FAQS for families

Once we receive your registration information, you will be sent a packet of documents via our secure web server, Adobesign. After these documents are reviewed and signed, you can contact us for all of your childcare needs as your childcare coverage begins!
To request a ChildCare Specialist, you can email info@preferredchildcare.com, call us at (336) 392-7827. We simply need your family name, date and time you would like the Specialist to come. We will then match your family to a Specialist with similar interests and personality as your children. For future needs, we will always start with your highest rated Specialists.
Yes, we can provide ChildCare Specialists with less than 48-hours notice. We understand the busy lives of families and have Specialists available at all times to assist with any of your childcare needs. We do have a $25 backup fee for these special placements.
We generally confirm all placements 48 hours in advance in our confirmation system, PARiM. Upon completing your paperwork through Adobesign, you will receive an automated login email from this system for you to check in on your requests. Once care is confirmed, you will be able to review the specialist’s photo.
Yes, you can always request a specific ChildCare Specialist. We know how important familiarity and consistency is for families. We strive to always provide requested Specialists.
If your requested Specialist should be unavailable, we will match your family to a Specialist with similar interests and personality as your first choice. We keep our families’ preferred Specialists on file and always ask preferred Specialists first when making placements.
Yes, we can provide your family with the same ChildCare Specialist every week if you have consistent needs. If your needs are more than 10 hours a week, you would have a part-time placement. If your needs are more than 35 hours a week, you would have a full-time placement. Part-time and Full-time placement status ensures the same Specialist each week as specified.
Yes, we can arrange a meet and greet so your family can meet the ChildCare Specialist we match to your family. We do need an existing reservation to ensure the sitter you are meeting is available when you need them. The hourly rate will be charged for your meet and greet unless you are looking for a part-time or full-time placement. Meet and greets are included in these placement fees.

You are able to cancel your reservation up to 24 hours in advance with no fee. If notice of a cancellation is less than 24 hours prior to the start time of reservation, there is a 2 hour booking minimum charge applied. These fees are used to compensate the Specialist for keeping their time available to assist you.
Yes, you can “nanny share” with your friend if they are also a registered member of Preferred ChildCare, Inc. You will both pay the reduced nanny share rate for the booking of the same date and time for the Specialist.
If your friend is not registered with Preferred ChildCare, Inc. and is visiting from out of town, you can still utilize this service. You as the client of Preferred ChildCare, Inc. is responsible for the full payment of both clients’ nanny share rates.
Yes, we do provide care for sick children or backup care for children unable to attend daycares or schools. The standard hourly rate applies unless your child has extreme symptoms such as a fever of over 101 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other contagious symptoms. If care is provided for children with extreme symptoms the rate will increase by $4/ hour to compensate the ChildCare Specialist for exposure.
The Client will be billed for all hours requested on any given date. The ChildCare Specialist will be paid for all hours reserved even if they are let go early from the shift. If the ChildCare Specialist stays later than the original reserved time, the adjustment will be noted on the Client Invoice. On Sunday through Friday, there shall be a two (2) hour minimum charge per booking. On Friday and Saturday nights there shall be a four (4) hour minimum charge per booking. If the Client cancels the services of a ChildCare Specialist within twenty-four hours (24) of the ChildCare Specialist’s expected arrival, the booking minimums will still apply.
Each time a ChildCare Specialist cares for your children, they will have a timesheet where they record the time they arrive and the time you arrive back home, if later than the time originally booked until. You will sign to verify the times are correct. We will bill your account twice a month based on the time sheets and compensate your ChildCare Specialists. You will receive an itemized invoice by email each time charges are applied.
Please do not directly compensate the ChildCare Specialists directly for the time they spend with your children.
Yes, you can tip the ChildCare Specialist that cares for your children. Our Specialists do not expect tips but appreciate the generosity. Specialists are compensated an hourly rate through Preferred ChildCare, Inc., but your gratuity can be given directly to them.
If a ChildCare Specialist is in your home on a placement or traveling with your children in their car, you can contact them to ask questions or check in. Please do not contact our Specialists to request them for another job or to meet casually outside of your home. To ensure we provide quality care and meet our guarantee, we need all placement requests to come through Preferred ChildCare, Inc.