So you found yourself in a new city with kids and no family or friends in a 50-mile radius. To be specific, you know no one – other then the sweet checkout lady at Publix who always tells you to remember these times because they go so fast. You are tempted to ask if she wants to remember these times that you are in right now by becoming your babysitter. But that would just be weird. But on the other hand, you are feeling desperate.
You love your kids, but you need a break from them. Here are some ways that you can find the perfect babysitter for your family, even in a new city.
Connect
Social media can feel overwhelming and a bit TMI, but you can use it to your advantage. If you are so new to town that you haven’t been connected with other moms, make that your first step, because the best way to find a sitter is recommendations from other moms. Babywearing groups, cloth diapering groups, playgroups. Join them. They are your friend. Columbia Mom has mom groups based on location; or check out our list of local parenting groups.
I had a great experience with this: Recently, I was added to a Facebook group made of up moms and college girls who are part of campus ministry. All the girls are background-checked already for you. All you have to do when seeking a babysitter is post a day and time; within 30 minutes, I had someone text me that she could babysit! It was so simple and easy! In this particular instance, the girl who was able to watch my son also worked in Kidtown at our church, but I had never met her before. Small worlds come together!
And did you know they have babysitting websites? Like a dating website! A few popular ones are Care.com and Sitter City. All babysitters/nannies are background-checked, and the sites make it easy to browse through babysitters in your area. With some sites, you can pay your sitter online! You are given profiles of potential babysitters, interview them over the phone and then meet in person! Facebook is a great way to stalk look up a potential babysitter. If you have a bad feeling about one sitter, move on to the next one. 😉
Be Bold
If you are strolling Target one afternoon and you see someone with kids around the same age as yours, go to her and TALK TO HER. Introduce yourself. Tell her you are new in town. That you need a babysitter. She will understand and help you out.
Moms help each other out; remember that. There is nothing better than face-to-face connections. If your child is in preschool/daycare/school, guess what: There are 25 kids in the class, and they have parents, and I bet those parents get to go out on a date every so often. So ask them the name of their sitter!
Ask Questions
Once you get a few names, meet your potential sitter and ask questions before you hire her (or him!).
The Basics
- Availability (after school, evenings, weekends; is she available for a set day each week or does her schedule change frequently?)
- Rates (we usually tell the sitter what we pay and see if she’s OK with that, rather than asking what her rate is)
- References (aim for 2-3 references from credible people)
Dig Deeper: Questions to Ask Your Babysitter
- What is your experience with children and what is your favorite age to babysit?
- What activities do you like to do while you babysit?
- How do you comfort and discipline children? How do you handle tempter tantrums?
- What are the most challenging and rewarding parts about being a babysitter?
- Are you CPR certified? First Aid certified? Have you ever had to use these before when babysitting?
This first meeting doesn’t have to be stuffy. Have her over for coffee. See if she would be willing to play with your kids while you are in the other room. If your kids are speaking age, ask them what they thought of the babysitter!
After you have hired a sitter, be in communication with her and plan ahead when you can to make both of your lives easier. Oh, and take a deep breath: You soon will be able to go shopping alone.
BONUS! FREE BABYSITTER PRINTABLE!
Once you’ve found that perfect sitter, you’ll want to gather important information for her to have while you’re gone. Download our free printable worksheet for a list that will tell your sitter everything she needs to know.
