A babysitter looks after children when the parents need cover. Most bookings are evenings, weekends, school breaks, or one-off events like a wedding or a work dinner.
Before you start looking, work out whether you actually want a babysitter or a nanny. A babysitter is someone you call when you need them. A nanny is part of the family week.
What does a babysitter do?
A babysitter looks after the children while the parents are out. They start when the parents leave and finish when they’re back.
Evenings are the most common booking. Dinner, bedtime, stories, and getting everyone settled before the parents get home. Mornings cover breakfast, getting the children dressed, and the school run. After-school shifts run from pick-up through homework and bath time.
Weekend bookings and full days are much more work. Two meals to prepare, a few hours to fill, and usually a trip to the park or somewhere local.
Traveling the role will be quite different. The babysitter joins the family on holiday on a day rate, with their own room and meals included.
Children settle faster with someone they know. On the Upper East Side, our New York team often sees a one-off dinner booking turn into a regular weekly slot.
Ellie Littlechild, a Dubai recruiter at Morgan & Mallet who used to work as a nanny, asks candidates about specific moments in interviews. For babysitters that means: what do you do when a child gets hurt, when a parent runs late, when siblings start fighting at bath time? Families call back the people who don’t panic.
How is a babysitter different from a nanny?
A nanny works full-time and runs the daily routine with the children. A babysitter works around that routine.
The clearest difference is the schedule. Same person every week at fixed hours? That’s a nanny. They’ll learn the children’s allergies, school schedules, and friendships properly. Occasional cover? That’s a babysitter.
The pay works the same way. Nannies are on a salary with a contract and benefits. Babysitters are paid by the hour and booked as needed.
What skills does a babysitter need?
Patience first. Bath time with two tired children will tell you fast whether someone has it.
First aid and CPR are essential. The babysitter is on their own if a child falls, chokes, or has an allergic reaction. Most families want certification through the American Red Cross or St John Ambulance.
Background checks are standard. In the UK that’s a DBS certificate. In the US we run state and federal background checks on every candidate.
Age-group experience matters more than years on a CV. Two years with toddlers usually beats ten years with teenagers if your kids are three and five. A driver’s license is often a must, especially in cities where school runs and activities can stretch across town.
Languages come up a lot. Our New York team sees steady demand for French, Spanish, and Mandarin speakers. In Paris, on Avenue Montaigne for example, families often ask for an English speaker to give the children early exposure.
How much does a babysitter earn per hour?
Babysitters work on hourly rates. What they earn depends on the city, their experience, and when the shift is. A Saturday night pays more than a Tuesday afternoon. A booking made that morning pays more than one booked a week ahead.
HNW families typically pay $30–$50 an hour for one or two children. That’s well above the US national average of $26–$30 an hour.
What does a babysitter job description look like?
Here’s a sample brief based on a typical Morgan & Mallet placement. Use it as a starting point and adjust to your household.
Role: Part-time babysitter
Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Schedule: Three weekday evenings, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., plus alternate Saturdays
Children: Two children, ages 4 and 7
Reports to: Both parents
Day-to-day responsibilities
- School and activity pick-up where needed
- Preparing simple dinners and snacks
- Homework support for the older child
- Bath time and the bedtime routine
- Light tidying of the children’s areas at the end of the shift
Requirements
- Three or more years of childcare experience with children under 10
- Current first aid and CPR certification
- Clean background check (state and federal)
- Strong references from previous private households
- Driver’s license preferred
- French or Spanish a plus
Compensation
- Hourly rate, to be agreed based on experience
- Higher rate for late nights, weekends, and last-minute bookings
- Paid through a household payroll service
To apply: Send a resume and three professional references to the household manager.
Roles that are similar to babysitting
Two other roles are worth knowing about.
A nanny-housekeeper does both jobs. One person looks after the children, the laundry, the tidying, and the family meals. It works in smaller households.
A governess focuses on the children’s education. School support, manners, presentation. From our Geneva office, we see steady demand from families preparing children for British or Swiss boarding schools.
Hire a babysitter through Morgan & Mallet
If you’re a parent, household manager, or PA looking to hire a babysitter, Morgan & Mallet International can put a shortlist of vetted candidates in front of you within a few days.
Call us on +1 (646) 965-2308, or contact us online, and we’ll match the brief to the right person.
Apply for babysitter work with Morgan & Mallet
If you’re a candidate looking for babysitter work in a private household, we’d like to hear from you.
Apply through the Morgan & Mallet job board to start the registration process, and we’ll put you forward for roles that match your experience.