Who's Who in CCP's

Let’s just clarify what we mean when we say “having help”. This expression is no longer limited to the wealthy and privileged; and it certainly does not imply a full time live-in nanny. When we say “having help”, we are generally talking about your basic child-care providers (referred to as “CCP’s” throughout the blog). The definition of a CCP includes live-in nannies, part-time nannies, babysitters, au pairs, baby nurses, day-care teachers, parents, in-laws, other miscellaneous family members, neighbors, friends, or anyone else who can lend a loving, helping hand.

If you have opted for an in-home CCP, a caregiver comes to your home to mind your children exclusively. Unlike day-care facilities, there are no regulatory guidelines with regard to hiring an in-home CCP. Many times, they do not have any prior experience in child-care, they are not educated, or they are immigrants living in the US illegally. On the other end of the spectrum, they might be a student studying for a master’s degree in early education, have had professional “nanny” training, a may even be a retired teacher.
Here is a brief description on the “who’s who” of in-home CCPs:
• Part-time CCP vs. Full-time CCP: Part-time CCPs generally work less than 30 hours per week. Full-time CCPs work on a regular, consistent schedule, usually a 40 hour work week, or more.
• Live-in vs. Live-out: Live-in CCPs require room and board, as opposed to live-out CCPs who go to their own home when their day is through. Generally, live-out CCP’s are more expensive due to the fact that you are not subsidizing room and board.
• Male CCPs (a.k.a. “manny”) vs. Female CCPs: Traditionally, most female CCPs fulfill the stereotypical role of a nurturing, motherly person. There is a recent trend, however, where moms are hiring male CCP’s, especially when they have young boys who are very athletic and active, anticipating that the “manny” would bond more with her sons than a female CCP would. Another common reason for hiring a male CCP is to have a positive male influence in their children’s life.
• Nanny: A person who is an all-around caregiver for your child. The nanny can either be live-in or live-out; and some are full-time, while others are part-time. Aside from the obvious responsibilities of being a general nurturing presence to the children, their duties and responsibilities may include (but are not limited to) bathing, driving, meal-time preparation, playing, homework, outdoor activities, and sometimes light housekeeping.
• Weekend nannies or babysitters: This role is either for a live-in or a live-out position, but the job is exclusively limited to weekend employment.
• Babysitters: This position is once in a while, usually for a few hours at a time, as needed. Twenty years ago, it was very common for teenagers to make extra money babysitting. Today, it is unusual to hire a teenager to babysit, as they have so many extra-curricular activities, in addition to summer internships, they do not have the time or desire to babysit.
• Au pairs: Usually, au pairs are young adults from another country who make a one year commitment as a CCP to your children, in exchange for a small stipend, a cultural and educational experience, as well as room and board. Their work hours are limited to 45 per week, and cannot exceed 10 hours in 1 day.
• Baby nurses: Some baby nurses are available to care for a newborn 24/7, while others work only at night, so Mom can get some sleep. This is particularly helpful during those dreaded sleepless nights, when the baby first comes home from the hospital. They usually stay with a family short term, anywhere from 1 week to 6 months.