How do I find an overnight babysitter?

[birthdayfood]

I’ve been shortlisted for an industry award in a few weeks time, with the award ceremony on the other side of the country. This will likely be really beneficial for my career & I’m desperate for a new job, plus my boss has spent ££ on the tickets so I really do need to go.

But we live very far from any family & friends, and (tween) DD is ND and really doesn’t want to stay at any of her friends houses (for valid reasons tbh - lots of friendship dramas going on atm!).

She’s v high functioning & independent, and is totally fine with me going as long as she stay in her own house with her own routine.

There’s only one overnight babysitter in the area listed on childcare.co.uk, who hasn’t responded to my message.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Feels a bit weird posting on FB, though obviously I’ll ask for a DBS/ references. We also have lovely next door neighbours who she could always go to if there was any trouble, but she wouldn’t want to stay with them unless it was an Emergency & I wouldn’t ask as they’re v elderly.

Thinking slightly out of the box, could she go with you and stay in the hotel room with room service while you're at the event?

That's what I would do if it wouldn't cause problems with schooling. You could make it into a bit of little trip together before you had to go home too. As she's independent would she be happy as Larry watching TV and ordering room service? You'll only be downstairs if she needed anything.

Ahh forgot to say it’s SATS week (which I’ve been playing down but in her head they’re a vvvv big deal & basically A Levels!) - it’s on the Thursday night & no tests on the Friday but the class is going to the cinema/ beach as a well done & she’d be heartbroken to miss that. Otherwise I’d just take her to stay with our family down south for the night.

We have a road WhatsApp group chat here for this sort of thing. Always people posting on it for babysitters. Do you have similar? Otherwise there’s a site called Sitters.co.uk that people use. Or can ask at the local nursery or preschool if any of their staff do overnight babysitting

Is there an adult she knows and trusts from anywhere like an after school club or previous nursery?
i wouldn’t get a complete stranger in overnight, I think your options are really friends or take her with you.

The friendship dramas will have passed in a few weeks

No babysitter. Friends or nothing. I wouldn't let a stranger babysit my child.

Congratulations on the nomination!

Is there a TA that she gets on well with at school? Could you ask them? Or after school club staff might be interested?

Failing that, I would try a local babysitting agency or babysitters not listed as "overnight" as they might be up for it. I would book for a trial evening first

I’d go alone. Leave dd with husband.

no brainer really

Not everyone has a husband!

is there a local Nanny Agency? They often do temporary nannies or know nannies looking for extra work.

Why are you assuming it’s a no brainer she’s got a husband when she’s clearly not mentioned one?

I get the impression there’s a dad. Op would have said single parent

OP?

If this was me, id ask my Mum to come up for a night or 2.

So, would any of your family come visit?
Any chance her father would?

Op it’s in a few weeks. I can’t almost guarantee that the friendship dramas will be a long distant memory

If you have won the award, then you’ve won it. It won’t be removed from you because you can’t attended. And if you’re desperate for a new job, you don’t need to be too fussed about what your boss thinks

I hadn’t seen other posts so was repeating what many had said.

SATS says Y9, so do you have a friend or is there a friend of dd with an older sister friend of yours with an older dd who would stay with her?

My dd hates staying away from home so I absolutely get your dilemma. I am lucky that dh (her stepdad) is around now, but when she was younger it was a nightmare as my old job had me away from home several nights a month (hence old job).

Does she do any clubs that you could ask for someone who might help out from?

Attending this kind of event can be very important for your visibility, networking etc. it's not just about the award itself

Have a look on Facebook and see if there's a local nanny page. Nanny's often do overnights - what we call 'proxy parenting ' Won't be a particularly cheap option and you obviously still need to check all their credentials but you should find someone who is dbs checked, has first aid training and has plenty of references etc

OP would have said if there was a dad in the house that was available.

If she had a husband do you really think she would be asking?

Her DD is a tween not teen so it’s y6 SATS

Yep but she’d still get the award to out on her cv

Loads of people wouldn’t want to go alone. Guaranteed