How do I find a babysitter?

[SNOWaMANda]

Single mum, want to go to the gym 2 nights a week, dd in bed by 7, need someone to babysit for a couple of hours twice a week. I'm in Leeds and just don't know anyone.

How do you find a babysitter? Tried asking amongst other mums at school. I need someone local so it isn't going to cost me a fortune to get the sitter home etc. One who drives even better. Any thoughts?

JellyJelly does evening babysitting (not your area though) and I'm sure she's with sitters www.sitters.co.uk ?

Sorry can't be of more help! Only other suggestion is to see if any of the local childminders do babysitting work. To find your local childminders, visit childcarelink

Good luck

neighbours with teenage children? we have a 14 year old neighbour who babysits for us provided it ends before 10pm, the children are in bed and her mother's home (these are her mother's rules, not ours but they seem very sensible).

I'm the only with a child on our street which limits possibilities there. It's just so frustrating as I only want to either go to gym or out for run and she'll be asleep anyway.

I'll check those links out, thanks.

Or I've heard local nursery / pre-school staff sometimes do this!

Good luck

Yes helly, i do work for sitters but it would cost you 4 hours as they have a minumum booking.

Oh yeah, forgot! BTW, you on email yet?

no, still cant remember the password whichis a bummer and now my pc doesnt support net.passport or something i dont understand. I got a call for full time care starting soon as which i am really pleased about.

Got your text on my home phone again! Couldn't text back as out of credit! I'm hoping to meet a new born soon. She's due in Dec and is hoping to come in new year. Good luck for yours!

As for email, can't you use the one you got with broadband?

how old do you have to be to sit? My son is 14..15 in January and would sit. We are in Leeds

I know my cousin babysat a few children including a very young baby when she was 14. Not sure what the legal age is though?

Wow feel for you , I'm a single mum too but have heaps of support from friends & family. Would love a regular babysitting slot though for same reason, but don't feel I can pin anyone down to a weekly sit!

think it is 14 but how old would you be happy with?!!!

In Scotland they have law which says that a babysitter must be aged 16 or over.

In the rest of the UK however, no such law exists... so can have a younger babysitter. However, babysitters under the age of 16 are not criminally responsible.

Found this helpful guide: Bromley Council - Babysitting Guide

Hi Snowamanda, in our gym there are members kids that advertise, so if your house is local to gym try there. Or local colleges, or post offices.

In our local postoffice there are loads of au pairs advertising for extra work.

Good luck, my husband works away Mon-Fri and I am very keen runner. Its very very hard when exercise is part of your life and you are restricted. Baby joggers are OK for the summer, but not at night in winter.

Good luck with it

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