The Internet and Finding Care Givers All Wrapped Into One
With a new baby in tow and my impending return to full time work at the beginning of December. I'm in a bit of a crunch. I need child care. With one kid this isn't an easy feat. But now I've got 2 and I have what one might call "special needs." First, I am going to work from home a few days a week, I have odd hours sometimes, and I have a newborn and an almost 5 year old that needs pre-school mixed in with his care.Sure, you say, just call up the local day care and sign them up. But any parent knows that idea isn't as easy as it sounds. In fact, it is down-right cruddy. And after moving to a new area is almost killing any semblance of togetherness that I have thrown around me. I was all about signing everyone up at the "old" day care where my son attended. Thing is, they don't take part-time infants. Which--if I don't do the drive every day since I work from home a few days a week--is useless to me. Paying for full time infant care (which, let me remind you IS the most expensive) when I am not going to use it, is ridiculous.
So, I am left in a bit of precarious spot. One that I am not liking right now at all. It has my stomach in knots. I am back on the care-giver prowl.
There is only one bright spot in this all. I've been offered a free trial membership to Care.com. (in full disclosure, I was approached to review this site for its usefulness. And the fact is, I took them up on it. I AM in need of child care. What better way to see if this site works or not). The main goal of this new website is to help you find babysitters, nannies, and pet sitters. So in no more than a few minutes I registered and was able to cruise around the site for some initial investigation. Here's some initial thoughts:
- The site is easy to navigate
- Within seconds I had a list of care givers right in my city (used the form right there on the landing page).
- I was able to view short bios, revise my search, and even check out any photos or web sites they offered as information
- And if I were in the market for senior care, tutoring, or pet care services... well all of that was right there for my choosing too. In the top tab panel navigation I was completely able to switch in and out of the services I wanted to search into.
The full membership added some important additional features: access to actual contact information, references and their contact information (and videos), as well as the ability to perform a background check (you get 1 free and then pay for additional). Is this too easy? I mean, how much more can one ask for in a web site?
I'm not sure. I haven't gone any further in my investigations yet. I've narrowed my search by availability of the caregiver. By the age range of children they have had experience. By other duties they might cover. If they had transportation. And then of course a million other questions and concerns I had reading their profile. Because--as you know--finding a care giver for your children is huge. So huge in fact I am still queasy starting this interview process. But, well, I don't have a choice.
You want to check them out too? It's easy, just go here and fill out the survey. If you qualify, you'll get a 3 month trial membership too. And maybe we can compare notes. Because I am still uneasy. An anxious. And all those things I said I wouldn't be when I said I was going back to work.
Oh and if you decide to go about registering for the official Care.com benefits (outside the 3 month trial)? Here are those details too (or go to the site here for full details):
- Basic membership is Free. But all you get to see are brief bios. No contact info, no references, no... well not much. But at least you can see if there ARE care-givers in your area.
- Monthly Membership (which I term as Basic plus Membership paid monthly) is $10 a month with a $30 set up fee. This includes: Seeing all bios, posting jobs, seeing contact information, 1 free background check with option to pay for others, and references. Basically full run of the site. And what you get in the trial period.
- Now, if you want to go all out, you can get the Annual Membership. It costs $100 (no set up fee). It includes everything in the Monthly Membership, but you don't have to pay for the background checks (or at least that is what it seems like. You would have to register with this membership to confirm.
Labels: motherhood, parenting, working
