Looking for a sitter

dereks_wife

Not daycare, a sitter to come to the house for a few hours - nights and weekend days.  We don't really have anyone we could ask to come watch DD so we don't get out much together, and if we both have plans at the same time it's a mess.  We live in Oreland.  Just wondering how you found your sitter?  I have looked at care.com but see I have to pay to contact anyone.  If that is our only option I'll do it, but wanted to make sure there weren't any other sites I should be looking at.  Not interested in craigslist cause I have heard too many horror stories.

jc&cat

I recommend sittercity.com or care.com b/c of the background check options. Yes, you have to pay for them which stinks. Other options are to check with your local churches to see if they have a sitter recommendation (mine does not but i have heard this is out there someplaces!). Check with your local colleges. If you are in Oreland, I guess Temple Ambler or Arcadia or even Villanova would be good starts. Most of the schools will post sitter jobs through there career office for free. I posted last year on Villanova's site for some daytime help but ended up not needing it. Alot of kids will be heading home for summer break from college so ask around in your neighborhood, mom's group, church, etc.. Hope you can get some much deserved time together!

jkelly41

We have the 17 (almost 18) year old daughter of my MIL's friend watch our DS if family members aren't available.  Is there anyone in the neightbor you can ask?  Or a co-worker's teenager?

Stacyc625

Honestly- we used craigslist totally successfully. I found a WONDERFUL sitter. College grad, works locally, worked in a daycare, has CPR cert, she sent me referrences, typed letters of recommendations, she gave me her background check that was recently done from the police- her address, etc.

she is WONDERFUL with Gisele- I feel totally uber comfortable with her.

As long as you are smart- ask the right questions, take the right precautions- you can find wonderful people on CL. There are not all horror stories on there.

charlies-angel

Stacyc625:

Honestly- we used craigslist totally successfully. I found a WONDERFUL sitter. College grad, works locally, worked in a daycare, has CPR cert, she sent me referrences, typed letters of recommendations, she gave me her background check that was recently done from the police- her address, etc.

she is WONDERFUL with Gisele- I feel totally uber comfortable with her.

As long as you are smart- ask the right questions, take the right precautions- you can find wonderful people on CL. There are not all horror stories on there.

I would have to agree. If you don't want to pay for the other websites that do background searches and such, then craigslist might be your best option. If you ask the right questions, interview the person, get references, etc. you could really find some good people on craigslist. Its at least worth taking a look since it is free.