Blog
The Big Back Injury!
In February this year, I suddenly found myself depending on a walker just to make it to my kitchen. I severely herniated a disc in my lower back while bending to pick up my dog's bowl, an injury brought on by years of use. The pain was excruciating. On top of this, my...
Meaningful Interview Questions to Ask Nanny Candidates.
Job interviews typically feature a standard set of questions, yet these questions often aren't that effective at truly gauging a candidate's values and future conduct. If you haven't had prior experience in HR or management, interviewing nanny candidates could be your...
10 Great Tips for Hiring an After-School Nanny
August is a busy time as many parents work to secure an after-school care plan for the coming year. The scarcity of after-school care options is a major issue that deserves discussion on multiple fronts. In this article, we focus on the decision to hire a part-time...
Underlying Reasons Your Nanny or Sitter Search Isn’t Working Well, and New Solutions.
You are polite to sitters and nannies, you pay a competitive hourly rate, your kids are respectful, and they are really neat kids! Still, you have gone through several nannies or babysitters this year and sometimes you feel like no one wants to work anymore. Is there...
Odd Video Interview Errors And How to Avoid Them
As the owner of a childcare agency, I have had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of applicants for nanny and babysitting positions. Since 2020, virtual interviewing has become common and I'm so glad for this time-saving efficiency. I have also experienced some...
Breaking Stereotypes: The Importance of Men in Babysitting and Childcare Positions
As the owner of a babysitting agency, I am disheartened when parents perpetuate the stereotype that characterizes male childcare workers as potential sexual predators. Parents may be very surprised to learn that this stereotype is not accurate, it can actually be...
An Inclusive Business: My Stories, and 6 Practical Steps To Take
I founded Babysitters Of Boulder with a simple purpose: to connect busy parents with trustworthy childcare providers. Early on, I was unaware of the challenges that would arise in matters of inclusivity. It was only when confronted with discrimination that I began to...
What Does the Nanny Do While My Child Naps?
I find that parents are in one of two camps with their initial understanding of this question: parents who assumed the nanny would simply hang out at the house, and they thought that they'd pay less during this time parents who thought the nanny was going to mop, prep...
Babysitter Scheduling Trends.
What's going on behind the scenes in the Babysitters Of Boulder master calendar? Here are some solid trends worth knowing: Busiest day for babysitting requests/day that sells out. Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Most popular evening sit time that gets claimed super fast....
Calling Out Sick: Professionalism For Parents, Nannies & Sitters
Parents typically aren't frustrated by the fact of their nanny calling out sick. Parents understand that nannies and babysitters are humans who get sick sometimes. It's about how the callout is done. What frustrates parents is: call-outs that occur less than two hours...
Understanding Cancellation “Fees.”
A chronic inequality that exists between childcare workers and parents is that a babysitter should be on time and reliable, however if a parent has to cancel a booking the babysitter is often not paid. If they are paid it's typically a nominal amount. When a childcare...
Colorado’s New FAMLI Leave Law
From the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: "Voters approved Proposition 118 in November of 2020, paving the way for a state-run Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. The FAMLI program will ensure all Colorado workers have access to paid...
Who Owns Babysitters Of Boulder?
I've interacted with most of our clients briefly by email or phone, and I thought you may like to know more about the person who built and oversees Babysitters Of Boulder. My name is Genna Hackley. I actually have a degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico...
Cell Phone Etiquette For Sitters & Nannies
I used to think that the best cell phone policy was no cell phone around at all. I saw them as unprofessional distractions during work hours. Then I met a parent whose nanny fell and broke her leg very badly while alone at their home with the 3-year old. The parent...
What If I’m Late To A Booking?
Our team is consistently on time and reliable and it's one of the top reasons parents choose to work with us. That said, being late can happen even to the best of us. Utilize these methods to professionally recover with a parent: 1. Let them know you're running behind...