3 best ways to find a babysitter
by Rachel Sarah
Filed under All, Kids
We both know firsthand how challenging — and anxiety-inducing — it is to find childcare. You might have an infant who needs evening care while you’re working late, or a tween who needs a ride home from school and help with homework. No matter how old your child, finding good, reliable, trustworthy childcare can feel overwhelming.
Some of you have told us what is not ideal — like accepting your ex’s brand new wife offer to babysit — or letting your ex choose the sitter, when he/she has a dismal decision-making track record. Well, then, what IS ideal when it comes to finding a sitter?
Here are our 3 best ways to find a babysitter:
1. Reach out to family…whom you already know very well, and hopefully trust. This option is free, or at least less expensive than the market rate. (Challenge = You might not have any family nearby. We’ve been there!)
2. Join an online community… such as Sitter Pals. There are many membership-based childcare sites out there, which give a wide range of options in your area. (Challenge = You might not know/trust the available sitters.)
3. Create your own babysitting co-op… say, through your mom’s group or friends. This a great way to save money. Together, you make a calendar and plan who gets which nights off. You already know these moms, so there’s a sort of built-in trust. Often, this option is also free! (Challenge = this set-up doesn’t necessarily work with nighttime childcare, and you need to contribute hours/time that you might not have.)
This post was sponsored by Sitter Pals, an online platform for parents and sitters to create their own secure networks of people they know and trust. For parents, the website allows them to share known and trusted sitters with their friends and search for available sitters, whether they have two days notice or only two hours. For sitters, they tailor their availability to work as much or as little as they want. These parents and sitters searching for each other via the internet already know one another… or at least their direct connection.
When Sitter Pals founder and mother of two, Amanda Armstrong (pictured above), recognized the unnecessary stress of finding a sitter through traditional means, she knew there had to be a better way — but did not want to turn to the massive pool of unknown babysitters online. The membership-only site is available to sitters for free and $9.95 per month for parents.
And now… Sitter Pals is giving away a one-year subscription to one of you (valued at $99). Just leave a comment to enter. A winner will be chosen at midnight EST on April 26 by Random.org.
Your turn…
If you have a sitter you love and trust, how did you find him/her?
If finding reliable childcare is a challenge for you right now, what’s the biggest hurdle? Is it too expensive? Is it hard to find someone you trust? Or are there “kid issues” that make finding reliable child care a hassle?
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I’ve been so wary of a sitter site. In essence we are inviting strangers into our home! This is panic inducing but I need to do something. I have a next door neighbor who comes over now and then but it is not enough and I rarely get a break.
julie: We’re very confident about Sitterpals …and, of course, understand how isolating single parenthood can be. Thanks for joining the conversation.
Thank you for sharing. I’m trying to figure that out for my 2 and 3 year old. My 3 year old has special needs and am already worrying about the summer when he gets out of school. I know I can afford one kid in childcare but 2, I’ll be working just to pay for care. But I have learned from the past as much as my family says they want to help, it always gets thrown back in my face that I had to go them for help. Will I ever get a break in life? This cycle in life is just no fun right now. I never asked to become a single parent. The boys dad left me in the middle of the night with a 5 month old and 18 month old and I have been struggling ever sense. Sorry for the rant, just going thru a lot right now.
Twitter @ http://www.farfromflawlesslife.blogspot.com
I have found two long-term sitters through craigslist, followed with thorough interviews, background checks and reference calls. One was our sitter for almost three years. My second hire has been the MOST FABULOUS sitter I’ve ever had, also discovered through a “help wanted” type ad on Craigslist. Yes, these were strangers to me, but were vetted through full criminal background checks, references (including pediatrician), etc.
For more incidental care I have found churches to be a great source. They often have a standing list of nursery/childcare helpers who have been background checked and have a history of working with children.
Missy June´s last blog ..Emerging
Twitter @ wittywidow
To respond to LisaKF311: I’m not sure if you are in the U.S. or Canada, or another country, but each state and province has government programs for parents of children with disabilities. If you go online and google disabled children and your state or province, you should be able to find the program, usually under the child and family services government site. You will need to contact them, have documentation supporting the diagnosis, or if your doctor has made a referral to have your child evaluated, that is often sufficient to start the ball rolling for services. Respite (child care) is one of the most valued resources in programs funded by the government, and you may be eligible. It is worth a try if you haven’t looked into it yet.
Thank you @wittywidow, I will def. Google that info! I am in Dallas (Richardson), Tx.
Twitter @ http://www.sitterpals.com
Julie,
In response to your comment, “I’m so wary of sitter sites”, I wanted to add – I feel the same way! That’s right – I have never felt comfortable using a website to find a sitter for the exact reason you said, they are essentially a stranger (background check or not).
I’m launching http://www.sitterpals.com for parents like me who want to find someone they already know and trust, by sharing sitters among close friends.
Do you have friends in your town with children the same ages? Do they have a sitter or two they really like? That would be a great place to start.
I, too, have a son with special needs. Care.com may cost you a little until you find some good contacts, and their posters list if they experience with special needs, and even specify what conditions/diagnoses they have worked with. It might cost you $30 to join for a month, but you could build up a solid list of contacts for that $30!
Also, if there is an ARC organization near you, they not only would be a good resource for special needs in general, they also offer members respite care, free of charge. It costs $20 a year to join my chapter.
Our best babysitter was found through Craigslist (interviews, references, the whole nine yards), and actually works as a parapro in a nearby school district during the day — very highly qualified, and she has become like family in the last 3 years.
Finally, I am a teacher, so I stay connected to former students (only, NEVER current students) through facebook, and have used some former students for babysitting. If you know any teachers, they probably have done the same thing, and could probably give you some names of some great high school/college age kids.
Am I wary of strangers in my home? Of course. It’s not easy going through interviews and putting your kids in someone else’s care, but when you have no family around, and your friends are just as busy as you, sometimes you have to go that route, and trust your instincts.