San Diego Nanny

Hiring an San Diego Nanny or Babysitter

Networking in San Diego with friends, neighbors, teachers, or using a professional registered sitter agency is a good way to start. It is important to find someone that you like to watch your child. This should be a responsible, competent, trustworthy individual who actually likes being with children. Ensure that they are age-appropriate since some nannies and sitters are not comfortable with babies or very young children. Do a background check, ask for references and be sure to check them out. It would also be helpful if the sitter had first aid or CPR training. Remember your child’s safety is your first priority.

San Diego Nanny Salary

The going rate in your San Diego neighborhood can vary depending on the sitter’s qualifications, experience, education, and the number of children to be cared for. Salaries for live-in nannies currently range from $12 to $16 an hour or $500 to $700 per week. Be fair – for sitters, pay a decent rate with a minimum number of hours arranged beforehand. There are some well-established registered babysitter and nanny agencies in San Diego, and they will provide references and detailed background checks on request.

San Diego Nanny & Babysitter Agencies

Seaside Nannies Inc. (619-384-5505) is a member of the International Nanny Association and won the Best of San Diego Nannies for 2009. It is a full service agency nanny referral agency that personally meets with families at their homes to assess the family’s individual needs. Candidates must have a minimum of two years experience in the childcare field, undergo a Social Security trace, a county criminal investigation in each county, have a reliable and safe vehicle with valid insurance as well as a clean driver’s record, and be CPR and first aid certified. All references are checked and nannies fingerprinted through a LiveScan site (submitted to California’s Department of Social Services Trustline Registry and checked) before they enter the family home for an interview. Drug screening is also offered to the family at extra cost if both the prospective nanny and family are in agreement. They provide full-time and temp nannies with a minimum of 20 hours per week, rates of $15-$25/hour depending on experience, short-term temp nannies (positions for three months or less), special event nannies for weddings or corporate functions ($50 agency fee and $25 hourly fee for each nanny provided), and infant specialists at $30-$45 for a 12 or 20 hour shift.

Safe and Sound Nannies (858-551-8080) is a full service nanny agency in business since 1999, with rates between $13-$17/hour for a 20 hour per week minimum, depending on the number of children, the location and commuting time. Candidates undergo psychological screening, background, reference and driving record checks, undergo a county criminal investigation check in each county, must be able to work in the U.S. legally, be CPR and first aid certified (if not current, must be within one week of hiring), have reliable transportation and valid insurance, and the agency will provide Trustline fingerprinting on request. Be sure to leave a contact number where you can be reached, as well as your child’s medical information. If you are going to be unavailable, perhaps a grandparent or good neighbor in San Diego can be notified. Be clear to the babysitter about your expectations. This should be a good experience for your child, something and someone they can look forward to coming again.

San Diego Kids Activities & Things To Do with Kids

San Diego is the second largest city in California, located in the southwest part of the state on San Diego Bay. Situated on the site of the first European settlement in California established in 1769, Mission San Diego de Alcala was under Mexican rule from 1822, captured in 1846 by a U.S. naval force. San Diego was incorporated as a city in 1850 after California joined the Union, and the population grew in 1884 with the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad. During World War 1, with its natural harbor San Diego became an important U.S naval base. It is a busy commercial port, and in addition to its leading industries of electronics, aerospace, agriculture, and medical and scientific research, San Diego is a cultural, educational and medical center. With its great climate, its many historic attractions, great beaches, and close proximity to Mexico, tourism is a significant part of the city’s economy.

San Diego has a multitude of restaurants and pubs that highlight its diverse international cuisine as well as after-hours live music and entertainment. Be sure to try the California burrito native to this area, and Mexican food is readily available. San Diego has something for everyone; so if you are going to visit for business or holiday, bring the whole family with you. Seaport Village is a unique collection of more than 50 shops and restaurants by the San Diego Bay with a great view overlooking the Coronado Bridge. You can enjoy the street entertainers as you walk along the four-mile tree-lined paths, or sit and watch while the kids ride the vintage 1895 carousel. The San Diego Zoo is always number one on everyone’s request list. For kids of all ages, the zoo is home to more than 4000 rare and endangered animals and showcases a landscape of rare plants from all climates, a living classroom. There are specially designed viewing areas for kids, a zoo within the zoo, five giant pandas, polar bears, and a performing sea lion show. The Skyfari aerial tram gives an overview of the 100-acre facility or you can take double decker guided bus tours. The realistic habitats show visitors how animals live in the wild, and the zoo is famous for its conservation efforts. There are lots of restaurants to choose from, and parking is free.

SeaWorld San Diego has 200 acres of fun for everyone where you can feed and touch dolphins and stingrays, get close to whales, polar bears, sharks and penguins, watch the sea lion and otter show, enjoy the Sesame Street Bay of Play with family-friendly rides, get soaked in the Shipwreck Rapids, and see the 4-D interactive movies and night time fireworks. The San Diego Wild Animal Park is also part of the zoo but 30 miles south, for kids ages four and up, showcasing free-roaming animals in large natural enclosures and drive-through environments, open bird sanctuaries, animal feeding areas, and their special “Roar and Snore” Camping Program available year-round on weekends. The Chula Vista Nature Center is a zooquarium that focuses on coastal resource conservation with exhibits of native plants and animals, where you can walk though tanks and aviary to get close to stingrays, jellyfish, green sea turtles and sharks. Children under four are free. For the railroad buff, visit the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the world’s largest model railroad display including an interactive toy train gallery, hands-on computer display, and the little ones can enjoy Thomas the Tank Activity Room. The history buff will not want to miss the USS Midway Museum, the longest serving aircraft carrier in US Navy history, located downtown at Navy Pier. You can take a self-guided audio tour of the more than 30 exhibits and 21 restored aircraft, check out the flight simulators, and stop in at the gift shop for that special souvenir to take home.

In Balboa Park, you will find the San Diego Museum of Art, the region’s largest fine arts museum. Its world-famous collections include European old masters, 19th and 29th century sculptures, important American paintings, and a renowned large collection of South Asian paintings. The Museum of Man celebrates diversity and brings together history, art and anthropology with exhibits from ancient and contemporary cultures. The museum showcases an ancient Egyptian exhibit where kids can see rare Egyptian artifacts, dress up in costumes, and see a jewel-adorned mummy. There is also a Native Californian exhibit. The Children’s Museum is fun for kids of all ages encouraging them to think, play, create and touch everything in the age-specific areas and activities. The museum is completely handicap accessible. For an adult change of pace, visit The Japanese Friendship Garden, a San Diego landmark, built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. Have a relaxing cup of tea in the Tea Pavillion and enjoy the scenery. For a unique off-shore adventure for the whole family, take a whale-watching tour to see 40 foot gray whales migrating past San Diego from late December through March as they go from the Arctic waters on their way to Baja, California. Three or five hour cruises are available in comfortable boats for the open sea with both indoor and outdoor seating.

As you can see, San Diego offers something for everyone, resident and tourist alike. Just remember to have the sitter and the kids bring a jacket and wear comfy shoes when out and about in San Diego.