Babysitter as crew?

[NewtoSAILING]

Hi there, new to this site, just wondering if people who cruise with their families are ever looking for full-time childcare providers to go with them on their journeys? If so, where do they go to look for said babysitter?

Thanks,
Kim

[Sea Frog]

I know at least one family that did. Don't know where they have found a person, I think locally.

[boatman61]

I believe Atoll's had a few sprinkled in amongst his adventures...

[FamilyVan]

I haven't done that, but it's a good idea. A good baby sitter might be easier to find then a replacement for my wife when it came to crew.

Sent from my SGH-I547C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Kim.

Check out "Crew Wanted", and post to "Crew Available".

[Tensen]

How about "Crew as babysitter"?

What do babysitters do anyway when the parents are only 30 feet away?

[skipmac]

If you have the room on board it is certainly an option. I seem to recall a discussion on this forum on the subject a few years ago. I think that owner was looking for someone as a nanny/tutor etc.

Assume you are referring to a paid position?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I believe Atoll's had a few sprinkled in amongst his adventures...

In between the French maids?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Tensen

How about "Crew as babysitter"?

What do babysitters do anyway when the parents are only 30 feet away?

Stay with the kids while mom and dad go out to dinner?

[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by Tensen

How about "Crew as babysitter"?

What do babysitters do anyway when the parents are only 30 feet away?

Wrangle children while things go pear shaped up on deck...

We had a nanny back in the day, we took on the boat. After the first weekend when she got seasick sailing upwind we figured this wasn't going to be a regular thing as it wasn't especially nice for her.

[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Stay with the kids while mom and dad go out to dinner?

Seems like an enterprising teen/tween could turn a few bucks on a weekend trip with the family that way by helping other boats.

The trick is getting the word out...weekenders don't have Nets, its not like you can easily announce in the harbor at Block Island that you are looking for a sitter.

And my take from the liveaboard folks is most of the young families are on more aggressive budgets and teens are in short supply.

[Sea Frog]

Originally Posted by Tensen

What do babysitters do anyway when the parents are only 30 feet away?

Engage with the kids so mother can get some sleep or some quiet personal time and not hear "mummy, mummy, mummy" every second

[Claude_Marie]

Originally Posted by NewtoSAILING

Hi there, new to this site, just wondering if people who cruise with their families are ever looking for full-time childcare providers to go with them on their journeys? If so, where do they go to look for said babysitter?

Thanks,
Kim

Sounds very much like an "Au pair" position, this job profile you describe.
If you are an English native speaker with a decent level of education AND sea legs, you should advertise yourself through an au pair agency/website.
No doubt a number of families, either week end or coastal cruisers or sailing in the summer for longer passages would be interested.

[k9medic]

A few years back we flew our babysitter down to the Keys when we were on a long trip. Her only job was to look after the kids. This kept the kids occupied and safe while I took care of any issues.

The 4 days she was with us turned out great and when the kids were involved in family activities and were not being watched she was treated the same way I would treat one of my wife's friends if they came on the boat.

Her being being vetted by the wife and being easy on the eye helped too

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by NewtoSAILING

Hi there, new to this site, just wondering if people who cruise with their families are ever looking for full-time childcare providers to go with them on their journeys? If so, where do they go to look for said babysitter?

Thanks,
Kim

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Kim.

Check out "Crew Wanted", and post to "Crew Available".

Good advice.

I will add that a wealthy friend of mine cruised for a year on a 70-something footer and found an au pair/ nanny with teaching credentials so the two kids could be schooled at sea. I therefor think it would be worthwhile becoming knowledgeable about home schooling if you are serious about pursuing this.