San Diego Mom - Carmel Valley

As long as I’m on this topic this week, I thought I’d add another one of these "find a sitter" options.  Haven’t used them, but the site offers not only help to find a sitter, but a pet sitter, tutors and even housekeepers. 

Similar to others posted in this category, the model is to pay a monthly fee (in this case minimum of $25/mo) but what’s nice about this company is you get free backgound checks included in that fee.  A free membership will only allow you to search and see limited info (no contact info) but permits you to post some jobs. 

http://www.care.com/ 

I admit, I like the way this is set up - though I have no idea if the sitters are high quality or not.  They give you an easy way to see who lives near you, how old they are, their yrs of experience and how much they charge. Its easy to use.   If anyone tries it, pls leave comments so we can all learn from your experience. 

 

There’s a new Mommy business in town.  They are heralding a new way to find a sitter.  If you’ll part with$100 for new clients, and  $75 for returning clients, they’ll introduce you in a private party setting to 30 babysitters who live in the area.  (Fees for the sitter’s time is extra.)

The membership earns you the right to a booklet/directory of sitters as well. http://www.mommymixer.com/sandiego/ is the page which shows dates and times. 

Watch the details: you need to cancel within 72 hrs before to get a refund and they’ll take $25 fee to process the refund request.

Its essentially a dating service - in the hopes you’ll like one of their sitters and the relationship will work out - you’re paying for the easy access to potential sitters.  Note, they have not performed background checks on the sitters, so you’ll still need to confirm they’re a safe choice, etc.

Promotion Offered: MommyMixer is offering a $15 off for first time users for the first event in San Diego.  Just print this page and they’ll honor it.

 

Ok, so I haven’t tried any of these services yet.  But, they’ve been on my list to try.  These are not local businesses but I figure we all have a ton of need for this.  Also, many of the sites break their sitters/nannies down by zip code.  I have logged in to several and noted at least at that time there were plenty of choices in our zip codes in north county.  Good luck!

http://www.pacnannies.com 

http://www.nannies4hire.com

http://www.gonannies.com

http://www.nannyclassifieds.com

http://www.enannysource.com

 

I have no personal experience with the local Kindercare, but this one seems a popular choice for working parents.  Located conveniently off El Camino Real near Del Mar Heights road, the facility is close the library, the rec center and the shopping center.  They begin taking children at 6 weeks through pre-school age according to their web site:

http://www.kindercare.com/ gets you to their main web site and then you have to look up by zip code for the one closest to where you live.

 

This pre-school/daycare, A Brighter Future, takes infants through pre-school age.  http://www.abrighterfuture.com/

They are located on Sorrento Valley road just past Carmel Valley, but easily accessible off Carmel Mountain road nearing Sorrento Valley road.  We used it for a few months before I decided to stay home rather than work full time.  The owner and Director is a committed professional and she runs a nice place. This is one of the few places nearby that takes infants.  They have two infant rooms.

I had mixed feelings about the place, but I think it was largely because I was leaving such a young baby in their care.  The teachers seemed committed, warm, nurturing.  I was only there a few months as well.  But, its worth looking into if you need full time day care.