Hiring a Vancouver Nanny or Babysitter
Networking in Vancouver 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.
Vancouver Nanny Salary
The going rate in your Vancouver 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.
Vancouver Nanny & Babysitter Agencies
There are some well-established registered babysitter and nanny agencies in Vancouver that are members of the Better Business Bureau of Canada, and they will provide references on request. Happy Kidz (604-880-3656) can provide babysitters, live-in and live-out nannies, temporary care in addition to elderly care. As an adjunct, they will also provide hotel babysitting, at your vacation rental or on a business trip. Vancouver’s Almost As Good As Mum Nanny Agency (604-542-0548) can provide live-in nannies, daily nanny service, temporary nanny service when your regular nanny is away on holidays or in case of emergencies, and also offers the option of a cost-saving shared nanny service between two families. 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.
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 Vancouver 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.
Vancouver Kids Activities & Things To Do with Kids
Vancouver is a vibrant city with lots of kid-friendly places to visit and things to see and do, like the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre which houses otters, sea lions, whales and other marine creatures, with many exhibits and special children’s programs. Science World at Telus World of Science is a terrific interactive kids museum where they are encouraged to get into everything, Stanley Park with its Miniature Railway, a small steam locomotive that runs a circuit through the woods, and the Children’s Farm has a petting zoo. Granville Island Water Park and Adventure Playground has the usual fun water activities, and also has a Kids Market with playrooms, shops and food – all children oriented. For the adventurous of all ages, Vancouver Whale Watch offers safe whale-watching excursions during the season of April through October, in addition to on the water education of the west coast eco-system. Remember to have both the sitter and the kids wear comfy shoes when out and about in Vancouver.
