Hiring a Toronto Nanny or Babysitter

Networking in Toronto 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 some first aid training. Remember your child’s safety is your first priority.

Toronto Nanny Salary

The going rate in your Toronto 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 $11 to $17 an hour or $400 to $600 per week. Be fair – for sitters, pay a decent rate with a minimum number of hours arranged beforehand. (The current minimum wage in Ontario is $9.50 per hour.)

Toronto Nanny & Babysitter Agencies

There are some well-established registered babysitter and nanny agencies in Toronto which are members of the Better Business Bureau of Canada or the Toronto Board of Trade, and they will provide references on request. Preferred Personnel of Canada Inc. (647-722-4644 or toll-free 1-800-899-8841) can even provide a nanny or sitter with a nursing background in case your child is ill or has special needs. Elite Care of Canada (416-590-7429 or toll-free 1-877-242-7706) was voted the best nanny agency in the 2008 annual Today’s Parent Readers’ Choice Awards as well as being a member of the standard-setting International Au Pair Association. 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 Toronto 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.

Toronto Kids Activities & Things To Do with Kids

Toronto is a vibrant multicultural city, easy to get around by public transportation if you don’t have a car. There are lots of kid-friendly places to visit and things to see and do, like the Ontario Science Centre which is suitable for kids of all ages (including adults), the CN Tower (one of the world’s tallest buildings), Ontario Place complete with water activities, Centre Island which is accessed by a fun ferry boat ride, the newly expanded Royal Ontario Museum with its great dinosaur exhibit, and the world class Metro Zoo with its own scenic train to get around. Just remember to have both the sitter and the kids wear comfy shoes when out and about in Toronto.