The childcare industry has been growing at a staggering rate over the past few years. Demand is high as parents balance the practicalities of having kids with the career they need to pay for them all.

As with most expanding industries, there are fluctuations in choice, cost and quality. So what should you weigh up when you need extra help to look after the children? Read on to find out.

1.   Prioritise and Make a Budget

There are going to be dependencies that apply to anyone who has a family and needs childcare. Here are some of the key factors at play:

●     Cost and affordability

●     Availability and calibre of options where you live

●     Any special needs a child may have

●     The admin time required to manage the extra help, such as nanny payroll

We all want what’s best for our kids. Childcare characters like those made famous in “The Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins” are very appealing. For most of us, these types of nannies are likely to be out of our price range, unavailable or non-existent. 

It’s important to decide what factors matter to you most and relate these to what you can afford. You should aim to head off to work guilt-free and without having to worry.

You also need to be realistic. That means being ready to compromise for the overall long-term benefit and sustainability of the family. Your first choice may not be possible but other options may in the end be just as, if not more, satisfactory.

Once you’ve decided on a budget, you can begin to look at the choices available. You don’t have to box yourself into a single option. Some families may need a combination of several different types of support during different times of child development.

2.   Hiring a Nanny

For many families, this is the gold standard of childcare. That’s because what’s on offer is one-on-one Individual attention for your child. This can be particularly important for children under the age of 1.

It’s also possible to hire a nanny with qualifications that might be relevant to any special needs your child might have. Hiring a nanny cuts out any time and costs ferrying the kids to and from a daycare centre. Nannies can also lend a hand with the housework.

The relationship between you and your nanny will be that of an employer and employee. That means you can have direct control over how you want your child to spend their time when you’re not there.

You will, however, need a Plan B for when your nanny may get sick or be on leave. You’ll have legal obligations too related to things like taxes and payslips. These can feel overwhelming but low-cost solutions are available that remove the hassle factor.

You can outsource all the admin to paythenanny.nz, for example. They will take care of everything for you and ensure that you are always compliant with tax and legal requirements.

3.   Hiring an Au Pair

This is a cheaper option than hiring a nanny. It has the same advantage of one-to-one care and the added potential benefit of exposing the family to other cultures and languages.

Au pairs tend to live in. That can work to your advantage but it can also impinge on your privacy to some extent.

The quality of care can be patchy compared to that provided by nannies. Au pairs tend to be young and are often living away from home for the first time. They’re likely to need some care and support themselves.

They may also not have a great deal of childcare experience, lack motivation and may not be seeking childcare as a career option. There may also be legal rules around visas and taxes too.

4.   Nanny Sharing

This has lots of the same benefits that come with hiring a nanny but means you can split the cost with other parents. You will only end up paying for the time you need your nanny.

You can also share the admin costs you may have outsourced to paythenanny.nz. Some parents are able to make arrangements with friends who might also be starting families. It can lead to lasting friendships between both sets of children.

It can sometimes be hard to find another family that’s going to be a good fit for a nanny share. There will be plenty to consider in terms of coordinating schedules and holidays.

Great communication is key because if your nanny falls out with the other family then it could adversely affect you. All parties need to be very clear from the outset about what happens if circumstances change.

5.   Enlisting the Help of Grandparents

If you can pull it off, getting the support of grandparents or another family member may be very cost-effective. It’s not without potential risks and pitfalls, however.

No matter how willing a family member is, it’s important to manage everyone’s expectations. Here are some key considerations:

●     Be clear about what you need in terms of time and effort

●     Listen carefully to the commitment grandparents are able to make

●     Consider whether this commitment is realistic or overly optimistic

●     Have a plan for what happens when there’s sickness or holidays

●     Ask yourself if your relatives’ style of parenting is a good match for yours

Many grandparents do not receive any pay for looking after grandchildren. Costs can still add up. There’s food, transport and entertainment to consider, for example.

There is government support and advice available for non-parent carers. If you’re in Australia, you can find out more about that here. If you’re in New Zealand, there’s more information about this here.

6.   Daycare Centres

Many services have to an extent become slaves to online reviews. Daycare centres are no exception. It’s always wise to exercise a degree of scepticism. Reviewers offer subjective opinions and can fire off unbalanced judgements in a fit of pique.

Nothing beats talking to other parents and friends who may have experience with the day centre you have your eye on. Research carefully. Here are some of the typical advantages of using daycare centres:

●     For single kids, they tend to work out cheaper than hiring a nanny

●     There’s always care on hand during opening times

●     The centre manages the replacement of staff when there’s sickness or leave

●     There’s a structured routine for children

●     Centres are facilities that must have licences and have to meet certain standards

●     There will be interaction with other kids and educators

A family daycare centre may be a cheaper option. It’s likely to be less formal and most educators will have had their own children. You would usually need to arrange backup care if the educator is ill or unavailable.

7.   Finding a Reliable Babysitter

Regardless of the type of regular cover you choose, there will be times when you need a break or an evening out. It’s important to have one or two reliable babysitters in your list of contacts who can step in at short notice.

Babysitters allow kids to remain in their home environment. They give parents the chance to take time out without a long-term child care commitment. Experience can vary and babysitters will not necessarily have childcare qualifications.

Here are some key questions to ask if you want to get some insight into how well your babysitter is likely to cope when you’re not there:

●       What first aid experience do you have?

●       What will you do if a child refuses to go to bed at their bedtime?

●       Which activities do you prefer in order to keep the children occupied?

8.   Structure and Routine

When it comes to childcare you need to strike while the iron’s hot. The quicker you can tick any childcare needs off your “to-do” list, the sooner you’ll be able to relax and the more stability you’ll bring to family life.

Consistency of care plays into all aspects of a child’s welfare. Structure and routine help with cognitive development and improve concentration. Kids need to know what’s going to happen next in their lives to give them a sense of control.

This all helps them to feel secure, comfortable and develop an ability to become more independent. They will also deal with stress more easily, learn about time management and understand what it means to be responsible.

The important thing is to decide on childcare solutions that suit you and your circumstances. Once you’ve considered all that, it’ll be far easier to stick to the choices that you’ve made.

Keeping Your Paperwork in Order

We know from the parents we speak to that most have little time or inclination to take on any extra admin. When you’re hiring someone else to look after your kids, the chances are that there will be lots of administrative hoops to jump through.

Paythenanny.nz is your one-stop shop for all your nanny payroll needs. We have you covered. We’ll sort all the necessary taxes, leave requirements and payslips for you.

We’re there to offer you continuous support about anything related to sick pay, leave and other employee entitlements. Get in touch with us now to find out how we can help reduce any anxieties you might have around hiring a nanny.