What would you do if you were me

[sophiapen]

I used this babysitter a few times in the past and she's a really lovely girl, very caring etc. Last week I've asked her if she could babysit for us again for a few hours. She said she'd love to do it so I booked her for that day. She's messaged me 2 days before to say she has now accepted another job where she can get more hours so has to cancel on me unfortunately. I didn't even get the chance to match those hours etc. I can afford it but she didn't ask me. I am trying to find someone else last minute now but more importantly I'm not sure if I should book her again or expect this could keep happening? If anyone has any similar experience with babysitters, please share with me.

Huh?

She’s a babysitter
She’s taken a longer job
She prob just needs every penny
Leave her be and don’t judge her for following the money
she gave you decent notice

Who said I'm judging her ? Yes, she needs the money. I could have added a few more hours for her to match the other job but she did not ask me.

I don't see why she would've asked you, she probably assumed if you needed her for extra hours you would've asked HER. no experience with babysitters but I guess different baby sitters want all kinds of different things, part time, full time etc

I would not use her again. This is a common scenario for good sitters. Cancelling on previously booked clients is not the norm.

Meh. Clients cancel sitters far more often and expect to not have to pay.

I wouldnt contact her again no.

If I have a good experience with her and she handles my baby with attentive care, I might give her another chance. It would be better if you could talk to her and set proper expectations, and get her to agree with your terms. Talk about what happens if she suddenly cancels her booking with you without giving you enough time to find a replacement. Baby sitters would often accept jobs that might overlap with another babysitting schedule, so always prepare plan B.

Yes it’s a bit off and unprofessional to cancel you for another job paid more

in the ideal world she could and should have contacted you and said she had been offered a longer babysit and could you match it

2 days notice isn’t a lot

equally many families do cancel with 1-2 days notice which is just as annoying if you have turned down other work