Another option might be to co-op with a neighbor. If you have a neighbor that has children she could help you in the morning and then you could do some evening babysitting for her. I did something similar when my children were elementary school age. Good luck in your search.

Just make sure you do a lot of checking on backgrounds, you never can be sure no matter what experience the person may have.

Unfortunately there are no agencies in the area I live in. So this might not be an option for everyone. They are strangers too!!! So be careful what ever option you choose.

OH for sure.

Thanks

L