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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Does anyone else out there not have ANYONE they can ask to babysit? Haven't been out together for almost 2 years now, and it's getting me down...

58 replies

GreenGlassGoblin · 02/01/2008 09:51

That's it really. Family all live 80-100 miles away, no close friends, NCT antenatal group lovely and we still meet up, but although we've talked a few times about starting a babysitting circle all the others have friends/family who babysit for them regularly already, so nothing has happened. What can I do? DH and I haven't been out together since DS was born, and he'll be 2 in a couple of months...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bozza · 02/01/2008 12:20

NannyL babysitting is really quite easy work though isn't it? If my two were in bed before we went out (they are 6 and 3) there would be literally nothing to do. It is not the same as daytime nannying which is obviously pretty full on and demanding.

nannyL · 02/01/2008 13:41

true...

hence i normally charge significant less than my day time nannying rate.

£7.50 IS significantly less than my day time nannying rate, and when babysitting where i work i always end up unloading dishwasher / tidying playroom etc, but i accept that is completely my choice

fizzbuzz · 02/01/2008 14:10

GreenglassGoblin, whereabouts in S>Yorks are you. I teach secondary school in Sheffield, with 100's ( 1800 on roll (not all girls though!)of really lovely girls who are desperate to babysit, and I mean some of them are really lovely, responsible, want to be doctors or peadatricians (sp?) etc.

Email me if you want at catms2005 at yahoo dot co dot uk. Let me know if you email me as I don't check it v often.

I have millions of babysitters to choose from!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Original poster

GreenGlassGoblin · 02/01/2008 14:15

fizzbuzz, that's a great offer. Will run the idea past dh when he gets home tonight. am about to email you so you know where we are!

OP posts:

AbbeyA · 02/01/2008 14:17

I got my first babysitting job by a teacher asking at school who lived near her friend and wanted to babysit.
When I was a single parent I advertised in the paper-I got 3 really nice girls. I got them to apply by letter which tells you a lot and then had them around to interview when my DS was there. You can tell a lot by talking to them e.g one was Head Girl at her school.
When I could I belonged to a circle-try starting one.

fizzbuzz · 02/01/2008 14:44

Haven't received anything yet...don't tell me Yahoo is playing silly buggers again.....

Original poster

GreenGlassGoblin · 02/01/2008 14:47

Just checked outbox and it's sent, so should be with you soonish (via the outer mongolian servers, no doubt)

OP posts:

fizzbuzz · 02/01/2008 17:34

Still not arrived.....do you want to put yours on, so I can email you

I teach in SW of Sheffield if that's any help

fizzbuzz · 02/01/2008 17:44

You were in Spam!!! Have replied.

needmorecoffee · 02/01/2008 17:52

we don't have anyone either and its been over 4 years
dd is severely disabled so there's no-one to ask.

LeonieD · 02/01/2008 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ChasingSquirrels · 02/01/2008 19:17

ask one of the NCT people anyway - my mum and dad are nearby now so they will have the boys for me, but I still sit for a friend now and then, and don't expect anything in return - I know that she will sit for me if I need her to, but I rarely do. The worst they can do it make an excuse and say no, the best - you get a night out!

nannynick · 02/01/2008 19:41

If it is of help to anyone, NannyJob has a system for finding nannies who will babysit. They are not an agency, just a search facility, so you make all arrangements with the nanny directly. When contacting nannies, if you ask them if they are Ofsted Register or SureStart Approved - and they say yes - then you can be reassured that they have a recent CRB check and have First Aid training. You should always ask to see qualifications / training certificates.

needmorecoffee - FindASitter has the facility to see which baby sitters have special needs experience. Also, ask your DDs regular carers - as they may want to babysit on occasion, or know of other local people in the same line of work who could babysit.

As a babysitter myself, I find that I get most of my enquiries via parents doing a search on Google. Plus local families often see my car around the place (there is a pic on my profile for those of you who are wondering what my car looks like).

Original poster

GreenGlassGoblin · 02/01/2008 19:56

So many helpful ideas here - thanks everyone. Needmorecoffee, I don't know what to say - it's not the same situation is it? Really wish I could wave that magic wand.

OP posts:

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 02/01/2008 19:57

Hubby nad I have had dinner out twice since DS1 was born. He is nearly 7. It is hard.

sb6699 · 03/01/2008 14:27

We have found it impossible since we moved 300 miles from friends and family 18 months ago.

We have had a couple of teenagers put notes through the door advertising their services but I wouldn't be confident a 16 year old could cope with my 3 terrors!!!

At DD1's nursery the ladies all have children of their own so don't really think that would be an option.

Usually we try to escape when family come to visit which is a bit rude but they're pretty understanding.

Might have a look at that Sitters site but not sure our budget is up to much atm.

stealthsquiggle · 03/01/2008 14:39

I am trying to get around to / get the courage to ask at DD's nursery, as my DM will babysit if asked, but I feel I use up all those favours when we need to go somewhere (work) and have none left for when we want to. I know the nursery staff all have their own DC, but also think that some of them are old enough to be left (or can be left with a DP) so I am hopeful...

GGG the alternative suggestion of "lunch dates" is also good. When things are going well with DH and I (like not now) we occasionally take a day/ half day off and go somewhere really nice for lunch while DC are at school/nursery - much less faff and expense than finding an evening babysitter.

AbbeyA · 03/01/2008 16:40

sb6699, it would at least be worth finding out more about the teenagers that put the note through-it doesn't commit you to anything. If they are responsible and have a mother a few doors away(to call on in an emergency) it might be worth trying.

Dinosaur · 03/01/2008 16:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

indiechick · 03/01/2008 16:55

We have one of the nursery nurses. Not only is she qualified, she's known dd for 2 years now, so totally trustworthy. DD loves her to come and babysit. But you're right it adds about £15/20 to the evening, hence we only do it once a month.

expatinscotland · 03/01/2008 17:01

Us.

DH's family live a very long 80 miles away and are in poor health, so not able to sit even when we were nearby.

My folks are thousands of miles away.

We live in a pretty rural area with a lot of retirees, so no one at all to babysit.

We get a break when my folks visit us.

By the time they came and relieved us for a night it had been nearly 2 years since we'd been out.

But now I've joined some folks to play some music once a month.

sweetkitty · 03/01/2008 17:12

Add us too

We are about 45 miles away from family although mileage doesn't really matter as they wouldn't babysit anyway. Both my Mum, stepdad, Dad and MIL are the kind of come and see them every few months sit on sofa drink tea, say oh haven't they grown they levae after a few hours.

It's not so much having a night out with DP although that would be nice but if I need to go anywhere during the day i.e. for a scan for this baby, the dentist, antenatal appts, the vets, I either have to take the DDs or DP take a day off work.

Can't see the situation getting any better as we will soon have DB3 and not many people would be happy with 3 under 5 including one baby.

Twiglett · 03/01/2008 17:13

what can you do?

just call up the person you are closest to in the NCT group and say "We'd like to go out on xxx, is there any chance you could babysit"

they'll say yes .. if they say no, then call next person

and then you owe them a babysit

et voila .. .babysitting circle .. how else do you think it starts?

Twiglett · 03/01/2008 17:14

I find we can't afford to go out and pay for a babysitter (at £5 an hour min) .. so we always use friends

choosyfloosy · 03/01/2008 17:15

plenty of ideas here - maybe one other - if your NCT mates don't need babysitting, maybe you could offer something else? e.g. ironing, gardening, trip to the dump recycling centre with their stuff? you could lay your cards on the table with them and say you could really do with help with babysitting, and is there anything they would like help with? It only takes one other person to link up with to get at least a night out every couple of months, which makes a huge difference I find. Hope you get somewhere with this.

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