SAHMs, would this appeal to you?

[bananapancakes]

Another idea I'm toying with is offering to take a kid or two into my home for occasional care on the days that H is working and I'm home with L. Those days aren't consistent so I couldn't do set days per week but I do know his schedule months in advance. We don't have MDO programs here so I was thinking moms could use me for occassional care if they have appointments or just want time to run errands kid-free. I obviously wouldn't be anyone's regular care provider, just more like drop-in.

I'm a certified teacher, have a valid police check, and am first aid/CPR qualified. We have a dedicated play space in our house and a large fenced in backyard.

Is this something you'd consider using? Things I should think about?

[momin2013]

It probably wouldn't appeal to me to DO (though I think it's a perfectly good idea to make some extra cash), mostly because I like the freedom to be able to do what I want with DS and not have to be on anyone else's schedule.

I would absolutely love to have someone like this on my speed-dial, though (do people still say "speed-dial"? - lol, I'm old). Right now I only have a neighbour that could potentially watch DS during the day, and I actually feel bad to bother her because her kids are older so her home is not really "set up" to be a good place for DS to play. It sounds like you would be an awesome option and I would definitely "use you". 

I guess the main thing you'd want to think about is how much you'd charge, and also the best way to get the word out that you're available.

One issue I CAN see happening is what if you're very popular, and you get TOO MUCH business so you have to turn people away sometimes. Like, if I depend on you for occasional care, and call you when I need you one day but you already have too many kids for the day, I might be irked. I guess that's not really a huge problem, though.

[ssmjlm]

A SAHM friend did this with a couple friends. Preschool for their LOs was only 1/2 day so once a week they rotated who took the kids after preschool so the other 2 could clean, run errands, etc. She said it was great b/c preschool wasn't long enough to get a ton done, but by adding a couple hours on afterward it gave her a decent chunk of time.

So I say, try it!

[matildasun]

I would love that. I hate having to figure out care for appointments, and things like jury duty. We are lucky that my husband's job provides back-up care, but I have always been a little nervous about having a complete stranger in my house.

[bananapancakes]

Good questions!

I know H's schedule until the end of December already so I could let parents know my availability with lots of lead time.

We're moving to a brand new area so I don't have any friends yet. If I do it, I think I'd start with a FB mom's group that I just joined for our new area.

No more than 2 kids plus my own.

Not sure about hours. Probably offer a full day and half day option.

[holly116]

Jul 31, 2015 8:01:03 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

It probably wouldn't appeal to me to DO (though I think it's a perfectly good idea to make some extra cash), mostly because I like the freedom to be able to do what I want with DS and not have to be on anyone else's schedule.

I would absolutely love to have someone like this on my speed-dial, though (do people still say "speed-dial"? - lol, I'm old). Right now I only have a neighbour that could potentially watch DS during the day, and I actually feel bad to bother her because her kids are older so her home is not really "set up" to be a good place for DS to play. It sounds like you would be an awesome option and I would definitely "use you". 

I guess the main thing you'd want to think about is how much you'd charge, and also the best way to get the word out that you're available.

One issue I CAN see happening is what if you're very popular, and you get TOO MUCH business so you have to turn people away sometimes. Like, if I depend on you for occasional care, and call you when I need you one day but you already have too many kids for the day, I might be irked. I guess that's not really a huge problem, though.

This exactly. I need to get out of the house so I couldn't do it, but I also pay a mother's helper to come and play once a week for 4-6 hours so I can get stuff done around here without putting my kids in front of the TV. It's a cornerstone for my sanity so I would think there's certainly a need, especially for those with a couple of kids under school age and/or during the summer.

[ilikedonuts]

The fact that you know it through December already is what would make me okay with the not consistently same days every week.

I take my girls to a lot of random classes for an hour here and there (so like 2 hours total) and I'm technically not supposed to bring both kids if they are outside the age of the class. I do anyways, but it would be nice to have somewhere I can just drop off for a couple hours rather then trying to rely on my mom for help.

[sjh722]

I work PT but I would be one of your best customers. I have one pretty reliable PT sitter (who's also a SAHM), but I'm always looking for others too.

Running errands or cleaning without DD1 around while I've been on leave has been amaaaazing.

I also have friends who are PRN nurses, or SAHM with no family around who need care for dr appts/errands/hair cuts/etc. if you got the word out in the right groups of people you'd probably be plenty busy. Or teachers who like to sub occasionally. (I have a friend who's ususally home but subs when her H is off.)

[leonard131]

Not a SAHM but I would think that would be a GREAT idea. You seem to know a couple months in advance what days/times work so for example someone could schedule a haircut or a dentist appointment and know they could bring you their kid by. Or if they just feel like that week it might be nice to have a couple hours to run errands or get a break they can check in with you.

I like it- I would use you :-)

[noodleoo]

I love this! I don't have any family nearby and I'm trying to figure out how to go to the dentist without bringing my baby. So yes I would absolutely love it!

[scribellesam]

I would love to use this service for appointments.

[kams]

I would love to have this available!

ETA: in fact, DH is OOT and school/fall activities haven't started yet, so I'd be all over this this week!

[jeaniebueller]

I don't know how Canada works, but I know here you would need to worry about licensing if you operated something like that.

[wildfloweragain]

Not a sahm, but a teacher. So all my appointments are in the summer and this would appeal to me!

Sent from my SM-G900V using proboards

[kdubs923]

Definitely give it a try!

Are you local to where your DH works? Do his coworkers have kids too? I would start there with the network of people that might want the occasional daytime sitter if the other wives SAH or work PT around their husbands shifts.

As you know, DH's works shifts too, but has his schedule far in advance too. Some of DH's coworkers wives who SAH do something similar where they switch off taking the others kids so one Mom gets a free day. I can see where other SAHM in your situation would love to run kid free errands or appointments. And they'd be understanding of the unusual schedule.

[Deleted]

Jul 31, 2015 8:02:54 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

A SAHM friend did this with a couple friends. Preschool for their LOs was only 1/2 day so once a week they rotated who took the kids after preschool so the other 2 could clean, run errands, etc. She said it was great b/c preschool wasn't long enough to get a ton done, but by adding a couple hours on afterward it gave her a decent chunk of time.

So I say, try it!

I would totally do this as a SAHM. Kind of like babysitting coupons. 

I'll echo the it wouldn't appeal to me to DO but I would appreciate a resource like this, yes.

Also I would die to have this on a weekend as a working mom who can't get anything done during the week. Weekend daytime babysitters are tough to find in my hood.

[bananapancakes]

Jul 31, 2015 8:38:31 GMT -5 @republicrat said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:02:54 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

A SAHM friend did this with a couple friends. Preschool for their LOs was only 1/2 day so once a week they rotated who took the kids after preschool so the other 2 could clean, run errands, etc. She said it was great b/c preschool wasn't long enough to get a ton done, but by adding a couple hours on afterward it gave her a decent chunk of time.

So I say, try it!

I would totally do this as a SAHM. Kind of like babysitting coupons. 

I'll echo the it wouldn't appeal to me to DO but I would appreciate a resource like this, yes.

Also I would die to have this on a weekend as a working mom who can't get anything done during the week. Weekend daytime babysitters are tough to find in my hood.

H also works days 1-2 weekends per month so I was thinking of offering the same deal then too. Good to know there would be interest in it.

[bananapancakes]

kdubs923, not local to H's work and reallly his colleauges live all over so that wouldn't work. Good idea, though!

[momin2013]

I will also add: I wish you lived in my city. Not just for the babysitting idea, I'm jealous of the get-togethers you guys have!!!

[cinco]

I babysit for a neighbor who works from home. The arrangement works out well b/c we are both able to be flexible. She might have a conference call and need me on a non scheduled day, and she is okay if I have to cancel b/c of a sick kid (unfortunately this happens often in the Winter, and it went both ways). Keeping communication open is key if you want to have these people as clients and friends. The dynamics are a bit different than a normal arrangement.

As a SAHM, I would probably not use the service b/c I would rather pay for a babysitter on date night. I usually just swap services with other SAHM for free. I'll watch their kids when they have an appt and vice versa. I do think it is a good idea though. In my old town you would probably have a lot of takers. Where I live now, not so much. There are some big economic/social differences b/w the two even though we only moved an hour away.

[redheadk]

I would definitely use you if I lived near you! I used a trusted, experienced friend who did something similar when dd was an infant and dh was working 80+ hours a week.

I would especially be inclined to use you on weeks that dh is OOT for work all week so that I could run a few errands and get a breather.

ETA: I like having dd out of the house so that I can be in it!

[heygrey]

I would have loved something like this when I was part time. I think you will keep yourself quite busy with just word of mouth referrals.

[bcarp30]

YES. Especially as I've had so many random dr appointments with the RE and blood draws that it would be so nice to have as an option to call and ask if someone was available to watch DD.

[momin2013]

Jul 31, 2015 9:02:34 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:50:26 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I will also add: I wish you lived in my city. Not just for the babysitting idea, I'm jealous of the get-togethers you guys have!!!

You can come to any of our SWO GTG! I have gone, and I'm in the same city as you. We are thinking about doing a 519'er GTG in the fall too. 

If you want to be in our FB group, PM me your name and I'll friend you add you to our group.

Cool, thanks! I'm not on Facebook, for no reason other than I'm lazy and I've just never bothered. Maybe I'll need to get on that...

[mainelyfoolish]

Jul 31, 2015 9:25:42 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:37:33 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I don't know how Canada works, but I know here you would need to worry about licensing if you operated something like that.

I'm lol'ing at our responses.  Lawyers unite!

Definitely something to check out, but she might not necessarily need licensing. In my state it's legal to watch up to two unrelated kids without be a licensed day care provider. 

[bananapancakes]

Good ideas! Thanks for the feedback!

[jinkies]

I work PT, but I would love this.

If the days won't be consistent, I would suggest maybe putting your available days/open slots on something like signupgenius.com.

So if I were a customer of yours and trying to make a dentist appointment, I could pull up your signupgenius when I call the dentist to see what days/times I could drop my kids off. Then just go ahead and book the slot with you when I confirm with the dentist. This would save me calling you for availability, calling the dentist, calling you back, etc.

It would just make it much more user friendly as a client.

[dcn]

This is a great idea. I swap with a friend a couple of times a month and it is truly a sanity saver!

[Deleted]

I'd set up an online sign-up with all your available days and the number of slots, and then let parents sign up that way to keep track of things.

It would be popular, for sure. One of my friends has done a bit of child care for the last few years - a friend that's a nurse and only needed a few days of care a month, plus another family in a similar boat. She could charge a premium because they were happy to only pay for the days they needed.

It really is more "babysitting" than "daycare" and you wouldn't need a license in SK. So take the pseudo-legal advice with a grain of salt. Perhaps as your home insurance what would be covered, though.

[Marmee]

I'd love doing a swap. I wouldn't pay someone because I have a free babysitter anytime now (MIL). But before I did, it'd be nice to have someone I could trust. When I worked p/t I used a drop in daycare & my kids hated it there. I wish I'd have had another option.