baby-sitter for five month old

[Heathcliffscathy]

dh and i would really like to establish a relationship with a regular baby sitter who is trained to deal with babies so that we can get out now and again without having to rely on my parents and all the accompanying guilt and interference that involves...i don't know where to start: ds is 5 months old and i would need to really trust whoever it was, am willing to pay good money, but would want to meet them and for them to spend time with the two of us first...any ideas very gratefully received

www.sitters.co.uk is good I believe, they vet people

Local childminders may also do this - I know mine does.

where do you live? where i live some babysitting circles exist, and so in exchange for you babysitting someone will babysit for you. Another idea is to contact a local college to see if someone is running an neab course, many of the students are more than happy to babysit for money, plus it gives with experience for there course.

live in putney...

I use sitters.co.uk and I'm in Hammersmith. We've used them half a dozen times when nanny can't sit, and have always had the same person (I now request her when I book). She's a trained nanny and absolutely fab. Would definitely recommend them. Quite reasonable too.

think i'd better sort out ds's night sleeping first (see disintegrating sleep pattern thread)! but thanks v much for advice re sitters, when things have calmed down a bit will try them!

Just in case anyone was thinking of taking up the sitters recommendation a reminder that mumsnet members get six months membership at sitters for the price of three. See members discounts page for details here

We also use sitters.co.uk and have two excellent ladies that we request. We left DS (6.5 months) when he was 3 months with total confidence that everything would be fine. When one of the sitters was ill at the last moment, the agency sorted a replacement - I wouldn't have been able to sort that without them.

I have used Sitters since DS was 5 months and recommend the service. I ask for and usually get the same woman (a mature nanny), but have also used a male babysitter from them (gasp!). I am in west London.

Sophable I lived in Putney till last year - just moved 1 mile down the road....

In fact am off there now! You must come to the next sw meetup