Has anyone ever used a domesti babysitting service? Can you reccomend one?

[Charlee]

I need a break, some time to be out the house with dp but we currently have no one to babysit. I have heard of these agencies that send someone to your house to babysit.

Has anyone used one, are they safe and can anyone reccomend and talk me through the process.

We use one for most of our babysitting as we don't have anyone local to babysit for us abnd we have also used them when staying away from home in hotels and holiday cottages.

We registered with them, pay them a joining fee, pay so much an hour to them for finding the sitter and £5.85 direct to the sitter.

Never had a bad experience.

What part of the country?

We have had excellent experiences with Toybox but if you are thinking of using an agency based in Thornton Heath please CAT me for a health warning

We have used Sitters when we have been at hotels for weddings and need a baby sitter and they have been fine. I am parnoid on safety and insisted they send me a registered childminder. They are nationwide, their website will tell you if there's good medium or poor coverage in your area. You pay a registration fee and then a subscription fee 4 times a year, and then a charge each time you use a baby sitter, so it's cheaper if you use them a lot.

I haven't needed to use them regularly and at home. At the weddings they have showed up on time, been pleasant, and sat nicely in a dark hotel bedroom while the DCs snored in their beds...

I get babysitting work from one of the nanny agencies I'm registered with. They should have a CRB, and first aid and references.

I've used sitters as well. No complaints. And I love that they do the calling around to find someone.

I have no idea, but it can't hurt to ask.

FifFio asked:
"will sitters consider children with special needs?"

According to their FAQ, NO they won't.

Some nannies and childminders however will have some special needs experience, so contact someone privately, via posting on mumsnet, or via a site such as FindASitter.co.uk (which shows in listings if the sitter will care for a child with special needs).

As a babysitter (link to my Mumsnet Ad), I care for children with autism. So if you are in my area (West Surrey, East Berkshire, North Hampshire) do get in touch to discuss your requirements.

A good agency will have checked references and ensured that the sitters are first aid qualified (and in my experience they are usually childcare qualified too). They will also tend to match you with 2 or 3 sitters so that you have some continuity rater than getting someone different each time.

Eemie - was your experience with LM&M out of interest?

Yes sitters will baby sit for SN children - I am a childminder (was a nanny) and I look after two SN children through sitters - so it is worth ringing to ask in case they have someone who can help.

Good luck