How on earth do I find a babysitter in London??

[IlanaK]

I have decided I need a babysitter for 2 hours once a week so I can get on with the work I need to do at home. I am not a trusting person and it has taken me a while to decide to get a babysitter. AS I will be around, I can keep an eye on things.

I just did a google search and the agencies that do babysitting seem to see it as an evening thing only.

I am in central london - how on earth do I get a day time babysitter for such minimal hours???

You really want to work from references. Do you know anyone with kids locally? You might be able to use a nanny who only has kids after school etc.

Oh, what part of Central London are you? If it's E or NE, I might know someone who could do this for you, drop me a CAT. She has kids before and after school, but none during the day, generally. She took care of DS2 for 6 hours/week for a few months.

Definitely ask around as it might suit the nanny of a family known to you, or maybe an older aupair with a little extra time free from her own "family" if you're going to be around too.

Unfortunately, I have already asked around and come up with nothing.

My husband said he saw some cards in the local tesco from students looking for babystiing. We are right across from a Uni so maybe I should start there?

Do you need the person to be in sole charge? If not, you might be able to get someone who's training to be a nanny?

Is the NCT active near you? You might be able to get someone recommended via there?

Or you could look on netmums?

I use two childminders in south london who do on average between 3/4 hours a week - this allows me to work in the evenings a couple of nights a week term time and do a driving lesson. I was lucky as one i knew from the gym i went to and one used to look after ds1 after school but i did phone some others from the council list and a couple were interested but at quite high hourly rates