Hiring a babysitter

All Au Pair Extraordinaire candidates are thoroughly screened by our expert recruiters before they are represented by the agency. Once candidates are vetted by us, an average of only 1 in every 3 are selected to become a part of the Au Pair Extraordinaire team.

Our candidates are required to have a Matric Certificate, valid driver’s licence (a driving assessment is conducted on each au pair through our agency), a roadworthy car that is regularly serviced and has seatbelts in the back, a valid South African ID, a clear criminal record (criminal checks conducted on each au pair by the agency) and contactable childcare references. The agency conducts in-depth, one-on-one interviews on a candidate’s ability to nurture, their maturity, reliability, competency and responsibility. Au pairs that are represented by Au Pair Extraordinaire are required to have an authentic passion for children, patience, as well as the ability to show initiative. Only au pairs of the highest quality will be represented by the agency.

We at Au Pair Extraordinaire place emphasis on finding the perfect fit for your family, and we know that it is not always possible to know that for sure until you have had some time to get to know the person you have hired. This is why we offer our families a 3-month probation period, beginning the day the candidate begins working for you. If, during this time, you feel that he/she is not quite the right fit, or they choose to resign, then we will replace them as quickly as possible at no additional cost to you.

It is important to us to facilitate lasting, high quality placements, where all parties have an enriching experience. The person you hire will likely become an honorary member of your family that you trust completely with your children, and we know that these things can take time.

A babysitter’s salary / hourly rate will depend on many factors, including his or her age, previous experience and courses completed, as well as the number of hours worked each week. Babysitters get paid an hourly rate usually between R100-R120 per hour. Please note that the hourly rate increases if you require him or her to work past 12am (usually by roughly R20 per hour). Please note that you as the employer will be responsible for paying your babysitter’s salary directly.

Please note that all placement fees are once off, and payable before the babysitter starts working for you. Please refer to the below table for a guide. Please note that if you select to hire a permanent babysitter, we will ensure that you have a back-up candidate available to you in case your babysitter cannot make it on a particular evening. 

Each family will have different expectations of a babysitter. Below are common duties, although your personal requirements can be discussed with your babysitter:

• Providing nurturance, care, stimulation and companionship for your children
• Engaging in intellectually stimulating play and activities with your children
• Preparation of meals for your children
• Administering medication if required
• Bathing children, making sure teeth are brushed
• Packing school bags for the next day if it is a school night
• Putting children to bed (reading a bedtime story)
• While children are sleeping, the babysitter will be required to stay within earshot of their bedrooms and be on standby if the children wake up
• Give you as parent’s regular updates on how everything is going

If you are looking for baby sitter (Once-off), we do recommend that you hold a telephonic interview with a few candidates. Bear in mind that we have already interviewed them personally, checked all of their references from previous employers, performed criminal checks, and only select the highest calibre and most experienced babysitter for you to interview who we feel will meet your needs.

However, if you are looking to hire a permanent babysitter, you will still need to meet with a selection of candidates to make your decision. Trust your instinct. You will know who will be right for your child. Try not to interview too many tutor candidates – three is usually sufficient.

In the actual interviews, ask questions around the following:

• Previous experience with children, especially around your child’s age group
• The reasons for leaving previous employer(s)
• Religious and moral beliefs and his / her value system and how these can potentially fit in with your family’s
• Previous experience with educational or psychological special needs, if applicable
• Hobbies and interests
• If you expect the babysitter to cook meals for your child, ensure that the babysitter can do so
• The babysitter must be able to swim
• Childcare or first aid courses that the candidate has completed
• Strengths (academic, sports, hobbies, crafts etc.)
• Limitations
• Discuss hypothetical scenarios to see how a candidate will handle different situations e.g. a hijacking, if your child is injured, stealing, lying, questions about sex, etc.
• Find out how the candidate will discipline your child when needed (e.g. if your child is having a tantrum) e.g. time out, taking away of privileges.

Much of the communication in an interview is non-verbal. A candidate should arrive for the interview on time, well-groomed and appropriately dressed. Although some visible anxiety is perfectly normal, an excessively anxious person is unlikely to have a positive effect on your child. The candidate you choose should have a friendly disposition, demonstrate responsibility, show empathy and have a genuine love for children!