Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.
Childcare
Has anyone ever used a domesti babysitting service? Can you reccomend one?
Charlee · 15/08/2007 13:46
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.
annetteljones · 15/08/2007 20:01
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.
fridayschild · 15/08/2007 20:12
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...
FioFio · 16/08/2007 07:57
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
nannynick · 17/08/2007 12:54
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.
Ladymuck · 17/08/2007 13:05
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?
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