baby sitting circle

[PODGE5FB]

hello, i'm trying to set up a babysitting circle in my area. is there anyone that has done this succesfully, or belongs to one, that could give me a few tips on how to manage it. thanks.

Hi ! Yep I'm in one - although I had thought they'd died out in my childhood!

we join by invitationo nly - i.e. - you only introduce people to it that you are on more than waving terms with. We meet up every month or so at someone's house - pay the hostess £1, she supplies WINE and nibbles and we all get chatting and roll home about midnight! It's a good way to eet the other Mums in the group so that they aren't strangers if you ask them to do a sit for you.
We have a list of everyone's names, phone number and ages of children When you need a sitter you give one a call and ask if she can do your date.

When the sit has been done - the sitter rings/emails the person holdign The Book and tells them how long they sat for and for whom. They are then credited with these hours and you are debited. If you leave the group you have to be on zero hours. You get double time after 12 on a Sat and after 11 on a weekday.

Hope this helps - it's been a great way to get to know people for me (and rate them according to the yumminess of the biscuits they leave for you of course! )

I'm in one too-think its great! Ours works slightly differently in that we have 'tokens' as currency - each token worth half an hour - you are given a certain number of hours when you join and have to return them when you leave. There's a monthly meeting (no wine though!!) where people get together and try to arrange most sits for the coming month. There are around a dozen active members and this seems to be enough to keep the balance of supply and demand! Members are invited to join by people who are already in the circle.
It works well - think this particular circle had been going for years - they are a great idea - free, trustworthy sitters when you need them!!
Good luck sorting yours out.

thanks for your suggestions elliot and finbar. it's given me some ideas for beginning to set the circle up. now looking forward to nights out!