The core difference
A babysitter covers specific sessions — a date night, an after-school block, a Saturday afternoon. Hourly, on-demand, one-off or lightly recurring. A nanny is a committed household employee — 25+ hours/week, consistent schedule, usually becoming integrated in the family routine. Babysitters charge by the session; nannies are paid a weekly or annual rate. The rate per hour is often similar; the total commitment and structure are fundamentally different.
When you actually need a babysitter
Date nights. Weekend events. After-school coverage 2–3 days a week. School-break coverage. Last-minute scheduling gaps. Any situation where the need is occasional, discrete, and doesn't justify a full-time employee. Most Brooklyn families with two working parents hire a babysitter rather than a nanny — it's the fit for the real schedule.
When you actually need a nanny
Infant care 9-to-5 while both parents work from office. Three kids under 5 and one parent fully out of the workforce covering them, needing regular backup. Families with complex daily routines (multiple schools, multiple activities, multiple meal plans) where a consistent person learns and owns the flow. Nannies are a real employment relationship with real legal and tax implications; the bar is higher.
The part-time gray zone
There's a middle: 15–25 hours a week, consistent schedule, same person every time. Technically that's part-time nanny territory, but functionally it often runs as 'babysitter, but regular.' Brooklyn Sitters' part-time service lives here — recurring weekly hours, same sitter, but hourly rate and no employment structure. For many Brooklyn households this is the right fit; a full-time nanny is overkill, one-off bookings don't build the consistency.
Tax and employment implications
Once you hire someone who works 25+ hours/week in your home and you're paying them over the IRS annual threshold ($2,700 in 2024), they become a household employee and you owe payroll taxes. That's nanny territory. Babysitter bookings under that threshold are informal — no W-2, no payroll tax. Above the threshold, ignoring it is tax evasion; it's not a small thing. If you're unsure, consult a household-payroll service.
Common questions
What's cheaper — a babysitter or a nanny?
Depends on hours. Hourly, they're similar ($25–35/hr in Brooklyn). Total cost: a babysitter working 8 hours/week is $200/week; a nanny working 40 hours/week is $1,000+/week. You pay for the hours you use.
Can I hire Brooklyn Sitters as a nanny?
No. Becky and Shelly each cover part-time (4–25 hrs/week per family) at the babysitter model. For a true full-time nanny, a dedicated agency (Tiny Treasures, Brooklyn Manny & Nanny) is set up for that — we're not.
Is part-time a babysitter or a nanny?
Legally, above ~25 hrs/week it's nanny territory. Below that, it's a recurring babysitter arrangement. The IRS income threshold is what actually decides your tax obligation — not the job title.
Do babysitters need a contract?
Not legally required for occasional sessions. For recurring part-time (multiple sessions per week, consistent hours), a simple agreement covering rate, hours, and cancellation is worth having — protects both sides.