How do I get a babysitter?

[Newbie232]

I've never actually met anyone who has a babysitter. I'm just looking for someone cheap who can watch the kids for 1-2hours whilst I go out with DH or someone to watch them at home whilst I can revise for an exam upstairs.

Does anyone have any ideas?...

Local Facebook page search babysitting. Check out childcare.co.uk for local people advertising babysitting services. TA's at your DCs school perhaps? Obviously go on recommendations and check our first aid training etc.

Most people I know who used people outside the family used staff from their child's nursery or school is that an option?

Oh dear we’re struggling - they’re not cheap where we are - Berkshire - and they’ve got an attitude too some of them.

Have a look in Bubble.

*on Bubble

Care. Com.. I am on there! You can interview /ask for references /dbs.. And look at reviews from their previous families....

Oh don't say that 😭... Maybe I should wait. Dc's are still small.

I think I have to subscribe to care. Com

Don't be scammed into the chargeable account... Free signed up people can send messages to other free members....

Bubble app. My sister found someone really lovely on there.
A lot of the sitters already work in childcare, have childcare qualifications and DBS checks.
They aren't cheap but unless you hire a local teen you won't get lucky in that respect. It has to be worth the sitters time also.

I'm just having a look at bubble... Don't think I could leave the kids it seems a bit strange now.

Is it strange to leave a 1yo and 2yo with a babysitter. I think it is. I think I need to pay a family member 😂

Got any friends with teens? That's who I use. Got 3 teens I can use that are all friends teen DDs and usually 1 is available if I need them.

A few hours in the day (especially if you're just upstairs) is fine. Evenings I'd suggest getting them tucked up in bed and asleep before you leave. Only if they sleep through though!

I have amazing SIL's who are young but I feel bad to ask them. They won't take any form of payment... My sister just gave me a good idea. She said give them your deliveroo login instead.

Babysitting circle? My mum used to do this with her friends - trade a night that you’ll babysit (DH at home with kids I assume) for one someone else will. She used to ring someone down the road who had a little notebook to keep track of who had credits for babysitting!

Look for a local babysitting agency.
contact a local nursery ask if any of the staff do babysitting
my sister babysits through sitters for some extra cash. They are vetted, police check etc.

Dont you have any friends with whom you could do a reciprocal arrangement? I was in a huge babysitting circle - you earned points for sitting and then paid other members with the points when you wanted to go out. but we also had friends with whom we would take turns. We also used teenagers when the DC were a bit older and when they were teenagers they babysat in their turn.

Sitters.co.uk

All DBS checked and reviewed, used them loads, never had a bad experience

Definitely recommend local Facebook groups. Search babysitting town name. Or families town name and then post asking for recommendations. Where I live there's loads of teens and qualified childcare professionals offering services at various prices. My daughter has been babysitting since age 14 and now a professional nanny.

If you're in the house I'd say a teenager would be totally fine. If you want reassurance and you need to actually go out then choose a DBS /qualified person. Obviously it will be more expensive.

None of my friends have babies 😭

@Farting

what would you be happy paying & how much are they asking?

Are you in London? We use Sitting Pretty.

Another option is ask neighbours and friends (eg do you have a neighbourhood what's app group?) if any of them had a nanny or au pair who might like a few extra hours of evening babysitter work occasionally.

Local teenagers are also an option, eg A level student happy to sit and study or watch TV in your living room while the kids sleep.

At that age, we always put DC to bed and got the babysitter for after they were asleep, eg 8-10pm. The only thing the babysitter would have had to do is get them out of the house if they had been an emergency eg a fire (there never was).