Choosing someone to watch your child can be very stressful. Your decision to leave your child with someone you don’t know can be scary, so you want to make sure you choose the right person.

One of the first things to think about is whether you need a babysitter or a nanny.

According to Parents.com, the main differences between a babysitter and a nanny is how often they work for your family and what their duties entail.

A babysitter is usually hired as needed for times when the parents want to go out for a specific time period or need help with the children at specific times of the day, such as after school.

A nanny is employed on a more regular schedule, works more hours, and is more involved in the child’s day-to-day life. They may also live with the family sometimes and also help with some chores, such as laundry and tidying, related to the children.

If you’ve decided to hire a nanny, you can ask friends and family if they have any recommendations for someone they know or have hired in the past. You can also use nanny services or nanny agencies to find someone.

According to theBump,com, using a nanny service or nanny agency will save you time but, will not save you money – the fee to find a nanny can be “10 to 15 percent of the nanny’s annual salary.”

That fee may help with your peace of mind, though. The agency will prescreen nannies and, after getting a detailed sense of what a family is looking for, will match nannies with families. The agency will also help the family develop a work agreement with the nanny.

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