https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:43:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672434 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:46:58 +0000 Boogs 2672434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check the child development department if you have a local college, there are usually postings and you can also post. Not sure if you have it in your area, but on the NextDoor app I often see people asking and there are usually responses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672380 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 10:52:25 +0000 Astro Bee 2672380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our regular sitter is a university student who we met a LO's swimming lessons. She was the swim instructor for the preschool group, while LO was in the baby group and was 5-8 months at the time. She loves babies and after every class would come over and take LO for a little turn around the pool and try to get him to laugh. At the end of the session we said LO would be sad to not see both instructors anymore and our instructor said, well, B babysits! She lit right up and I asked her right then if she'd come over on the following Saturday afternoon for a few hours. I would never have been comfortable leaving him with anyone besides my parents or SIL so early. But it's been a year, and we go out for the occasional dinner and movie now. </p> <p>@Mrs. Washi Tape: I know you're a SAHM, but do you do any classes or drop-in playgroups? Sometimes there are classifieds posted at the community centre/baby gym, but if not, that would be a good place to start asking around if anyone would be interested in babysitting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672346 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 09:50:41 +0000 sunnyday 2672346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a local College or University? Do they have a relevant program you could put a posting up? Or high school guidance office? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672317 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 07:19:02 +0000 looch 2672317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could never bring myself to use any kind of online site...I did in the past and had a good experience with it, but my son takes a long time to warm up to people and he would not be okay with just being with someone he doesn't know. It would be a long process and cause a lot of stress. I have gotten flamed for this in the past, but this is also the reason why I couldn't use a drop in center for anything...maybe now that my son is older, could this be an option for your kids?</p> <p>If I had to get a sitter right this minute, I'd have to start by asking some mom friends of mine and offer a swap of some sort, could that work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672297 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 01:16:09 +0000 PinkElephant 2672297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Washi Tape: I have used Urbansitter.com (similar to care.com) and like it. I always just post a job when I need a sitter and see who responds. Generally I'll only consider people with background checks and who have several repeat families, as well as positive reviews. I prefer that they post video intros on their profile. From there I chat on the phone and try them for a short job. It's trial and error, but no one has been really wacky, and this is how I met and got to know my "regular" sitters, who I then hired outside the site. They were actresses/theatre students, preschool teachers, and med students. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672277 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 23:28:18 +0000 SweetiePie 2672277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Washi Tape: I'm naturally a shy and introverted person, I swear! But I really try to force myself to have small conversations (when appropriate and when it seems like it would be recipeocated). I've made tons of mom friends that way! And found a sitter :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672270 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 23:11:45 +0000 Portboston 2672270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Washi Tape: it is really great for the sanity!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672249 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:12:28 +0000 Mrs. Washi Tape 2672249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Thanks for the input. I think I am definitely going to try bringing it up with more people and just getting the word out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672248 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:10:41 +0000 Mrs. Washi Tape 2672248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I will have to look into sittercity. And I know what you mean about finding people. I'm friendly but not always great at striking up conversations with strangers - definitely something I would love to work on. And we do have a couple of universities nearby. They are about a 20 minute drive, but it is worth trying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672245 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:06:52 +0000 Mrs. Washi Tape 2672245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Portboston: I love this idea, but unfortunately I don't really know any other SAHMs. I really want to work on making SAHM friends this year - and not just for the babysitting!</p> <p>@HITCHHIKER: I am part of a local mom Facebook group. I searched the archives and saw people asking for sitters but not getting much response. But I need to do my own post. Maybe I could even try to find some other local moms to hook up with there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672173 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:34:34 +0000 SweetiePie 2672173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Oh that's a good point! Forgot about the student thing. Columbia and NYU both have babysitting boards or I know people have placed those contact tear Sheets in the student union or whatever (friends seeking sitters).<br /> So maybe @Mrs. Washi Tape: if you have a local university or college nearby you can ask there. And sometimes the schools have dedicated websites or forums for student sitters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672155 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:03:33 +0000 LCTBQE 2672155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I babysat my way through undergrad and grad school. I got most of my gigs through word of mouth: parents would ask their friends and the friends would share my contact info with them (although sometimes they were territorial and wouldn't!), or, my friends who babysat would get asked if *they* had any friends available for the family's sister or something, and then my girlfriend would give out my number. but several of the jobs I had longest I got by parents finding out I was a student and just asking me if I ever babysat--just like what @SweetiePie: is saying! I never once was put off or creeped out by being approached that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672143 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:11:27 +0000 SweetiePie 2672143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done chime by sittercity. Not sure if it's everywhere or just certain cities? But have had wonderful experiences.</p> <p>Currently my weekday sitter is a waitress I became friendly with! He's in preschool 2 mornings a week (2 hours) which is nice for me to run small errands in the vicinity and get coffee but not much else. So over the course of a couple months I would get coffee and started chatting with a young waitress and it just came up organically that I need some time away and she is a babysitter in her free time and needs some extra cash. It's perfect since she doesn't work a 9-5 and has flexible daytime hours. </p> <p>I mean I'm not suggesting to just start asking random waitresses if they want to babysit. 😄 But, I'm a firm believer that giving an extra smile and asking someone how they are can open doors! Like after a few visits to the coffee shop can mention to that person how much you need some me time and maybe they respond that they are a sitter or know one. I'm oversimplifying but you get my point. :-) She's babysat twice now and she's amazing. My son already is obsessed with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672139 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:00:45 +0000 hitchhiker 2672139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a local parents listserv or Facebook group? Ours is a great source of babysitters. I've also thought about starting a babysitting coop in my neighborhood, but haven't gotten up the motivation, yet. If you could recruit a few other SAHMs, you could trade babysitting during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672126 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 15:16:59 +0000 Portboston 2672126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Week day babysitters are definitely tough. I have a good friend who is also a SAHM to a LO that is the same age at my son. We have started trading off if either one of us has something going on. I had an interview so she watch my LO for a couple hours. She had a doctors appointment so I watched the two kids. It works out really well.<br /> Do you have any sahm friends you'd trust &amp; could do trades with? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-find-a-good-babysitter#post-2672111 Fri, 30 Dec 2016 14:51:57 +0000 Mrs. Washi Tape 2672111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where did you find a good babysitter? I am currently a SAHM so I don't need a nanny, just someone who can watch my boys for occasional appointments or date nights. </p> <p>My mom or sister occasionally help out on weekends for date nights but not very often. And even though they do it for free which is awesome, we always feel like we need to get home early which I don't love. But the bigger problem is I have nobody to watch my kids (1.5 and 4) during the week if I have a doctors appointment or haircut or anything I need to do without them. </p> <p>This is turning into a big problem and creating a lot of stress. Where do you find a good babysitter? I don't know anybody local who babysits and have asked on Facebook but didn't get any helpful responses. Has anyone tried care.com or do you have other suggestions? </p>