How do you find a babysitter?

[floridaminnie]

Need a new babysitter and was wondering how ya'll go about to finding one.

 

[cabmom]

Try your local church. Ask them if they will put an ad up for you to find a babysitter amongst their teens.

Or try the high schools!

Good luck.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I've called local colleges who seem to have a listing of students looking to babysit. Haven't actually hired any of them though. I've always been able to use friends and/or their kids to watch DS. Plus there's a great organization online I've looked into and almost used. Hope it helps!!

http://phoneababysitter.com

It's strange to find these things online! LOL! There's actually an agency specific to Virginia that I was thrilled with. But that wouldn't help you being in FL. Good luck!

 

[debster812]

Also--if there are any Day Care Centers in your area, call and speak to the Director, to see if any of the staff does babysitting off hours. We used some of the teachers from DS's center, and was very happy. A big plus, they are all state certified, have first aid and CPR.

Good Luck!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by debster812
Also--if there are any Day Care Centers in your area, call and speak to the Director, to see if any of the staff does babysitting off hours. We used some of the teachers from DS's center, and was very happy. A big plus, they are all state certified, have first aid and CPR.

Good Luck!

I've done that! I was really happy with one, although she charged an astronomical amount of money so I basically used her when I was stuck.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i used to get al ot of babysitting jobs from the day care i work at..i still get offers to babysit, but now i have a steady babysitting job every day after work..i love it!

 

[ChristmasElf]

Ask a few friends who they use, before our oldest 2 were old enough to babysit, we would ask friends, or neighbors who they used.
Worked for us!!

I remember babysitting for 50 cents an hour! Some people paid 1 dollar an hour and there would be 3 kids!

I always thought I was rich when I would be gone all evening and get paid with a five dollar bill!!!
Nowadays, sitters get that per hour, with only 2 kids to watch.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I use high school girls from our church.

Lori

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I always use the local churches. I really didnt want any neighborhood kids because they talk to their friends about what you have in your house, when you are away etc. Cant trust them too much.

 

[winniedapooh]

I have always been lucky enough to use kids from our church. With DS-15 and DD-14 I am letting them watch the younger ones for a few days a week for a few weeks this summer. I am not sure how it will work out, but my in laws live next door and are always willing to help out if they can.

 

[Kallison]

Well once in desparation I sat at our bus stop and abducted one!

Usually I would get them through the youth group kids at church. Thankfully we are now pretty much out of the sitter stage.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Check with your local Red Cross. They usually keep a list of people wo have been through their babysitting courses including child and infant CPR.

My neighborhood does a monthly newsletter which has a babysitter list. The nice thing about the list is all the sitters live in the neighborhood. Very convenient.

 

[Bichon Barb]

When my boys were little, my parents or DH's parents babysat them.

But now that they are older (8 and 10), our 13 year old neighbor watches them for a few hours. We are friends with his parents, and they live four doors down, so if there is a problem, the parents are right there. We also bring a cell phone when we go out. We pay him $5.00 an hour (which he likes immensely!), so he knows he better do a good job or he'll lose the job.

If you have a hospital in your area which offers a babysitting course, you might want to ask them for names.

 

[Evil Princess]

Originally posted by ChristmasElf
Ask a few friends who they use, before our oldest 2 were old enough to babysit, we would ask friends, or neighbors who they used.
Worked for us!!

I remember babysitting for 50 cents an hour! Some people paid 1 dollar an hour and there would be 3 kids!

I always thought I was rich when I would be gone all evening and get paid with a five dollar bill!!!
Nowadays, sitters get that per hour, with only 2 kids to watch.

Wow, I stopped babysitting about three years ago but i was getting paid between 7 and 15 dollars an hour, depending on the family. Keep in mind that I never posted a price, it was whatever they offered me. Kind of wish I was still babysitting

I worked at a day camp and got alot of jobs from my girls telling their parents how much they liked me. Lots of my other families referred me to their friends. I would say ask your friends, go to your church, or look around your neighborhood.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Suzanne, you can probably also call the License Board - may be part of DCF. (my mother is a home day care provider and in Pinellas County the License Board will give out names and numbers to people needing day care providers. (oh and assuming this is full time and such....if you mean for nights out and such I always had babysitting jobs from the day care I worked at as well. Maybe you could call up a local day care and see if their employees do Babysitting.

I used to work for KinderCare - the employees have to pass a back ground check and have to be fingerprinted....well that goes for any day care.

 

[ahutton]

We've always used someone from our DDs day care center, that way they knew her and were comfortable. Another option would be to contact the head of the Child Development department at a local university or community college. Many run on site centers and will know of employees who are interested, some also have lists of students who are interested. At least then you know they are interested in more than money, that they like and can usually handle kids.

 

[Pop Daddy]

you cant do nothing until your little girl is 18

 

[floridaminnie]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
you cant do nothing until your little girl is 18

PD....I don't think so!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Going to call her old preschool this week. I have season hockey tickets this fall and need a good babysitter at night on a semi-regular basis. Her old babysitter is no longer babysitting.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by floridaminnie
PD....I don't think so!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Going to call her old preschool this week. I have season hockey tickets this fall and need a good babysitter at night on a semi-regular basis. Her old babysitter is no longer babysitting.

ask her old baby sitter if she knows of someone, might be cheaper