How did you find a babysitter?

[LucyO103]

Hello,

I'm aware that many babysitters are found by word of mouth (often teenage neighbours etc), but how do you go about finding somebody if you don't know anybody? Would you ask around? Would you ever contact a babysitter who has put up a notice in a shop window? Or on Gumtree? Do you expect qualifications from a babysitter?

Let me know how you found yours, or if you don't yet have one, how you would feel most comfortable

nursery staff or sitters

The staff at our after school club do my babysitting

not that I actually go out

(Teenage) Daughter of friends, good with kids.

I use one of the younger girls (think she is about 23) who work in my youngest DC nursery. She advertised her services via fb.

Definitely ask around - ask colleagues (not just those with little ones - it might be your colleagues have 18yr olds looking to earn some money), and ask other people you know with little ones if they know anybody.

Re-read your post now.....are you asking from the pov of someone wanting to 'sit' ?
Sorry, but personally I wouldn't didn't use someone who I didn't know someone who knew them IYSWIM - a personal character reference from someone I knew.

I advertise on gumtree and am preparing a flyer for local cafes and shops.

we used the lovely lady who worked at DD2s nursery or paid my DSIS petrol money to come visit or I'd take her shopping and for lunch.

She lives in distant, rural, shopless land (otherwise known as Wales).

Have you got any work from Gumtree?

My main question is - would you ever hire a sitter from a leaflet/poster you saw locally, or from an Advert on Gumtree?

Its a website findababysitter.co.uk have a look

My main question is - would you ever hire a sitter from a leaflet/poster you saw locally, or from an Advert on Gumtree?

No

As a teenager I put handwritten cards through doors. Worked well for me then. If you put your experience/quals on it I think you might get some work.

Lucy, I have found one family on gumtree so the success is not overwhelming but its free.

I'm lucky enough to have a friend with a teenage daughter!

net mums

and i have not advertise on gumtree but have found 2 great families on there which i baby sit for weekly

Yes I am asking from the perspective of a sitter. Any advice? :)

I'd just put stuff up on as many sites as possible. If I have an ad running on nannyjob then I'd use their babysitter database as it's then free to access. I might have mbership paid to other sites (but I don't like the monthly fee). Gumtree and net mums and MN local are free. I probably would respond to a very local handwritten ad (corner shop, school etc) as the sitter is likely to be local too, likewise a leaflet through the door.

Where do u live? London? Likeminders?

Yes I live in Ealing :)

Any advice? :)

Leaflets through local doors? Sounds old fashioned but might help with local/word of mouth connection. we found a great babysitter this way as she mentioned a few families she had babysat for in our area one of whom we did know through my work and who gave a glowing reference.

Yes I had thought of that although they're very expensive to print!

I was thinking the exact same thing, but from the other perspective! Lots of my friends are babysitting for their mum's friend's kids, neighbors etc. I would like to, seems like a good experience, I'm good with kids and would like to earn some money and I'm quite reliable, but I don't know any families that need a babysitter?! I've scrolled through sites like gumtree, no luck in finding anything.

Sitters.co.uk

Likeminders.co.uk

Both London based agency's, very good :)