Gift Etiquette for a Child's Caregiver

Day care providers and babysitters become very important to you and your child. Beyond just paying them their fee, it̵7;s nice to acknowledge their importance and your appreciation with an extra gift. These gift etiquette tips for a child̵7;s caregiver will help you choose what and when to give an appropriate gift.

  1. When to Give a Gift

    • Usually a once-a-year gift is sufficient for caregivers. You don̵7;t need to acknowledge every holiday and their birthday with a gift. The end-of-the-year holidays are a good time to give a thank-you gift.

      Another appropriate time to give a gift would be when your child will no longer attend that day care or use that particular babysitter. The gift can serve as a final goodbye and thank you.

    What Gift to Give

    • Like a school teacher, if every parent gave a trinket or ̶0;best babysitter̶1; cup every year, your caregiver may start to dread gift-giving season. Instead, buy something he or she will use, or give a homemade gift from your child. If you go to a family day care, you may know their style and can give something for the house. If you are unsure of what to buy, give a gift card to local coffee shop or mall store. Care.com recommends gift certificates to a spa or for a manicure to give them some relaxation time. If you opt for a homemade gift, you can give baked goods, a homemade ornament from your child, or a homemade card. Cash is also acceptable as a yearly gift for a caregiver.

    How Much to Spend

    • Think of an annual gift for your caregiver as a year-end bonus. At the same time, only give what is within your budget. There are no set rules for how much you must spend. If your budget is tight, bake some cookies and have your child make a card to save money. If you̵7;ve had a good financial year, feel free to reward your child̵7;s caregiver with a nice bonus in the form of a generous gift card or cash. You can also give a group gift by pooling your money with other families in the day care. If you give as a group, US News suggests giving $100 to $300 as a gift.

    Other Staff

    • Do give a gift to all the staff who care for your child. Many in-home family day care providers and day care centers hire extra help. Include them in your gift giving. You can choose to spend more on your child̵7;s primary care giver, but also include the other staff to show appreciation and thanks.

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