When James Sewell’s marriage ended, he needed someone to look after his children while he works.

But Mary Poppins did not come floating out of the sky.

Parents have a range of needs when it comes to looking for someone to care for their children. The process of seeking a child care worker can be an unnerving one.

“It’s a very emotional thing for a single parent to find themselves thrust in a situation where you don’t have time to plan,” said Mr. Sewell, 45.

His two daughters, ages 7 and 11, reside with their mother in northeast Georgia, but will live with him on weekends and during the summer, at minimum, he said.

He works as a second-shift supervisor at a manufacturing company and needs someone to look after the children when he’s not around. It’s a hard task, he has discovered, to find the right person for the job.

Mr. Sewell had several responses to an ad he placed, but a parent searching for a nanny can be like the prince searching for Cinderella — oftentimes the shoe just doesn’t quite fit.

Mr. Sewell said he feels strongly about having a child care worker who shares his beliefs. One candidate was passed over due, in part, to her romantic involvement with another woman, he said.

“It’s not any phobias (about sexuality),” Mr. Sewell said, “I want to make sure I don’t confuse (the children).”

Tracy Daverson, a mother of two girls, age 3 and 7 months, requires a nanny or baby sitter who is certified in first aid and CPR. Creativity is another must.

“If you’re with kids all day long, you have to be able to entertain them,” said Mrs. Daverson, 32.

Physical and developmental special needs notwithstanding, potential caretakers have to be prepared for everything from temper tantrums to food allergies. Allison Allen, a graduate student at Lee University, recalled one potential employer emphasizing the importance of examining every food label before feeding the child.

NOT ALL NANNIES LOOK ALIKE

Although the expected image of someone who takes care of children is probably an unmarried woman in her early 20s, childcare workers come in a vast range of shapes, sizes and responsibilities.

A mother’s helper keeps an eye on Junior while Mom is playing canasta or completing a company merger from the home office; a baby sitter might watch the kids while parents have an occasional night out, while a nanny may live in the same house and be like an extended part of the family.

Mr. Sewell originally was looking for a 20-something woman to watch his daughters — he figured a student would be his best bet. The person he found was an “absolutely awesome” 48-year-old. “There was a spiritual likeness,” he said.

Some people choose to extend themselves to other people’s children by running childcare out of their own homes. Amanda Tucker, a mother of two, runs a small daycare out of her home in Cleveland, Tenn. The benefits are numerous, she said.

“I was looking to fill the income gap (of not working),” said Mrs. Tucker, who began baby sitting as a teenager. “...Doing a home day care gives my kids other children to interact with as well.” She charges a flat rate of $100 a week per child.

And it’s not always women who get the jobs. Chris Turley, 25, has been looking after J.P. Millet for eight years, since he was 6 years old. Mr. Turley said now that J.P. is a teenager, the relationship has evolved into a friendship.

“He’s more like a brother now,” Mr. Turley said. He added that he sometimes stops by unexpectedly to hang out and play video games, in addition to any responsibilities proscribed by J.P.’s parents, Deborah DiStefano and Preston Millet.

“(Chris) is such a good role model,” Dr. DiStefano said.

Mr. Turley is thrilled for the opportunity, despite any ribbing he might get for being a ‘manny.’

“Sometimes people would give you little heck for it,” he said, “ but most people think it’s pretty cool. I think it’s very cool, personally. It’s really one of the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my entire my life.”

“MARY POPPINS” IS JUST A MOVIE

Despite what we may want to believe, “practically perfect in every way” simply does not exist. A parent must remember that while being childcare worker can certainly be rewarding, it is a job.

Nannies and household workers can be classified either as independent contractors or employees depending on the amount of control one has over the worker, including hours, tools and responsibilities. Wages vary and are determined either by a worker’s set rate or an employer’s offer. Surveyed child care workers in Hamilton County reported an hourly wage range of $8 to $15 per hour, depending upon the number and ages of children present.

Pat Cascio, head of the Morningside Nanny Agency in Houston and president of the International Nanny Association said that some nannies, especially live-ins, have felt taken advantage of. They are expected to work 14-16 hour days and be on call during the night, she said.

“We kind of need our sanity too,” said Ms. Allen, 25.

STAYING SAFE

Before any decisions are made and the kids are turned over, Ms. Cascio recommends that both parents and nannies check each other out by asking for personal and professional references. “If you do your due diligence,” she said, you aren’t strangers by the time the job begins.

Looking out for one’s own safety is just as important as looking out for a child’s. Graduate student and babysitter Christine Weisgerber, 23, insists on having an initial meeting in a public place before entering someone’s home.

Mr. Sewell recalls one young applicant who nervously said that her mother wanted to meet him before any agreements were made. “I thought that was the coolest thing,” he said. “I really respected that.”

According to Ms. Cascio, Ms. Weisgerber and the young woman Mr. Sewell met were right on the money. One nanny, she said, traveled for an interview to what turned out to be the home of a childless, mentally unstable person.

“The nanny needs to be wise about where she’s going,” Mr. Cascio said.

Five questions you might not have thought to ask to your potential nanny:

1. How would you comfort a child?

2. Do you have any pet peeves about parents?

3. Do you have a passport?

4. Are you a take charge person or do you prefer to get direction?

5. What about being a nanny could you live without?

Source: www.nanny.com

There were 1.4 million child care jobs in the United States in 2006.

35 percent of workers were self-employed.

18 percent worked in day care services.

20 percent worked in private households.

The remainder worked in educational, nursing or civic organizations.

(all numbers are approximations)

Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics