Why is it so hard to find a babysitter?

[ilovesugar]

So I normally have my 2 nieces watch my kids not only during the day, but every other Saturday night as well. They are heading back to college now and I am on the hunt for an every other weekend babysitter. It is not a hard or time-consuming job. Just need someone either Saturday or Sunday (open to hours and extremely flexible) every other weekend so that DH and I can continue our scheduled dates. We are open as far as pay goes and have never paid less than $10.00 per hour for any of our sitters.

I have found that most teens these days have no time for a job. I have had several tell me they are just to busy with extra activites that they just don't have the time to babysit.

I have asked mothers in my area and I swear to god nobody wants to give their babysitters info to any other mothers. It is like they think we want to steal away their care of something. It is just amazing.

I have thought of sittercity.com but don't know anything about it and don't want to pay the fee if it is not going to be worth it.

Cragislist is out because I just don't trust it.

So what does everyone do? How do you find a good sitter?

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I am in the same situation. Wish I could help. I'm going to try to find some girls from church.

 

[golfgal]

So I normally have my 2 nieces watch my kids not only during the day, but every other Saturday night as well. They are heading back to college now and I am on the hunt for an every other weekend babysitter. It is not a hard or time-consuming job. Just need someone either Saturday or Sunday (open to hours and extremely flexible) every other weekend so that DH and I can continue our scheduled dates. We are open as far as pay goes and have never paid less than $10.00 per hour for any of our sitters.

I have found that most teens these days have no time for a job. I have had several tell me they are just to busy with extra activites that they just don't have the time to babysit.

I have asked mothers in my area and I swear to god nobody wants to give their babysitters info to any other mothers. It is like they think we want to steal away their care of something. It is just amazing.

I have thought of sittercity.com but don't know anything about it and don't want to pay the fee if it is not going to be worth it.

Cragislist is out because I just don't trust it.

So what does everyone do? How do you find a good sitter?

That is exactly why people don't give out the names of their best babysitters-they don't want to lose them or have to compete to get them when they need them. If your kids are in elementary school call the 6th grade teacher and ask for names of kids that are in 7th/8th grade now that could babysit. Once kids here get into high school forget getting them as sitters-they are just too busy.

 

[Mkrop]

Why would I share my babysitter info with you if I have to compete every weekend with you to get a sitter?

Most people around here post things around the university. They get the college girls to sit. Although you may have luck snagging them for Sunday vs Saturday.

 

[ilovesugar]

That is exactly why people don't give out the names of their best babysitters-they don't want to lose them or have to compete to get them when they need them. If your kids are in elementary school call the 6th grade teacher and ask for names of kids that are in 7th/8th grade now that could babysit. Once kids here get into high school forget getting them as sitters-they are just too busy.

I think that is so silly. I would give out the names of my nieces if someone needed a sitter. I just cannot believe that moms are like that.

I asked the mom who lives across the street from me (we have only lived there for a year so don't know many people around) if she knew of any sitters and she told me she did not. She told me she could not think of any off-hand but would let me know if she finds any. Then the very next night she had a babysitter at her house.

I need someone older than 7th or 8th grade though, I have a baby so need someone a bit older.

 

[RadioNate]

I'm interviewing 2 people from SitterCity tonight.

We just moved here and no one I've met knows anyone. If they do, they aren't talking. We've had good luck in the past that one of DH's co-workers has a HS or college aged daughter who likes to baby sit. However, that hasn't been the case here.

So I finally broke down and signed up. We will see how it goes. I got 9 applicants for my job posting. I contacted 4 so far. The one I got about an hour ago, I'm going to email back. I threw out the other 4 for a variety of reasons. Some dumb, some not so dumb.

The 1st one we contacted isn't available for our first "job." The one that is listed on the posting at that, so she is out.

I'm interviewing 2 tonight. The 4th girl never replied to my interview request. The 5th one look promising so I'm hoping I can interview her tomorrow (our 1st job is Thursday.)

Hopefully, I'll have a list of 3-5 reliable people when my search is over.

But I hear you...and it sucks.

 

[ilovesugar]

Why would I share my babysitter info with you if I have to compete every weekend with you to get a sitter?

Most people around here post things around the university. They get the college girls to sit. Although you may have luck snagging them for Sunday vs Saturday.

Seriously? Compete with me for a sitter? I am talking 5 or 6 hours every other weekend. You would not give somone your sitters name for that?

Are the sitters just supposed to wait on pins and needles waiting for you to call and book them? Sitting is a good way of making money and ultimately you are hindering them making money because your being selfish.

I honestly had no idea that moms felt this way, because it would never even occur to me to not give out my sitters info to someone who was looking.

 

[ilovesugar]

I'm interviewing 2 people from SitterCity tonight.

We just moved here and no one I've met knows anyone. If they do, they aren't talking. We've had good luck in the past that one of DH's co-workers has a HS or college aged daughter who likes to baby sit. However, that hasn't been the case here.

So I finally broke down and signed up. We will see how it goes. I got 9 applicants for my job posting. I contacted 4 so far. The one I got about an hour ago, I'm going to email back. I threw out the other 4 for a variety of reasons. Some dumb, some not so dumb.

The 1st one we contacted isn't available for our first "job." The one that is listed on the posting at that, so she is out.

I'm interviewing 2 tonight. The 4th girl never replied to my interview request. The 5th one look promising so I'm hoping I can interview her tomorrow (our 1st job is Thursday.)

Hopefully, I'll have a list of 3-5 reliable people when my search is over.

But I hear you...and it sucks.

Let me know how it goes, I am curious if it is worth the money.

Good luck to you and I have my fingers crossed that you find a good one (or two!).

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Do you use a day care center? If so, check with the teachers there. I worked at a center for a couple of years and many of us sat for families from work

 

[ilovesugar]

Do you use a day care center? If so, check with the teachers there. I worked at a center for a couple of years and many of us sat for families from work

Good idea! My little one is starting daycare on the 7th of September so I will check there when she starts.

 

[ccgirl]

Seriously? Compete with me for a sitter? I am talking 5 or 6 hours every other weekend. You would not give somone your sitters name for that?

Are the sitters just supposed to wait on pins and needles waiting for you to call and book them? Sitting is a good way of making money and ultimately you are hindering them making money because your being selfish.

I honestly had no idea that moms felt this way, because it would never even occur to me to not give out my sitters info to someone who was looking.

Yup...I don't give out my "good" sitters info either. What if I want her the same night? Weekends are very popular times. That being said; it is a double edged sword because when she isn't available I really don't have anyone else I trust that much. I have another sitter that is more of a mother's helper. I don't mind giving out her info as much. There is also care.com around me. I know friends that have used them. OP...where are you located and how old are your children? I pay $10/hr when the sitter doesn't have to cook and my DS is asleep most of the time. My DD7 is pretty self sufficient. If the sitter has to cook and children are awake it is more like $15/hr around here.

 

[Mkrop]

Seriously? Compete with me for a sitter? I am talking 5 or 6 hours every other weekend. You would not give somone your sitters name for that?

Are the sitters just supposed to wait on pins and needles waiting for you to call and book them? Sitting is a good way of making money and ultimately you are hindering them making money because your being selfish.

I honestly had no idea that moms felt this way, because it would never even occur to me to not give out my sitters info to someone who was looking.

Not for a standing every weekend job, no I would not. If you just needed someone on occasion for a wedding, a date night here and there then yes I would share it.

I usually use family, but this was how it was when I was younger and from the moms I talk to around here it still is. The sitter gets her name out there. And like I said people share names but not if you are going to dominate the sitters time.

 

[minkydog]

So I normally have my 2 nieces watch my kids not only during the day, but every other Saturday night as well. They are heading back to college now and I am on the hunt for an every other weekend babysitter. It is not a hard or time-consuming job. Just need someone either Saturday or Sunday (open to hours and extremely flexible) every other weekend so that DH and I can continue our scheduled dates. We are open as far as pay goes and have never paid less than $10.00 per hour for any of our sitters.

I have found that most teens these days have no time for a job. I have had several tell me they are just to busy with extra activites that they just don't have the time to babysit.

I have asked mothers in my area and I swear to god nobody wants to give their babysitters info to any other mothers. It is like they think we want to steal away their care of something. It is just amazing.

I have thought of sittercity.com but don't know anything about it and don't want to pay the fee if it is not going to be worth it.

Cragislist is out because I just don't trust it.

So what does everyone do? How do you find a good sitter?

I have my info on sittercity.com. I'm not sure how other people go about finding babysitters, but I can give you a little glimpse of my personal experience. Most people who want to do babysitting, want to do it full-time. They don't want to have 6 families that they're sitting for 1-2 times a month. Teen girls are involved in a lot of activities. They don't want to spend their off hours babysitting, no matter how great the kids are.

Of course, in some cases, parents don't want to pay what it's worth. I saw one poster on sittercity who wanted someone to keep 3 kids after school every day and only pay $5-6/hour. Huh! I can make more at McDonalds than that, and I don't have to wipe any butts either! My fee starts at $10 for one child. I have a family that I sit for who has 3 kids under 7, one still in diapers. I charge them $14/hr and they are happy to pay it. Why do I charge so much? Because I'm well-educated, I'm a pediatric nurse, I can manage special needs kids, I can do CPR and take care of darn near any emergency. Yeah, I cost a lot but this family thinks I'm worth it. I'm caring for their precious children, and I do a great job. This young mother & father can go out and have a wonderful time knowing that I am fully capable.

BEst of luck to you. I remember those days

 

[ilovesugar]

Not for a standing every weekend job, no I would not. If you just needed someone on occasion for a wedding, a date night here and there then yes I would share it.

I usually use family, but this was how it was when I was younger and from the moms I talk to around here it still is. The sitter gets her name out there. And like I said people share names but not if you are going to dominate the sitters time.

Again, it is 5-6 hours once every OTHER weekend. Not every weekend for the entire weekend. We usually do daytime dates too because I hate paying more for a movie just because it is evening.

 

[ilovesugar]

I have my info on sittercity.com. I'm not sure how other people go about finding babysitters, but I can give you a little glimpse of my personal experience. Most people who want to do babysitting, want to do it full-time. They don't want to have 6 families that they're sitting for 1-2 times a month. Teen girls are involved in a lot of activities. They don't want to spend their off hours babysitting, no matter how great the kids are.

Of course, in some cases, parents don't want to pay what it's worth. I saw one poster on sittercity who wanted someone to keep 3 kids after school every day and only pay $5-6/hour. Huh! I can make more at McDonalds than that, and I don't have to wipe any butts either! My fee starts at $10 for one child. I have a family that I sit for who has 3 kids under 7, one still in diapers. I charge them $14/hr and they are happy to pay it. Why do I charge so much? Because I'm well-educated, I'm a pediatric nurse, I can manage special needs kids, I can do CPR and take care of darn near any emergency. Yeah, I cost a lot but this family thinks I'm worth it. I'm caring for their precious children, and I do a great job. This young mother & father can go out and have a wonderful time knowing that I am fully capable.

BEst of luck to you. I remember those days

I would be happy to pay that for someone like yourself too! Wow!

 

[java]

My 13 year old is swimming in Babysitting jobs. My 28 year old sister was thinking of quitting and start sitting because my daughter was having such great success.

At 12 she started babysitting for a 4 year old and a baby. She handled it fine- changed 2 diapers and still played tea party with the 4 year old.

Perhaps you could call the local hospital- ours offers a babysitting class- they might have some kids you could call. Also our school district puts out a directory every year and in the back are listings of babysitters-(but my dd doesn't advertise in there because frankly she has not room for more families at this point) So perhaps calling the local school.
If you live near a college you could post it on a bulletin board- I babysat in college.

 

[minniebeth]

Ask around/word of mouth for moms whose kids are a little older. With the ecomonmy I want to go back to work, but not full time and need something flexible. I would be happy to babysit and have told some people to tell others I'm interested. I'd be happy with $10/hr, and have the experience as a mom with older kids.

 

[golfgal]

I think that is so silly. I would give out the names of my nieces if someone needed a sitter. I just cannot believe that moms are like that.

I asked the mom who lives across the street from me (we have only lived there for a year so don't know many people around) if she knew of any sitters and she told me she did not. She told me she could not think of any off-hand but would let me know if she finds any. Then the very next night she had a babysitter at her house.

I need someone older than 7th or 8th grade though, I have a baby so need someone a bit older.

Ok, but you are having a hard time finding someone now that they aren't available, what if you gave their name out to someone and that person took them away from you and you wouldn't be able to use them again??

Honestly, the best babysitters we had were 7th and 8th grade girls and they were more than capable of taking care of babies. When the twins were babies we would have 2 girls that were friends come over and babysit. It worked great and they played with the kids.

 

[TLuvsD]

Call the local college and ask if anyone in the early childhood program wants a job. That's how my SIL found their sitter. You might try the senior center. There could be some active seniors who are avaliable.
I have a high school daughter. There is no way she could baby sit every other weekend during the day for 5 to 6 hours. Not with the AP classes, community service requirements and her extra curriculars. The high school students really don't have the time (especially those who are in sports, AP classes or both). You need to find an 8th grader who has done the babysitting class.

 

[JVL1018]

My FIL shares a 2 family house with us and asks to babysit, so we usually just use him, but we do have a teenage girl we use if we're going to be out really late(FIL is in his 80s and sometimes the kids outlast him LOL)

If I needed another babysitter, I have a whole bunch of names-my kids go to the rec program at the local park in the summer where all the counselors are teenagers from the local high school.
#1 we know they like kids because their summer job is hanging out with them and #2 our kids know all of them. Lots of my friends ask the counselors to babysit for them and they all jump at the chance to make $10/hour.

If your town has a rec program, contact someone who sends their kids there and ask them if they know the name of the counselors. Doesn't have to be their babysitter, just a teenager they know.