We all know what babysitters are like. Most babysitters (at least the rare ones I hired) will drink your soda, eat all the potato chips and talk on the phone while "watching" your children sleep.
Daycare Providers are not in the same category. Your daycare children will be spending a good portion of their day in your home. You will be expected to provide nutritious meals and activities.
You will become, in the absence of their parents, their main emotional support. They need a nurturing provider who will give them plenty of affection.
Babysitter:
Occasional, short term, not on a daily basis
Very short hours
Usually in a child’s home
Does not guarantee hours/days that parent may need
Is not required to have any education in the child development field
May or may not have first aid/CPR training
No background checks required by state
Is not limited to the number of children they can care for at one time
Per hour a babysitter will charge more ($7+/hr usually, depends on the area and # of kids)
Does not report income to IRS
Daycare Provider:
Regular, daily or consistent basis
Care provided in the home of the provider
A reliable and consistent schedule of availability to parents
Generally, first aid and CPR certified and have food handler’s certification
May be registered or certified through a state/county office, in which their home must pass inspection and they are subject to random home inspections at anytime
States require anyone providing consistent care (and all living in household) to any child must have a background check done and on file with the state
Continued education in the field of child development is required yearly by the state
Has limits on the number of children and what ages of children they may care for by state laws
May charge more monthly because care is more frequent, but when broken down hourly rate is cheaper than that of what a babysitter may charge ($2 -$3.50/hr typically while babysitters make $7-$10/hr)
Reports their income to the IRS, which means parents can claim it on taxes as an expense
Does it matter?
I feel, as a daycare provider, that I am more dedicated and invested in the care that the children receive while in my care. A babysitter will obviously care about your child, but they are only there for a short time to entertain your child. A childcare provider, on the other hand, is with your child day after day for hours on end, daycare providers help children learn new skills (i.e. potty training & other life skills) as well as providing a fun and safe environment. As a parent, I do not expect as much from my babysitter as I do from a childcare provider.
In our society’s view of these two terms, there is a distinct stereotype that goes with each of these terms. When I say babysitter most people picture a teen or college student that will come over for date nights or a few hours one afternoon in order to make some extra spending money. They don’t picture someone that is running a business in order to provide for their family, which is exactly what many daycare providers are doing.
I think that difference is why many providers do not appreciate being called a babysitter, as it generally feels more negative to them and daycare providers already have a pretty negative stigma in our society. Professional daycare providers work hard with their kids every day, most working 10+ hours a day, and the children become like members of their family. They want to feel respected by the families of the children they care for, not like an occasional babysitter doing this to make spending money.
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