Start with your week
Before you choose a name for it, think about when you need help and what for. Three questions sort out most households:
- How often? The same days every week, or now and then?
- Does anyone need to drive? School runs and lifts to sport change who you're looking for.
- Is it the children, or the home? Or the dog, while you're away?
Keep your answers in mind as you read on. Each kind of help below starts with who it suits.
A nanny
For the same days every week
A nanny looks after your children while you work or get on with your day, full-time or part-time. Because it's regular, you get to know each other, and your children have someone they can count on.
- What they do. Your children come first: meals, play, naps, outings and often homework. Light housework linked to the children, like their laundry and tidying up after them, is often part of the job. Agree the details together.
- What it costs. Most Hermanus households pay R300 to R500 for a full day, depending on experience. See What's fair to pay?
- What comes with it. Your nanny works for you, so paid leave, sick leave, public holidays and UIF are part of the deal. The rates guide links to the official sources.
Choosing between a few nannies? Our free read How to choose the right nanny shows you how to read a profile.
A babysitter
For an evening, or a few days now and then
A babysitter is there for the times you need cover, not every week. A date night, a work dinner, a wedding or a holiday evening out.
- What they do. Usually evenings: supper, bath, bedtime, and keeping an eye on things while you're out.
- What it costs. Most households pay R60 to R150 an hour. If they stay the night, the hours they sleep are usually paid at about half.
- How booking works. One evening is one booking fee of R59. You can book from 48 hours to 2 months ahead.
Local tip: here for December? Hermanus fills up over the holidays, and so do babysitters' calendars. Book your evenings as soon as you know your dates.
Booked one already? Read Your babysitter's first evening.
An au pair
For school runs, lifts and busy afternoons
Overseas, "au pair" often means a young person who lives with a family for a year. Here it means a nanny who drives your children. It's about what they do, not how old they are.
- What they do. Drop-offs, pick-ups, swimming and sport, then homework, snacks and play until you're home.
- The car. Some have their own car, others drive yours. Each profile says which. If they use their own, add something for petrol.
- What it costs. Afternoons are usually paid by the hour, and full days at a day rate. See What's fair to pay an au pair?
- What we check. We see a photo of every au pair's driver's licence, and past employers confirm the work. We don't check driving records, so do a drive together first, and make sure they're happy with your car and the route.
A house and pet sitter
For when you go away
Someone to look after your home and animals while you're away. There are two ways to book.
- Stay over. Your sitter sleeps at your home each night you're away, looks after your pets and keeps an eye on things.
- Pop-in visits. About 30 minutes, in the morning, afternoon or evening, to feed and check on your animals.
- What it costs. Each sitter shows a rate per night and per visit on their profile. Booking a day of pop-in visits starts at R29. See What's fair to pay a sitter?
Sitters tell us which animals they know how to care for, so you only see sitters who know yours. Going away soon? Read Getting your home ready for a sitter.
Still not sure?
Plenty of households need a bit of everything. A few common mixes:
- Regular days, and the odd evening out. Book a nanny for your days. Many nannies also babysit, so you can book evenings with the same person.
- The school holidays. Book a nanny or an au pair for certain dates. One booking covers up to a month.
- Visiting for December. A babysitter for evenings out, or a nanny for the week. See On holiday here?
- Help with an older parent, or with cleaning. Carers and domestic cleaners aren't open yet. They're on the way.
Whichever you choose, it works the same way. You see who's free, read what past employers said, and pay one booking fee. You pay your helper directly, and we never take a cut.
Find the right help.
See who's free in Hermanus and the Overberg, and read what past employers said about them. Signing up is free.
Find help