how do you find a sitter? dumb luck?

[thebamker]

I don't mean full-time... just the random person you need once in a while.

I don't know a slew of 13-15 y/o girls... which I assume is my target.  but actually - I don't even know that.

[lilybug]

I ask other moms, they usually have the hook-up. In college I babysat for one family on the regular, and they would recommend me to their friends.

[LLL]

Other parents, recommendations from parents at pre-school, the helpers at pre-school

[luckyval]

I asked fb friends about it and then weeded through the responses. Our neighbor's 20-something daughter ended up being our regular from those that responded

[sake]

care.com

[daisybuchannan]

From friends, sitters at the gym

[thebamker]

I was a good, dependable sitter when I was 12-15(ish)... after that, I wanted to have a life. I live in a college town and I assume the students actually want to have a life. it would be more of a friday or saturday night thing. very little child interaction. just basically making sure they don't die in their sleep. ha.

[litebright]

My neighborhood newsletter includes a list of the kids who are willing to babysit or dog-sit, plus a phone number for their house. So far I've just used the neighbor girls that I know, we've lucked out with two on our street.

More formally, I use a local service called Mother's Helpers for our nanny who comes 20 hours a week. I can also call them whenever I need a random sitter for evenings/weekends, and they'll send someone who's been background-checked. We've been happy with pretty much everyone they send our way, so I feel comfortable with that.

[fryjack2]

HA! I JUST sent out an email to all the moms I know AND posted on FB. Our regular sitters were nursing students who have jobs now. I have a couple leads.

My next step was going to be local college job boards, and care.com


I keep telling H that we should fly my 17 year old cousin out here for the summer and we could have a built in babysitter.

[lilybug]

See I loved babysitting in college, because I could usually get a lot of work done once the kids went to bed, then I caught up with my friends after the parents got home. I guess I just babysat for old fogies who didn't stay out too late!

[bella427]

Most of the assistant teachers at my kids' preschool are college students. The kids already know and love them and they're happy to babysit on the side for cash.

[DotAndBuzz]

Where we used to live, I used the daughter of one of Natalie's preschool teachers. She was 16, didn't yet have a license, and was SUPER sweet. Her mom also told me that she made sure she was always around whenever her daughter was sitting so she could come over if needed/answer questions via phone, so that made me feel better.

Up here I asked one of Natalie's swimming instructors who is a regular lifeguard at our gym. I checked out her FB page first, and it was mostly locked down (which I saw as good), but what was available was nothing even remotely questionable. Knowing that she's a lifeguard, I know she's CPR certified, and I *think* I remember the club telling me that all the swimming instructors have to be background checked b/c they work with kids. So those were two big pluses for her. I'll probably ask another girl who has worked w/ Natalie in her previous swim sessions just to get another potential sitter in the mix.

I also asked a good friend for a rec of who she used. This is the friend who's H freaked out about using any kind of sitter at all, so she'd met the sitter, but never been "allowed" to use her. So I did. And she's fabulous. So I kind of stole that sitter from her, but she wasn't using her anyways, so oh well!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I heard jlm had a reasonably priced one she used.

[gretchenindisguise]

We've used two of her preschool teachers. Expensive, but good because she knows them well. Last one did some impressive arts and crafts at our house - so that was nice.

[thebamker]

Apr 29, 2013 11:13:28 GMT -5 lilybug said:

See I loved babysitting in college, because I could usually get a lot of work done once the kids went to bed, then I caught up with my friends after the parents got home. I guess I just babysat for old fogies who didn't stay out too late!

lol!

[savan]

We posted an ad on care.com. I was really nervous about it but we found a fantastic sitter. I had almost 100 responses within 2 days and could weed out a lot of them just by their email. We hired the first one we talked to on the phone and the kids love her.

[thebamker]

I went to the care.com thing and I have to put in a price range. obviously don't want to spend $400 bucks. lol

I feel more like it's a set amount type situation. come over from 8 to 1 while my kids are asleep and I'll give you $50-$60.

I don't want to be a cheap ass, but I'm basically asking them to watch my TV and use my wifi. lol.

thoughts?

[thebamker]

Apr 29, 2013 12:12:17 GMT -5 savan said:

We posted an ad on care.com. I was really nervous about it but we found a fantastic sitter. I had almost 100 responses within 2 days and could weed out a lot of them just by their email. We hired the first one we talked to on the phone and the kids love her.

what did you put in for the price range?  I don't want to look cheap, but I don't want the person to automatically assume the high end either.

[revolution]

We got lucky and 2 of the girls at daycare said they would love to babysit for us. We have only used the one. She is the infant teacher and we love her and she loves our kids.

[savan]

Apr 29, 2013 12:16:27 GMT -5 thebamker said:

Apr 29, 2013 12:12:17 GMT -5 savan said:

We posted an ad on care.com. I was really nervous about it but we found a fantastic sitter. I had almost 100 responses within 2 days and could weed out a lot of them just by their email. We hired the first one we talked to on the phone and the kids love her.

what did you put in for the price range?  I don't want to look cheap, but I don't want the person to automatically assume the high end either.

I want to say $10 - $20/hour.  Maybe.  Our sitter charges $15 for 2 kids.  

[lilybug]

Last babysitter we had (age 18) charged $12/hour for both kids. But they were awake part of that time, so that might make a difference.