Finding babysitters

Mcsweets

Our twins are 3 months old (1 month corrected) and so far my mom is the only one comfortable enough to babysit them. (Or maybe I should say the only one I'm comfortable enough with babysitting them!) She spent a week with me while I was on maternity leave so she kinda knows the ropes of never-ending bottles, diapers, crying, etc.  My dad has fed them twice, but is not comfortable at all - he's very passive aggressive and both babies are all wiggley - sometimes we have to redirect them to focus on the task at hand lol.  He has yet to change a diaper and honestly I'm not sure if he knows how.

My question is: How old were your babies when you felt comfortable leaving them with someone without "training"?  I feel like I need to train people how to handle them, is this just a mom thing? 

Any tips on who you used for a babysitter? Was it mostly just family?

chickaboo1974

the first time we left them with someone- they were 6 months old.  We have no family locally (closest is 2 hours) - it wasn't because I didn't want to- just the logistics of finding a babysitter that was familiar with caring for two infants who didn't want to be full time nanny (I just wanted some date nights and 4 hours once a week).  I asked a member of my twin club- she gave me her sitter's name.  The sitter was 20 in college, and was not looking for something full time. She had watched my friend's girls from 8 weeks when they wanted to go out/ do errands.  So she came over, met the boys and I knew she was good.  So my advice is to look for someone that has watched infant twins before- then relax unless your kiddos have special requirements, they can handle it.

Mcsweets

What a great idea!!! I've been meaning to join the twins club and I keep forgetting!!!

daisy19782011

I have no advice, but wanted to say that I LOVE your pic in your siggy. What precious little outfits!

Mcsweets

@daisy19782011 - thanks!!! I made the outfits   and took the picture!  Amateur photographer here! 

nblondheim

I have left the twins but only with family members for minimal time. I totally get you...not sure when I will leave them with someone else!

seawater

Mine are almost 5 months and I haven't left them with anyone yet.  I can barely handle 2, I can't imagine anyone else doing it yet.    and I'm probably the world's biggest worrier.  

Mcsweets

@schesky that's me too!  We just feel bad because we're missing friend's birthdays, dinners with family, etc.  They totally understand, but I feel guilty   It's hard for someone to TRULY understand unless they've had twins - it's not an easy task to just take care of them.  There's always something - especially so small.  Diapers, feeding, bottles, crying, you name it! Double everything!

Wishing35

Knowing myself I don't think I will ever be comfortable leaving them with someone without "training" them on how we do things. I'm very into routine and a little controlling.
I have my in laws over a lot and they now know my routine with the girls. I wouldn't hesitate to have mil watch them by herself but I do think if it involves bedtime it's better if both the in laws are there. I'm a FTM and I guess I always think no one can do it better than myself or DH but I'm learning to ease up a little,it's hard though.

xtina78

I don't have personal experience with this yet, but I know from my moms of multiples group that a lot of them use Care.com to find potential sitters who they then interview. Also I know within the group they exchange sitter recommendations - so I second the PP who said check if you have a local group. Good luck!

ballygirl

I hired a pt nanny from care.com but before I let her stay with the twins alone I had her come by during the day when I was home as a mothers helper. This was not only extremely helpful for me because I was overwhelmed and exhausted, but it allowed me to watch her interact with the babies for a couple weeks so that I felt completely comfortable with her by the time I went back to work.

She has really been a lifesaver for us. She has 15 years of nanny experience and has nannied for twins. She was pricey but worth it. Care.com is a pretty good resource. My advice is to look for someone with experience either as a nanny or in a child care center and has good references. Them schedule a couple trials when they can come 'babysit' while you are home.

ntdane

It's hard to leave your kids . We got lucky with our singleton as his daycare teacher offered to babysit and she was obviously competent. Unfortunately we've moved and live nowhere near family. I was able to join a MoM group in the area and did get babysitter rec's from them. The twins are only 7 1/2 weeks and we have a 3 yo too so I'm not quite ready to unleash that on anyone else just yet. We may need two people for me to feel comfortable .

kgs0505

I actually found mine on care.com.  I had a recommendation from the twins club (two actually), and neither one worked out.  One was someone's mom and she (the daughter of the mom) was just about to deliver her twins, so her mom wasn't comfortable leaving her for any length of time.  (I think the girls were 5 or 6 months by the time we arranged babysitting).

The second option was a nanny who also did P/T sitting, but she seemed flakey and didn't follow thru on calls back or even seem to listen to my messages to know why I was calling her.  Plus she was booked.  So I lost her number pretty quick. 

My care.com sitter is wonderful!  I phone screened her, then she came over and met everyone.  I also took her with me to a twin event to handle my son while I handled the babies (open park, DH working).  After that, I felt pretty comfortable leaving her with them.  She's worked out wonderfully. 

Mcsweets

I've seen Care.com but never took the plunge to sign up!