Family Essentials

Tell us about your household

We start with a conversation, not a form dump. We take the time to understand your family, your routines, and what you are looking for in a caregiver. Then we handle everything from shortlisting and trial days to managing the offer, including rates, negotiations, and contracts.

What We Do For You

1. We Find Your Perfect Match

We get to know your family’s needs, routines, values, and priorities. Then thoughtfully match you with a caregiver who aligns with your household and caregiving needs.

2. We Help You Meet & Choose

We coordinate interviews and trail days so you can experience the caregiver’s connection with your child or children and see how they fit naturally into your home before making a commitment.

3. We Make It Official

We help navigate compensation, benefits, negotiations, and employment terms. Making the offer and contract process clear and seamless.

Learn how KhayaBuntu’s placement process works. Step-by-step process, and placement fees.

read how it works

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The Family-Caregiver Partnership

What Is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is a trained childcare professional who supports your child’s wellbeing, development, and daily routines. They provide consistent, nurturing care and become a trusted partner in your home. Caregivers focus on child‑related responsibilities - their role is centered on safety, growth, and creating a calm, predictable environment for your child. This page helps families understand what caregivers do, what they don’t do, and how to build a fair, respectful working relationship.

What Caregivers Do:

Caregivers handle all child‑related responsibilities, including:

  • Childcare routines (feeding, naps, play, outings)

  • Age‑appropriate developmental activities

  • Preparing meals/snacks for the child

  • Child laundry

  • Cleaning bottles, dishes, toys

  • Organizing the child’s room, dresser, and play areas

  • Grocery shopping & running errands

  • Mileage reimbursed (if caregiver using their own car)- Driving children to activities, errands, school pickup/drop-off etc.

Their role is focused on your child’s needs - not general household management.

If a family needs additional household support, this becomes a Household Manager or Family Assistant role - a different job with different expectations and pay.

What fair Employment Looks Like:

At KhayaBuntu, we believe caregivers deserve fair, legal, and respectful treatment.

Families should expect:

  • Payment (weekly or bi-weekly) (W‑2) - caregivers are domestic employees under California law.

  • Overtime - Overtime at 1.5 x hourly rate after 9 hours in a day or 45 hours in a workweek.

  • Guaranteed hours - When a family guarantees a caregiver a set number of weekly hours within their established weekly schedule. Those hours are paid even when the family chooses not to use them. During family vacations, canceled plans, or schedule changes.

  • Mileage reimbursement - when using their own car for child transportation.

  • Sick leave - 5 paid sick days per year.

  • Paid time off - typically around 90 hours per year in California (after the first 3 months).

KhayaBuntu recommended employment benefits:

  • Compensation review - Families are encouraged to review compensation annually to recognize experience, performance, increase in responsibilities, cost-of-living changes, and continued commitment to childcare & family’s needs.

  • Investing in your caregivers’ future - Families who are able to offer additional benefits may consider monthly contributions towards caregivers’ retirement (ROTH/IRA), healthcare, continuing education or tuition assistance.

  • National Nanny appreciation week - honoring the essential work caregivers do (last full week of September).

  • Meals provided - Families are encouraged to include their caregiver in household meals or provide reasonable meal options during shifts.

  • Vehicle care- When caregiver uses personal vehicle to transport children, families are encouraged to contribute toward professional vehicle cleaning/detailing at regular intervals.

These standards create stability, trust, and long‑term success for both families and caregivers.

This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Employment requirements may vary based on the specific role and circumstances. Families are responsible for complying with applicable California employment laws and regulations.

Starting childcare is a big transition - for your child, for your family, and for your caregiver

Knowing what to expect can make the transition easier for everyone. Here’s a look at what the first days and weeks can look like as your caregiver becomes part of your family’s routine