How Choice Parenting Sitter Service Works:
What you are your Sitter requirements and screening process?
- At least 21+ years old
- Carefully and hand pick sitters by owner ( and mom of two boys) Holly Flanders
- Have verified previous childcare experience 2+ years and excellent references
- Clean background
- Fluent English
- Pediatric CPR certification
- Pass a detailed application and interview with our team
- Attend an orientation and training on our professional babysitting expectation and requirements
- Sitter must have 1-year infant experience for all jobs requiring care for child under 1 year old.
I would like to book at Sitter! What is the Process?
Step 1: To request a reservation fill out the form below with as many family and job details as possible.
Step 2: We will work to confirm an available sitter to be matched to your family.
Step 3: Once a sitter is matched to your job, we will send you our family contract and the credit card payment invoice for agency fee ($50 or $75 for last minute reservations within 24 hours). Once we receive the signed contract and paid agency fee your reservation is confirmed.
Step 4: Once confirmed, you will receive an email with your sitter's profile which includes: a photo, bio and contact info.
Step 5: Your sitter will send you an introductory text/call before your reservation to go over any quick details before the scheduled sitting.
Step 2: We will work to confirm an available sitter to be matched to your family.
Step 3: Once a sitter is matched to your job, we will send you our family contract and the credit card payment invoice for agency fee ($50 or $75 for last minute reservations within 24 hours). Once we receive the signed contract and paid agency fee your reservation is confirmed.
Step 4: Once confirmed, you will receive an email with your sitter's profile which includes: a photo, bio and contact info.
Step 5: Your sitter will send you an introductory text/call before your reservation to go over any quick details before the scheduled sitting.
How much notice is needed to book a sitter?
It is always a good idea to book your reservation with as much notice as possible. We can book you months ahead of your planned need. Booking a sitter with at least 1-week in advance notice is highly recommended. There is an additional charge ($25 per booking) for last minute services (within 24 hours) and based on availability. For last minute request, please call/text Holly at 917-720-2865
Question 3
Answer to question 3
What are your Rates and Fees? ( Agency + Sitter+ Misc)
We charge per individual family (siblings only)
Payment should be made directly to the sitter by Venmo, Zelle or Cash. Sitter will provide an emailed receipt with hours and payment received at the close of the shift.
Appointments require a 4-hour-booking minimum- no exceptions.
Our sitter's charge prorated hourly fees by the closest quarter of an hour. You are charged from the time that the sitter arrives/ start time to the time that you arrive (prorated to the nearest quarter of the hour).
Holidays
$30.00/hour base rate for 1 child and $35 for 2 kids on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day (after 4:00 pm), Easter, 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving), and $45.00/hour base rate: Christmas Eve (after 4:00 pm), Christmas, Thanksgiving. Hourly rate is subject to change if the actual sit differs from information provided in the booking request.
Parking/Gate Fees
Food
Agency Fee
$50 is charged by the credit card provided at the time of reservation confirmation per reservation (plus $25 for requests/rescheduling within 24 hours). At reservation confirmation, a signed permission to charge the card is required for balance of the scheduled hourly payment if cancellation is made 24 hours prior to the reservation’s scheduled start time (72 hours for holidays). No Exceptions. We will forward the payment in full to your sitter as payment for you. 100% of a cancellation payment goes to your babysitter.
- $25 for 1 children per hour
- $30 for 2 children per hour per individual family
- Gratuity is not included and should be given to the sitter at the end of the reservation and at each client's discretion. For groups, holidays and reservations ending at 2am or later, 20% gratuity should be added.
Payment should be made directly to the sitter by Venmo, Zelle or Cash. Sitter will provide an emailed receipt with hours and payment received at the close of the shift.
Appointments require a 4-hour-booking minimum- no exceptions.
Our sitter's charge prorated hourly fees by the closest quarter of an hour. You are charged from the time that the sitter arrives/ start time to the time that you arrive (prorated to the nearest quarter of the hour).
- Ex. Parent schedules a sitter booking from 8am-2pm but arrives home at 12:15pm. The parent/client will pay the sitter the hourly rate from 8am-2pm.
- Ex. Parent schedules a sitter booking from 8am-2pm but arrives home at 3:08pm. The parent/client will pay the sitter the hourly rate from 8am-3:15pm.
Holidays
$30.00/hour base rate for 1 child and $35 for 2 kids on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day (after 4:00 pm), Easter, 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving), and $45.00/hour base rate: Christmas Eve (after 4:00 pm), Christmas, Thanksgiving. Hourly rate is subject to change if the actual sit differs from information provided in the booking request.
Parking/Gate Fees
- If ease of free parking or reasonable/safe public transportation is not provided, a family must make arrangements for paid/reimbursed parking in a garage/gate fee or reimbursement of Uber during off peak hours. Uber home provided after 8pm.
Food
- If your reservation is 8 hours or more, and during normal meal times, you are required to purchase at least one meal for your sitter. Sitters will bring their own drink, food and snacks for shorter assignments.
Agency Fee
$50 is charged by the credit card provided at the time of reservation confirmation per reservation (plus $25 for requests/rescheduling within 24 hours). At reservation confirmation, a signed permission to charge the card is required for balance of the scheduled hourly payment if cancellation is made 24 hours prior to the reservation’s scheduled start time (72 hours for holidays). No Exceptions. We will forward the payment in full to your sitter as payment for you. 100% of a cancellation payment goes to your babysitter.
What happens after I fill out the Request a Sitter Form?
- After we confirm your sitter, you will receive a digital contract to be signed and an invoice to pay the $50 agency fee via major credit card. (Additional $25 agency charges for last minute reservations/changes within 24 hours).
- Once received, we will send an emailed profile about your sitter with a photo, bio and contact info.
- Your sitter will send you an intro text to see if you would like to line up a quick call at least 72 hours before the reservation to say "hi" and discuss any questions or details for parking, location and the child(ren). Your sitter will call/text you at her earliest convenience/availability for requests made within 72 hours of the reservation.
- Your sitter will receive your detailed intake form with information on your location, ages of kids, scheduled hours, allergies and overall needs.
- Sitters cannot be contacted to make, modify or cancel a reservation. Please contact - choiceparentingnannies@gmail.com or call/text 917-720-2865 for immediate assistance.
What can I expect at the time of Reservation?
- Please book at least 15 minutes (+) before you need to leave to give your sitter instructions, fill out our necessary paperwork and introduce your child(ren) to their sitter.
- Your sitter will come with a "Choice Parenting Sitter " shirt, a bag of "ice breaking" items/toys (geared to kids aged 2 years-5 years); a state issued photo ID; a cell phone and charger; and quiet activity for nap/bedtime.
- Paperwork required at the time of reservation
Childcare Release Form:
All parents are required to sign a childcare release form prior to the caregiver being left with your child. Parents or Guardians are the only people permitted to sign this form. If multiple families are represented, a parent for each child must be present to sign the form before the appointment. Along with emergency contact and emergency release info.
Schedule:
An overview for you to fill out on your child's routine, family rules and preferences
Sitter Service Invoice:
All clients must sign our Sitter Service Invoice at the conclusion of the appointment. time card recipe and total pay received. Please arrange to pay your sitter directly via Venmo/Zelle/Cash App or cash.
Other Possible Forms, if applicable:
Swim Release Form:
Clients who desire that their caregiver take the children swimming must first sign a swim release form.
Authorization to Release a Child Form:
Clients who desire that their caregiver release the child/children to another adult must sign a form giving us permission to do so. We will only release to adults (age 18 and over) and will require the individual(s) to show us a photo ID. For the safety of the children in our care, no exceptions are made to this policy, even if the individual is staying in the same home/hotel room as the client.
Authorization to Administer Medication Form:
Clients who desire that their caregiver administer any medication (prescription, over the counter, or vitamins/supplements) must complete this form.
- A sitter is NOT responsible for duties such as: household cleaning, laundry, driving with you or your child(ren), running errands, making deliveries, giving baths or showers, and allowing anyone outside the client into the home or hotel room.
- Sitters will bring their own drink, food and snacks. If your reservation is 8 hours or more, and during normal meal times, you are required to purchase at least one meal for your sitter.
- Your sitter will bring a book, laptop or a quiet activity while the children are sleeping or napping. If you are in a hotel room, the sitter will sit quietly in a low light/dark until you arrive. Sitters will not clean or do any household work outside of cleanup from the time they have spent with the child(ren) during the scheduled time.
Can I request a Specific Sitter?
It is always our preference and the preference of our sitters to work with familiar families. Please provide all of the dates and times with as much notice as possible so that the same sitter can be arranged. Unfortunately, we can not guarantee that the same sitter will always be available.
A sitter may not be contacted after reservation is complete and you may not share their contact info with any third party. Our sitters are under contract and we ask that you do not put them in a position to jeopardize their jobs and that you please read through your contract for nanny placement fees and additional sitter agency fee that you will incur if you chose to use our sitter's services outside of our agency's policies.
A sitter may not be contacted after reservation is complete and you may not share their contact info with any third party. Our sitters are under contract and we ask that you do not put them in a position to jeopardize their jobs and that you please read through your contract for nanny placement fees and additional sitter agency fee that you will incur if you chose to use our sitter's services outside of our agency's policies.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE THE TIME OF THE RESERVATION OR WE ARE RUNNING LATE?
All reservations must be changed or modified with at least 24 hours notice and are based on availability. With less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged from the earliest reserved time plus any already incurred parking fees/ Uber expenses. All changes must be made directly with Choice Parenting during normal business hours and incur an additional $25 fee for after hour and last minute changes.
If you reduce the length of your booking with less than 24 hours notice you will pay your sitter for the original length of the booking. Example: 6-hour sit changed to 4-hour sit the day before.
Please contact - choiceparentingnannies@gmail.com or call/text 917-720-2865 for immediate assistance.
If you reduce the length of your booking with less than 24 hours notice you will pay your sitter for the original length of the booking. Example: 6-hour sit changed to 4-hour sit the day before.
Please contact - choiceparentingnannies@gmail.com or call/text 917-720-2865 for immediate assistance.
WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL A RESERVATION? And what if my Sitter needs to cancel last minute?
We strictly enforce a 24-hour cancellation and modification policy for all standard babysitting reservations. There is a 72-hour cancellation and modification policy for reservations with multiple babysitters, overnights, early and late starts and for holidays.
If the reservation is canceled or modified with less than the required 24 hours (or the special request 72 hours notice), then the full remaining balance of the scheduled hours will be charged to the credit card provided at the time the reservation was made to go directly to the sitter. Cancellations and modifications may only be made by speaking with Choice Parenting Sitters directly or with a timed stamped voicemail/email/text message to Choice Parenting. Cancellations and/or modifications by text, email and/or directly with the babysitter will not be honored. There are no exceptions.
In the rare event your sitter must cancel and we cannot provide an alternate, or we cannot secure a provider for your request, we will credit your booking charge to your account for future use.
Please contact - choiceparentingnannies@gmail.com or call/text 917-720-2865 for immediate assistance.
If the reservation is canceled or modified with less than the required 24 hours (or the special request 72 hours notice), then the full remaining balance of the scheduled hours will be charged to the credit card provided at the time the reservation was made to go directly to the sitter. Cancellations and modifications may only be made by speaking with Choice Parenting Sitters directly or with a timed stamped voicemail/email/text message to Choice Parenting. Cancellations and/or modifications by text, email and/or directly with the babysitter will not be honored. There are no exceptions.
In the rare event your sitter must cancel and we cannot provide an alternate, or we cannot secure a provider for your request, we will credit your booking charge to your account for future use.
Please contact - choiceparentingnannies@gmail.com or call/text 917-720-2865 for immediate assistance.
Can a Sitter stay with my sick Child?
Choice Parenting must be notified when a child is sick. Additional fees apply for sick children ( $30-1 child and $35-2 kids). Please be upfront when booking your reservation so that we can provide the best possible care. Sitters will not be able to care for a sick child who has flu, covid, vomiting/diarrhea; fever over 100.5 without medication and other known communicable illnesses. If the sitter arrives and is unable to care for your child because an illness or special need was not specified, you will be billed for a canceled reservation.
Can the sitter BathE my child?
Except in emergency situations (a child gets sick), our caregivers are not permitted to bathe the children.
Can My Sitter Swim with my child?
Please advise us of any swimming requirements when making your reservation. All children who are not independent swimmers will need to be in floats. Sitters will not swim with your child unless authorized in writing.
Under most circumstances, our sitters are comfortable getting in the pool with children. However, we do not require that our caregivers do so if they get to a job and feel uncomfortable for some reason (i.e. the children are not listening well or other people in the pool of concern). Parents must sign a swim release form for the agency prior to the appointment beginning. Though our caregivers do not allow children in the ocean, they will allow them to play on the beach and dig in the sand.
Ocean swimming is not permitted however beach, sand, and shoreline play is allowed.
Under most circumstances, our sitters are comfortable getting in the pool with children. However, we do not require that our caregivers do so if they get to a job and feel uncomfortable for some reason (i.e. the children are not listening well or other people in the pool of concern). Parents must sign a swim release form for the agency prior to the appointment beginning. Though our caregivers do not allow children in the ocean, they will allow them to play on the beach and dig in the sand.
Ocean swimming is not permitted however beach, sand, and shoreline play is allowed.
What Household /Pet responsibilities can I expect?
Sitters will not clean, do laundry or any domestic work outside of clean-up from the time they have spent with the kids during the reservation.
A sitter should not be responsible for any pet care duties.
A sitter should not be responsible for any pet care duties.
Can the Sitter Drive my child?
The sitter is not to drive your children.
Releasing children
For the security of your children, our sitters are not permitted to release a child to anyone other than the parent or legal guardian unless advance arrangements are made with the office and the appropriate forms are signed.
What does communication with sitters Look like while they are with the children?
All sitters are required to have working cell phones with them at all times. They can be reached via cell phone to send text, receive calls or send pictures and videos.
Is it ok to use a nanny camera while the sitter is with the kids?
Absolutely! Our sitters have signed a contract with our agency that gives permission for all clients to use a nanny camera with or without their permission.