Hiring a weekly nanny

Say you need care for a toddler on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 to 5, every week. This guide covers finding a sitter for regular hours on Wyndy: posting a recurring job, using the trial day as your interview, and booking the weeks that follow. On Wyndy, each day of care is its own job, so you book and pay day by day with the same sitter.

Before you post

Settle three things first, because they shape who applies.

• The schedule. Which days, what hours, and when you want it to start. Sitters confirm they can regularly work your days when they apply.
• The rate. On the rate screen, Smart Rate suggests a rate from what families nearby pay for similar jobs, and shows what sitters nearby charge. For long, regular days, a rate at or above Smart Rate tends to draw more sitters. Rates go from $16 to $150 an hour.
• The duties. Meals, naps, outings, driving, and anything else that's part of the day.

Post the recurring job

1. Tap Post a job and switch to Recurring.

   Tap Choose trial date and pick the first full day you want covered, with its Start time and End time.

2. Choose your days on Select recurring days.

   Here, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They can't be changed once the job is posted.

3. Describe a full day on Describe the job.

   Up to 1,000 characters. Write out the shape of the day, then tap the Job tasks that apply: Feeding, Bathing, Driving, Put kids to bed for naps, or Kids will be in bed.

4. Answer Any pets?, Will other adults be there? and Anyone been sick recently?.

   If you work from home, say so under other adults. Sitters want to know who else is in the house.

5. Set your location, rate and audience, then tap Post Job.

   For a long-term role, All sitters ("Everyone available near you") gives you the widest choice.

A weekly care description

Care for our 2-year-old, Mon/Tue/Thu 9 to 5, starting in March. Breakfast is done when you arrive. Morning outing (park, library story time), lunch at 12, nap 1 to 3, quiet play until we're home. One parent works from home upstairs most days. Looking for someone who can commit through the summer.

It covers the day, the commitment you're after, and who else is home. More on the posting screens in Posting a job and Recurring care.

Choose your sitter

Applicants to a recurring job have confirmed the trial date and that they can regularly work your days. Read their profiles with the long term in mind.

• Class year and college. A sitter graduating in May may not be around in the fall. Ask about their plans.
• Reviews from repeat families. A sitter booked again and again by the same family is a good sign for regular care.
• Ages they work with. Check that your child's age is in their range, and look for certifications such as CPR, first aid or infant safe sleep. Certifications are self reported.
• Capabilities. Driving, pets and special needs experience all show here.

Use the trial day as the interview

1. Book the trial.

   Tap Confirm Booking on your choice, then Book for trial date.

2. Message your sitter.

   Send the details only they should have: how to get in, your phone number and an emergency contact.

3. Be around for the start.

   Spend the first hour together. Show them the routines, watch how they are with your child, and talk through the weeks ahead.

4. Pay, rate and favorite.

   At the wrap-up, tick Add {Name} to your favorites. The success screen asks "Was it a great fit?"

Book the weeks that follow

Wyndy doesn't book the rest of the schedule for you. You and your sitter agree on it, then you book each day as a job.

1. Open your sitter's profile and tap Book again.

   You'll find them on the Sitters tab under Previously booked, or under Favorites if you've hearted them. Book again starts a new job with your sitter already on it.

2. Leave the rest unticked on Post to.

   Your sitter is ticked at the top. With nothing ticked under Also post to..., the job stays between you and your sitter.

3. Confirm the booking when they apply.

   Your sitter gets an invite, applies, and you tap Confirm Booking.

Booking a week or two ahead keeps the schedule clear for both of you. Tap Add to calendar on each job so it's in your calendar too.

What it costs

Here's one 8-hour day at $25 an hour with a 10% tip, then 3 days a week for 48 weeks.

The service fee is 20% of pay and tip but never more than $20 a job, so a long day hits the cap. At 3 days a week, you'd pay $60 a week in service fees without a membership. The membership covers its cost within the first 3 weeks.

Good to know

• Each day is paid on its own, after your sitter submits that day's hours. Your card is charged automatically 24 hours after they submit if you haven't paid.
• A tip is suggested every day. You can choose another amount, Other amount or Remove tip each time.
• Without a membership, your chat closes 24 hours after each job's scheduled end. With regular care, you'll want to keep talking between days, which members can.
• Cancelling a booked day less than 24 hours before it starts costs $20, paid to your sitter. Tell your sitter about vacations early and cancel those days ahead.

Questions

Can I post one job for the whole week?

No. A job is one block of time on one day. The recurring job tells sitters your weekly days, and you book each day as its own job.

What if my nanny can't make a day?

If they cancel before the start, Wyndy reposts that day's job and alerts you as sitters apply. If they cancel within 24 hours of the start, it counts against their reliability record and you get a $10 credit.

Can I pay my sitter outside the app?

Book and pay through Wyndy so every day has a record, a receipt and the cancellation rules. It also means the Wyndy team can help with a charge from Questions about this charge? on the job.

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