babysitter...how do I find one, and how much?

[mum2twinboys]

Hi there, I live on the London/Essex border, and am need of an occasional sitter, but do not know where to start to find one! We are new to the area, so have not met many people with children yet, so do not have the option of recommendations. My children are 3 year old twin boys, and an 8 month old daughter. We are mostly looking for evening babysitting for the odd night out, but occasionally need it on weekends for various business events for DH. I am looking for someone who is perhaps a bit older (than a young teen) or with more experience, as one of my sons is an insulin dependant diabetic.

Also, what is the going rate these days for a sitter in this area, does anyone know? I tried to do a Google search but did not come up with much. Do you get references etc from other clients of the sitters? I used to sit when I was a teenager, and it seemed so much easier than it seems to be now that I am a Mum. We have just moved from a small village up north where we had a lot of family around so never have really been in this situation with my own little ones.

Sorry for all the questions, but any ideas or advice would be much appreciated.

Before my niece became old enough to babysit for us, we used to use the nursery nurses from DD's nursery, they were happy to do the odd night and it was someone we trusted/DD was happy with - going rate for their services was £6 an hour (that was 2 years ago though). If your boys go to nursery it might be worth approaching their keyworker(s)?

I pay my niece £5 an hour as I feel guilty paying less, but I know it's more than her friends get for babysitting (think they get about £3 an hour).

Whereabouts are you? (welcome to London/Essex!) From the local NCT forum I know there's a babysitting agency that members have used, but have no idea what it charges/what they're like.Website here

Actually, if this isn't too weird, I'm in Ilford and would be happy to babysit the odd night (with notice!) on an exchange basis (ie that you'd do the odd night for me too!). I don't have much in the way of family down here (from the North originally) and I know how hard it can be. I've got a 4yr old DD, am not a nutter (well...) and other MNers can vouch that they've met me and I'm not a hairy-handed trucker...

There is a thread on here somewhere that I started that has all babysitters with the details of location, availability and rates will see if can find for you.

try looking on www.netmums.co.uk and www.nannyjob.co.uk, www.findababysitter.co.uk, www.gumtree.com

remember to check crb, certificates and references.

you will be looking to pay from £4 an hr for a local teenager upto £10 an hr for an experienced and qualified nanny.

Should have added many student nurses babysit so maybe worth contacting local university to ask if any of the 2nd or 3rd yr child branch students would be looking for part time work.

I am a qualified childrens nurse and do babysit/ad-hoc night nanny and alot of families I work for have children who are very sicky, prem babies or have other medical conditions and I charge £10-£12 an hr but am in east midlands so no where near you.

If you are not planning on going out very often, using an agency like Sitters can work out quite expensive - see Sitters v a Private Sitter Cost Comparison.

Given the age of your children a local nanny / nursery nurse may well be a good option - as they will generally be older, have childcare experience & childcare training, CRB check, First Aid training etc. You may be able to find them by doing a Google Search, looking through ads on Gumtree, looking on NannyJob or by looking at various other listing services such as FindaSitter (Note: you pay to access contact details).
You could also try the old style methods - such as putting a postcard sized advert in your local newsagents shop window. This can still work in small village locations.

Hard to know what rates are in your area, as I'm on the Surrey/Berkshire border where rates are quite high. In my area £10 per hour is not un-typical for a qualified childcarer.

Interview candidates by inviting them over to meet you and your children. Look through their Training Certificates and other paperwork, including written references. If you feel that you want to chat to some other families that the sitter works for, then ask the sitter for contact details of referees.

Thanks for all the suggestions, great idea for the nursing students. My biggest concern with leaving the kids is my DS who's diabetic, I have only ever left him with either my Mum who is an RN or with other family members with medical background, mainly because he is so young.
Am going to go and take a look at all the websites you have kindly suggested.
I have never heard of Gumtree before, but after taking a quick glance, looks like a great site, not just for sitters, but for everything under the sun!

Good luck with your hunt for a babysitter.

I know lots of the child branch student nurses placed with me are always looking for part time work but not alot fits in with there ward placements as shift work other than babysitting which is more flexible.

Sure if you rang the university and asked to speak to the child branch course leader and they would pass on your email/mobile number to a couple of interested ladies.

alternatively put an ad on gumtree saying student child branch nurse wanted for babysitting.

another benefit is, is that they are def CRB checked before going on placements so can be sure thats been done.

you would prob pay £7 an hr for student nurse in london.

interested ladies there could be men on the course you know