babysitting circles

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

Has anyone got any experiences of setting up/being part of one? We're very lucky in having 2-3 good regularpaids sitters and retired in laws who will travel 200 miles to help but have been chatting to other less well provided for (and less able to pay) friends from NCT who wondered about setting up a babysitting circle. Several have neurotic husbands who don't like the idea of someone being paid to look after their child (don't get it at all) but would like the idea of another mum helping out and would reciprocate. I used to have a loose arrangement with a neighbour where I used to live but as this might get bigger and more formal I think we need some rules (and I need to know if I am losing the plot completely to be considering setting it up)

The ones I have heard of round here didnt work because some folk took the piss and went out all the time and others didnt have much of a social life

we had one for a bit also NCT related - worked ok for a bit - then people moved/had another baby and it went quiet- we had little tickets - started with 3 i think -it was a standard time - 7.30 ish to 11ish - worth a try anyway - my parents were in one which lasted for years!

what a cracking idea! I wish i had thought of this years ago!

We are part of one, but it is slightly different as it is a daytime thing. We do it every other Sat from 4.30-7.30. There's 4 families with 10 kids of differing ages. Each time 2 couples look after the 10 kids (8 of them are over 3!). I like it as the kids get to interract and become like brothers and sisters over time. We get 3 hours off to do anything, go for a walk, catch up on housework, go to Ikea, whatever. I think if it is a rota, it is easier to make sure it's fair.

I used to run one (army base overseas though), and we used tokens. When you joined, you were given say 10 tokens, each worth an hour each. You then earned a token an hour each time you babysat. We used to have regular (wine & nibbles) meetings so that we could get to know each other. I lived in a very transient community and therefore the meetings were necessary on a regular basis. I can't remember whether any money changed hands for the initial tokens though.

I must share a funny story about one of my babysitting sessions. The couple I sat for were quite new to the area so I didn't know them that well, anyhow on their way out, they said help yourself to snacks etc, and that there were videos by the tv for me to watch. Imagine my surprise when I found a whole pile of porn! I was a bit errm shocked to say the least as the wife looked like a bit of a churchmouse sort .