Setting Up A Baby Sitting Service

[Lbet]

I am a self employed cleaner, I work alone and have several regular customers.
My two adult children have now grown up with the oldest just finishing uni and the youngest just started uni.

I only work part time hours to suit myself.
I am now finding that I have a lot more time on my hands.
I have been helping a customer over the last 6 weeks doing the school run for her 4 year old daughter whilst her mum is recovering from a knee op.

I have found I have quite enjoyed this role more so than the cleaning as that can be heavy work for a 58 year old at times.
I am thinking of adding in a baby sitting service to my role. I think this could be good for parents who need weekend babysitting or in the week for things like when they have events to go to or parents evening at school etc.
I know lots of young parents who I could ask to promote my service to their friends and family.
I would only babysit for parents that I have know or have had me recommended.

What do you guys think?

I would of course get a DBS done.

Be ware that you may need to register as a childminder to be paid to look after under 8s:

https://www.gov.uk/become-childminder-nanny

I’ve not heard of that with babysitters before if anyone else can clarify. Also it won’t be in my own home so how will that work? I will do my research though.

Have now checked and there are no legal requirements for babysitters.

Although the may not be legally needed I would look into things thar would be classed as best practice,
Insurance,
First aid
Is their a babysitting register?
Will you be taking the children to and from places in your car ? If so look into car seats / brand / size / ease of use.

Really Don’t think those things are required as it is down to the parents who they choose to babysit their children. As I mentioned I will only be babysitting for parents who I know or who I have been recommenced to.

It is only the same as what teenage babysitters only I have lots of experience having had two of my own and previous jobs I have worked in.

No won’t be taking them anywhere in the car, most times it’s going to be a couple of hours here and there mainly weekends.

To be perfectly honest I wouldn’t hire someone who didn’t sort out all the proper stuff like insurance, registering correctly, first aid, food hygiene etc. You literally mentioned the school run in your OP, I’d want to be really sure that you could keep my child safe and this sounds dodgy as all fuck and potentially cash in hand (not legit with HMRC). It’s different with a teen as it’s usually short duration/one offs with older kids, usually someone the kids already know, and she can usually ring her mum or dad if she needs help. My children are the most important thing in my life, I wouldn’t just leave them with a random who’s made no effort/unqualified for the job, that’s a local news article just waiting to happen.

Firstly what vile language you put out you must be proud.
Secondly absolutely don’t blame you at all because yes our children are our world.

You have obviously haven’t read that I am self employed and this would be an extra service I will be offering to my regular customers, family and friends only who I have been recommended to, therefore will be part of my tax return.

So I suggest you run along and go and pick up your toys you have thrown out if your pram.

You don’t need to register as a childminder as you don’t offer a service of looking after children from your own premises.

you’ll get a lot of clueless people now telling you how it works but they don’t have any idea.

You really need to get a DBS and register it to the update service. You should do a paediatric first aid course and be prepared to renew this every three years.

You don’t need to be Ofsted registered. I’ve been a nanny for 17 years and I’m not because it has zero benefit to me.

You can take out your own private insurance at around £6 a month.

She’s got a point though. Are you insured as a cleaner? Assuming you are, why wouldn’t you get insurance as a babysitter? Have you done any children’s first aid? Do you have a DBS check?

Thank you this is really useful.

I have business insurance for my cleaning service's but obviously that won’t cover the babysitting but at £6 a month that is will be worth it.

Thanks so much as it’s this kind of advice that is useful.

Yes I do have insurance for my cleaning business.

Hi I’m a registered childminder - go for it. As long as you are looking after the children in their own home and not yours then it’s fine. If I were you, I’d probably just get a DBS and even a paediatric first aid certificate - just so you’d know what to do if a child choked/became unwell etc. Make sure that you set firm rules about what you are doing and what you’re not - I’d imagine you might get a few cheeky people wanting a full house clean whilst looking after their kids 😬.

I think it sounds a great idea.

Definitely worth doing a first aid course too. We have a couple of mature women in our area who are babysitters and they’re very popular.

🤣Never thought of that the cheek of it.
I have done a paediatric first aid course as I worked in a school for 12 years but that is something I could do with updating.

Thank you

Personally I think a lot of parents would jump at the chance to have their childcare and cleaning combined! I only officially do ‘child related duties’ as a nanny but if I ever have time/I like the parents I’ll upload the dishwasher of their stuff, make a big portion of pasta bake or whatever or fold everyone’s laundry and they’re always very grateful!

But yes the above poster is right- you do get some chancers! I’d just put toddler twins down for an hour’s nap once on a 12 hour shift and the mum came bustling in with a list of things I could do ‘while I had some down time’ things like sorting through their too small clothes, cleaning all their toys etc.

I said while I get some ‘down time’ I’ll be eating my sandwich and recharging thank you 😅

Sounds great!

You sound like you know what you are doing, certainly more reliable than a 17 year old or a language student who barely speaks english.

That a great idea to offer babysitting. Youre doing it the right way with insurance etc.

I think a lot of people struggle now with before school and after school pick up and drop off. A lot of places have shut and some childminders no longer operate. That alongside fewer buses due to less passengers as people are working at home, and it’s a problem in some areas.

I always wondered if there would be a niche in the market for a school ‘train’ ie walking to school with a few children joining up on the way. We no longer have one here but I don’t know why.

I also haven’t thought through the ins and outs but I’m sure a lot of people would like to not have to walk their children down themselves daily, especially if they have a new baby or rushing for the bus to work etc. But that might be a two person job, one at the front of the ‘train’ and one at the back. And someone to cover if you’re sick yourself one day and can go.

But your idea sounds good. Why not.

Ah yes I can imagine this could happen. I think you need that break the children just to recharge so you stick to having your sandwich.

Go for it. I think there's definitely a market for more mature baby sitters. Older women do tend to have more time in the evenings (unless you have a ton of hobbies). I do pet sitting as a side gig now my teen is older.
Yes I'm insured and have veterinary experience and submit my tax returns 😂. If I didn't prefer animals I'd consider baby sitting myself.

Thank you for all the positve replies and some good advice.

To be honest what gave me the idea was that my 20 year old daughter was the one babysitting for my customers and their friends and family. She has now gone off to uni and they are all saying how they miss her being there to babysit. I feel sorry for parents who can’t have nights out or have to juggle things like parents evening between them because they don’t have anyone who could babysit. That’s what got me thinking of it being a service that I could add onto my cleaning business.
I was only in the way of thinking it would be just for parents that I know or who they recommend me to because at least they will know I am someone who can be trusted. I have cleaned for many of my customers for some years. My daughter even babysat for our neighbours and now they have no one.

Dog sitting is also a great idea if you have spare time.
You have got me thinking now as I love dogs too😂

School run doesn’t have to be in a car. I think it’s a good idea @Lbet.

You could charge a higher rate if your clients wanted a bit of ironing/cleaning done at the same time as babysitting…?

Now that is a great idea. I was thinking the kids will be in bed and I could just sit on my backside😱