Finding a Part-Time or After-School Babysitter/Nanny in New York City

Parents of school-age kids often face a childcare dilemma: once your little one is in preschool or elementary school, you no longer need a full-time nanny, but you still need reliable care for those crucial after-school hours. Finding a part-time or after-school babysitter/nanny in New York City can feel like searching for a unicorn. It’s a common challenge for NYC families transitioning away from a full-time nanny schedule, and many parents discover it’s harder than expected to line up quality part-time help. 

In this article, we’ll explore why that is and share where NYC moms are finding success in hiring part-time and after-school caregivers. (Spoiler: with a bit of planning and the right resources, you can find your afterschool “unicorn” caregiver!)

The Challenge of Part-Time Childcare in NYC

Securing part-time childcare in New York City is notoriously difficult. Most experienced nannies prefer (and financially need) full-time hours, or at least a guaranteed minimum number of hours per week. Many NYC nanny agencies note that part-time nannies typically require a commitment of about 20–25 hours per week. Families seeking only 10–15 hours (like 3:00–6:00 pm on weekdays) may struggle to attract candidates, unless they’re willing to guarantee pay for more hours or offer a higher hourly rate. This means if you truly only need a few hours each afternoon, you’re competing in a tough market – a lot of caregivers simply can’t afford to take a job with too few hours.

Another challenge is the nature of the after-school time slot. The hours of roughly 3:00–6:30 pm are a bit “odd” for many job seekers – smack in the middle of the afternoon. College students might still be in class at 3 pm; other part-time workers may have morning jobs and not want a long gap until an evening shift. The timing simply doesn’t work for everyone, so the pool of available caregivers can be limited.

What do parents actually need from an after-school babysitter or nanny? Typically, it’s someone who can be trusted to handle school pickups, escort children to afterschool activities (or supervise playdates), or just keep the kids safe and engaged at home until a parent finishes work. It might involve taking the subway or bus with a child, helping with homework, preparing a light snack, and generally bridging that gap between school and dinnertime. These responsibilities require not only reliability but also energy – after a full day of school, kids are bursting with stories, homework needs, and pent-up energy, so the caregiver has to jump right in.

One option many families try is the after-school programs offered at public or private schools. These programs can be affordable (or even free) and ensure your child is in a supervised environment. However, some parents (myself included) aren’t entirely satisfied with school-based aftercare. Yes, your child will be safe, but the engagement level may be hit-or-miss. Often, the activities are generic, or the supervision is more about crowd control than personalized care. Kids might be able to elect not to participate in structured activities, which, for some, turns aftercare into a glorified study hall or just unstructured time in the gym. 

School programs ensure basic safety until 5 or 6 pm, but they may not offer the warmth or enrichment you’d get from a dedicated sitter or nanny. This is why so many NYC parents start searching for that ideal part-time caregiver who can give more individualized attention after school.

So, given these hurdles – limited candidate pool, tricky hours, and the desire for high-quality engagement – how can you find a great part-time or after-school babysitter in NYC? Below, we outline some of the best options recommended by fellow NYC moms, along with tips to improve your chances.

Where to Find Part-Time/Afterschool Childcare in NYC

Despite the challenges, New York City parents have developed a toolbox of resources for finding part-time and after-school help. From college babysitting programs to nanny agencies and apps, here are some avenues to explore:

Barnard College Babysitting Board (Hire College Sitters)

One goldmine for part-time sitters is the Barnard College babysitting job board. Barnard (the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University) has long been known among local parents as a great source of smart, responsible babysitters. If you’re comfortable with a college student or recent grad watching your child, this can be an amazing solution. Barnard offers an online job board where families can post part-time or occasional child care jobs for Barnard students. Essentially, you write up your babysitting/nanny job description (hours needed, duties, pay, etc.), and it gets advertised directly to Barnard students looking for such gigs. 

To access the board, email beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.

Why Barnard? For one, you’re tapping into a pool of bright, trustworthy young women who often have plenty of experience babysitting or camp counseling, even if they’re not professional nannies. These students usually have some free time in the afternoons or evenings and want part-time work. A college sitter might take your child to the park to play, help with homework (hello, built-in tutor!), and engage with enthusiasm. They often charge slightly lower rates than career nannies, which can help if you’re on a budget. Of course, since they’re full-time students, you’ll need to be a bit flexible (e.g., around exam periods or school breaks).

NYC moms rave about Barnard sitters. It’s not uncommon to find Barnard (or Columbia University) students who become like part of the family over time. To give an example of what families could post – “Part-Time Afterschool Babysitter Needed in Brooklyn (Fall Start)” – seeking a kind, creative, reliable sitter for our 5-year-old daughter starting kindergarten. This is exactly the kind of job many college students jump at. 

If you go this route, be prepared to screen candidates yourself (Barnard provides the platform but does not vet students for you). You’ll want to interview, check references, and perhaps do a trial afternoon to ensure it’s a good fit. But many parents have found wonderful part-time sitters through Barnard’s network. (Tip: You can likewise try other colleges in the city – e.g., NYU, Fordham, etc. – they may have similar job boards or Facebook groups for students seeking babysitting work.)

Curated Care

Another popular option is Curated Care, a service built around on-demand babysitting with a creative twist. CuratedCare.com connects families with “bright & brilliant babysitters, teachers & tutors” through an easy-to-use app. All the caregivers (called Kid Experts on the platform) are vetted – they undergo background and reference checks and are interviewed by the Curated Care team. Many of them are artists, teachers, grad students, or other talented individuals who incorporate their skills into babysitting time, so your sitter might also teach your child piano, do science experiments, or tutor Spanish, for example.

With Curated Care, you can book sitters for recurring after-school slots or on a one-time basis. There are no recurring membership fees to use the service – instead, they charge a small service fee per booking (around 4.5%, which on a typical session might be only a few dollars). This makes it more budget-friendly than agencies that require a hefty membership. Parents set up a profile, browse or get matched with a group of available sitters, and can post a request whenever they need help. In fact, many users build a go-to team of their favorite sitters on Curated Care, so you can send out a request to your trusted roster first. 

That said, availability can vary. If you need someone at an unusual time (say, the 3:00–6:00 pm window on a specific day), you might sometimes find that none of your go-to sitters are free. To improve your odds, it helps to plan ahead: try to book your after-school sitter well in advance when possible. A great strategy is to start using Curated Care (or any sitter service) in late summer to line up a consistent person for the fall. Many college students and part-time caregivers set their schedules in August for the upcoming school semester, so if you post a September job in May or June, you might snag someone before their calendar fills up.

Overall, Curated Care is fantastic if you want flexibility and vetted quality. The sitters can do pickups, help with homework, and are often more engaged (think arts & crafts, lessons, etc.) than a generic babysitter. Remember that for truly last-minute needs, you may need a backup plan, and try to cultivate a small circle of preferred sitters on the app. On the plus side, booking and payment are all handled in the app, which is super convenient (no awkward cash exchanges or waiting on invoices). Curated Care has a strong following among NYC parents and, according to the company, has earned dozens of 5-star reviews as a go-to resource for Manhattan and Brooklyn families.

Bell Family Company

If you’re looking for a more traditional agency-style service, Bell Family Company is another highly recommended resource for part-time and on-demand babysitters in NYC. Bell Family Company (BFC) is a full-service nanny and sitter agency – essentially a membership-based network of vetted childcare providers that you can call on when you need help. Families pay a membership fee to join BFC and gain access to their pool of nannies and sitters, with an agency staff coordinating bookings and matching you with available caregivers.

How it works: You choose a membership plan (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) depending on your needs. As of 2025, an annual membership costs about $585, with shorter terms like one month for $160. This fee gives you the ability to request sitters through their system and access their 24/7 on-call support team if you have an urgent need. Once you’re a member, you pay your sitter’s hourly wages (which BFC sets) plus perhaps small booking fees. Members enjoy lower hourly rates than non-members – for example, in NYC, a member might pay around $29/hour for one child, whereas a non-member pays $40/hour. So if you think you’ll need frequent help, membership is the way to go for better rates.

All BFC nannies and sitters are fully vetted (background checks, references, interviews, etc.), and the agency has a reputation for professional service. Many of their sitters are very experienced – some are teachers or career nannies picking up extra hours. You can request specific types of sitters (say, someone with toddler experience, or who can handle multiple kids, etc.), and the agency will send out the booking to their pool. Bell Family prides itself on reliability, and indeed, our parent friends say that BFC has come through in a pinch nearly every time. Even for a last-minute request, they can usually find someone. This is a huge relief if, for example, your child gets sick and you need a daytime sitter, or you get stuck at work and need evening coverage – one text or call to BFC, and they handle it.

Now, the downsides: The cost is higher than DIY options. In addition to the membership fees, the hourly rates are on the higher end (reflecting the agency’s cut and the quality of sitters). Also, because it’s a large network, you might not get the same person each time. Some families don’t mind a rotation of a few regular sitters, but others really want consistency for their kids. With Bell, if you book on-demand, you kind of get whoever is available that day in your area (you can certainly give feedback and request a sitter you liked, but availability will vary). It’s not guaranteed you’ll have one dedicated after-school nanny unless you explicitly hire someone part-time through them. They do offer “after-school nanny” placements, too, which would be a more consistent arrangement, but that veers into regular nanny hiring (with placement fees, etc.). Most people we know use BFC for occasional or irregular needs.

Another limitation: Bell Family’s on-demand sitters typically do not do school pickups or drive children. The agency’s policy (for liability reasons) often restricts sitters from doing pickups in their first engagements. Essentially, the sitter will meet you or arrive at your home, but you can’t just send them to go sign your child out from school or daycare, at least not initially. (If you develop a relationship with a particular sitter over time, you might arrange something, but by the book, their role is to babysit, not transport.) So if your main need is school pickup at 3 pm, Bell might not solve that unless you work out a routine with a specific person.

In summary, Bell Family Company is an excellent high-end option if you want maximum coverage and vetted caregivers and don’t mind paying for it. It’s especially useful if you occasionally need last-minute help or want the peace of mind of an agency on call. For consistent after-school needs, it could be a bit pricey to use daily unless you formalize it into a part-time nanny placement (which BFC can also do, with a placement fee). Many NYC families use BFC as a backup plan or supplement – for instance, you might primarily rely on a college sitter, but keep a Bell Family membership in case that sitter cancels or you need a fill-in.

Other Platforms and Websites (Uloop, UrbanSitter, Care.com)

In addition to the above specialized resources, don’t overlook the big online platforms where hundreds of NYC caregivers advertise their services. These can require more legwork (you’ll be sifting through profiles and doing your own vetting), but they greatly expand your reach to find that perfect part-time helper. Here are a few to consider:

• Uloop & College Job Boards: Uloop is a national job listings site focused on college communities, and it hosts dedicated sections for many NYC colleges (Barnard, NYU, Hunter, etc.). Families can post babysitting or part-time nanny jobs on Uloop to target local students. These postings will attract college students or recent grads in the city looking for flexible work. The upside is you might find a responsible student with free afternoons; the downside is you’ll need to screen candidates carefully since it’s a public listing. Still, plenty of parents find great sitters this way, essentially tapping into the vast talent pool of NYC’s universities.
• UrbanSitter: UrbanSitter is a popular app/website that connects parents with local babysitters and nannies. Think of it like the “Airbnb of babysitters” – you create a profile, then you can search for sitters in your area, read reviews from other parents, see their rates, and even find sitters that friends or other parents in your school network have used (UrbanSitter has a feature that shows connections, like if a sitter has been hired by someone from your kid’s school or by a friend of yours). For after-school coverage, you can browse profiles of sitters who specifically indicate they’re available at those times. One thing to note: UrbanSitter may charge parents a subscription or booking fee to contact and book sitters (often it’s a monthly or annual subscription for unlimited bookings). The quality of sitters can vary, but the platform does at least have basic background checks and, importantly, lots of reviews from other parents. If you go this route, look for sitters with multiple repeat families and glowing comments. It’s a bit like dating – you might message a few candidates to find the right match. The advantage is choice: you have a large selection and you can likely find someone who fits your schedule and preferences.
• Care.com: Care.com is one of the largest online marketplaces for caregivers, and in NYC, you’ll find hundreds of part-time nannies and babysitters advertising there. The sheer volume on Care.com means you have a lot of options – you can find seasoned nannies who only want 25 hours a week, college students available for school pickup jobs, retired teachers who do part-time care, you name it. You can filter for things like availability, experience, languages spoken, etc. However, with great volume comes great responsibility: Care.com does not thoroughly vet each caregiver beyond offering background check options. It’s up to you to read profiles, check references, and interview carefully. Additionally, to actually contact caregivers, you’ll need a paid membership on the site. Many parents use Care.com to post a job listing describing their need (e.g., “Afterschool sitter needed M-F 3-6 pm for two kids, UES”) and then sift through the applications that come in. This can yield excellent candidates, but be prepared to receive a flood of messages. The key is to look for caregivers with strong reviews or references on their profiles.

Lastly, don’t forget word of mouth and community resources. In NYC, neighborhoods often have parent listservs or Facebook groups (for example, Park Slope Parents, Harlem Moms, various PTAs) where families exchange babysitter recommendations. A post like “ISO part-time nanny for afterschool, any leads?” can sometimes connect you with a nanny who’s reducing hours with another family or a beloved sitter whose class schedule just changed. Networking with other parents – at school pickup, playgrounds, community centers – might surface someone who is just what you need. The trusted referral of a friend can shortcut a lot of vetting. So while you polish your online search, put some feelers out in real life too.

Final Thoughts

Finding a great part-time or after-school babysitter in a city as dynamic as New York is challenging but absolutely achievable. It may take a combination of strategies: perhaps posting on a college job board, trying an app like Curated Care or UrbanSitter, and asking fellow parents for referrals, all at once. Start your search early (many families lock in fall childcare plans over the summer) and be prepared to be persistent. When you do find that gem of a sitter or part-time nanny, treat them well – pay a competitive rate, communicate clearly, and show your appreciation – because keeping quality caregivers can be just as hard as finding them in the first place!

In the end, remember that you’re not alone in this struggle. Nearly every working parent of young children in NYC has gone through the “afterschool care scramble.” By using the resources recommended by other NYC moms, you’ll increase your odds of success. With a bit of luck (and maybe some coffee for those late-night caregiver searches), you’ll soon have a reliable part-time sitter or nanny lined up, and you can rest easy knowing your kiddos are in good hands every afternoon. Good luck with your search – your family’s perfect afterschool helper is out there waiting to be found!