Can anybody recommend a good babysitting agency?

[TraceyP]

Sorry if this has been done before ...

DH and I desperately need some time together but our families aren't much help babysitting wise so we have decided that we should try to get a babysitter. Has anyone tried sitting agencies, are they any good, who are the best ones to try?

Thanks for any help you can give, O wise Mumsnetters ...

Anyone?

Hello TraceyP. We have used Sitters for the last 2 years and have always had excellent service from them. Now we have 2 regular sitters from them and have a very good relationship with them both. Sitters say that all their staff have experience caring for children. So you get au pairs, former nannies, nursery nurses, teachers etc. They are very efficient and pleasant on the phone. There's a joining fee of about 12 quid and then it's roughly £5 an hour and £6 on a Saturday.
And you get to go out and HAVE FUN!!!

Going out and having fun - I remember that ...

Thanks Welshmum.

TraceyP, our ex-nanny was (and still is) a sitter for Sitters. She was fully vetted when she applied. She is lovely.

Thanks Kayleigh. I've googled Sitters and can't find them! Do they have a website I could check out, do you know?

Anybody else?

If you go to the Mumsnet members discount page there is a link to Sitters (with some money off the joining fee too!).

Where are you based? I use a local agency that covers some of S/SE London. Could your council childcare service advise?

Sitters number is 0800 389 0038 - that's a national number - they should be able to help you out. Good luck

We're in the Midlands, don't know whether our local council childcare service can advise but I'll certainly give it a go. Thank you.

have you tried www.nannyjob.co.uk or www.findasitter.co.uk? Both are sites that list professional childcarers who also babysit