Trained Nannies Aren’t Cheap

It’s the cocktail-party chatter that really gets Mike Bailey, owner of Child Care Connection, a Northridge agency that handles all types of child care, including placing in-home care-givers (baby-sitters, nannies).

Every week, he receives calls from parents who are shocked when he tells them the nannies he places earn about $250 a week. This is average pay for a nanny or a sitter with experience and some child-development training.

“Many people have been to a cocktail party and they hear someone say, ‘Oh, I have a nanny for my child and I pay her $100 a week.’ The only people available at that cost are illegal aliens,” said Bailey, who charges a standard placement fee of 80% of a month’s salary.

Bailey and others in the placement business say parents need to be realistic about costs. They should interview thoroughly and check references.

Parents looking for this type of child care typically use employment agencies, word of mouth or the classified advertising sections of newspapers, where offers range from $100 to $450 a week.

“Many of the people who call us haven’t even thought about what it costs,” said Bailey. “Parents want someone they can trust. They usually specify English-speaking--not because they are biased, but because they want someone who can communicate with their child. They are concerned about security and experience. They want someone who will be available for the hours they need, and they want someone who can do a little bit of housekeeping.”

It is not unusual for an in-home sitter to ask for more than $250 a week to care for more than one child, said Bailey. This comes as a surprise to parents, too.

“Then the client will say, ‘I don’t want someone who is doing it for the money. I want someone who loves kids,’ ” Bailey added.

To educate parents about what to look for when they are in the market for an in-home care provider, the Assn. of Businesses for Childcare Development, a downtown Los Angeles consortium, will offer a public seminar in July.

“We will have someone tell people how to find people, how to interview them and how to evaluate references,” said Elizabeth Handler, an ABCD board member. For information, call (213) 624-7018.