has anyone ever used a professional babysitting service?

[Ann]

having just lost our neighbour overseas & our regular nursery nurse has moved away we're down to one babysitter.
not good if she's really popular & can never do Saturdays.
Deciding to get a grip on life & refusing to spend the next 16/17 years in. I rang up for info on a company called "kiddicare" a professional babysitting service.Has anyone ever used them? Or know anyone who has?
I'm really wary but also wonder just how bad can they be compared to a nursery nurse I don't know very well.

i am also wondering the same thing. dont have a regular babysitter, and would like to know there is someone available, but i dont send my kids to nursery, so am worried in case they play up for the babysitter.

its not my DS's I'm worried about so much as who puts themselves forward to join a professional bsitting service. - someone who honestly loves children, or someone who loves them a bit too much....I keep thinking I'm being paranoid & that someone "real" must be using these services & find them OK
They did offer to let me meet one beforehand but that one wouldn't necessarily be the one who babysat.

i know what u mean. i dont know if i'd feel comfortable letting a stranger take care of my kids in my own house. its hard knowing what to do isnt it. what about babysitting circles? i think they do exsist, means u may have to babysit someone elses kids tho. not competely sure how they work.

I used to work for a babysitting/mothers help agency back in Aus and they screened the people very very carefully - I built up a list of a few families that I regularly babysat for - worked out really well - the kids got to know me and I got to know them and their routines.

I've used Sitters a lot. You have to go through the initial trauma of not knowing the person but they are very thoroughly checked and, in my experience, professional childchare people. I've had about three different sitters, but all were wonderful and we were never very far away. It is worrying, initially, but they were great and my dds were usually in bed anyway. I introduced the elder dd to the sitter when she was reluctant to go to bed and the sitter was brilliant - drew, played games etc. My dd told us to go ... as she was having a lot of fun. A lovely lady who bought little presents for them at Christmas. I'd rather have used someone I knew but it worked out really well for us - meet up first and trust your instincts.

I use a professional babysitting agency - it happens also to be a nanny agency. We tend to have the same 3 babysitters. They are all nannies or registered childminders. On their first appointment they turn up 15 minutes in advance so that you can question them (they also phone twice before the booking - once to confirm the booking, and you can have an initial interview over the telephone incl getting references). They also have folders with written references, details of qualifications and copies of first aid certificates (an agency requirement).

I have never been let down by them, and have felt comfortable even leaving a 6 week old with some of them as they are all qualified. In practice most of them are mums who no longer nanny full-time, but find this a good wy to make money - Here they get £5.50 per hour for a minimum of 4 hours and my 2 are usually in bed asleep for the full period.

The agency has 4 pages of terms etc setting out what can and cannot be expected of the babysitter, based on some years experience. It can look over the top but it covers most circumstances that could arise - I found that this was quite helpful as you knew that there were common expectations eg babysitters could be expected to supervise homework, cook tea etc... we need to provide refreshment for babysitter, meal if booking starts from 5pm....

The agency I use covers some of South London (Dulwich down to Coulsdon), so I can give details if that would help.