24 Apr 2013

Tips on Finding (and Keeping) a Great Babysitter

Founded by four busy parents, UrbanSitter is an online resource where parents go to find & book babysitters recommended by people they know. (Sponsored post)
Screen Shot 2013-04-23 at 8.49.29 PMAre your Saturday nights met with an exhausted flop on the couch and a feeling
of regret over not finding a babysitter (again)? If so, try one of these strategies.

1. Ask a (true) friend. Now, we all know that good sitters are kept close to the
heart. Your mom friends will most likely be reluctant to pass along names and numbers. But here’s an idea: UrbanSitter automatically connects you to hundreds of sitters through your friends and parenting associations (YMCA, child’s school, mother’s groups). So, you get that element of trust along with the digital ease of scheduling jobs online.

2. Post a “Babysitter Wanted” on your local college or university’s job board. Young people pursuing a degree are also often looking for part-time work. And you could strike gold by securing a sitter majoring in early childhood development. Better yet (and faster): Why not post a job on UrbanSitter? It takes only minutes and you can then choose from the sitters who respond.

3. Find a babysitter who has experience with your kids’ age group. If you have an infant, but the neighborhood’s star sitter has never cared for a child under 3, you have a problem. Do your homework and find a sitter who’s qualified. Or, try UrbanSitter, which lets you filter by several categories: experience, hourly rate, location, response time, languages, and more. This way, you get exactly what you want.

4. Don’t break the bank. If you are on a tight budget, but feeling a little spent (emotionally and physically), take solace in the fact that not all sitters are $20 an hour. Most babysitters base their hourly rate on their experience level. If you’re comfortable giving a “green” sitter your business, go for it! Trust your gut, of course, but sometimes a new-to-the-game sitter is very dedicated and determined to do a fantastic job. Also, a sitter might reduce her hourly rate if the children will be asleep the majority of the time. And one child is always cheaper. Perhaps consider taking the 5 year old, but leaving the baby. We all know caring for one child feels like a vacation. Another option: Search UrbanSitter for sitters who charge less and interview them. When you have hundreds of sitters to choose from, you’re sure to find one who has experience yet charges a reasonable rate. And you can negotiate!

So give UrbanSitter a try. It’s a brand new way of thinking about babysitters, and just may become your new best friend.

Tags: , , , ,


What's trending

Comments are closed.

Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com
Add to Flipboard Magazine.