College student babysitters

TarheelsInNJ · May 2009

Hello! For the spring and summer, we'll only need child care for a few hours (depending on DH's class schedule, but probably 10-12 hours per week max). The local university has a babysitting service, and I'm giving it some thought.

Would you leave your infant with a college-aged babysitter? DC will only be about 8 weeks when I go back to work. Granted, I babysat all through high school and college, and would like to think I was capable and responsible... but now that I'm on the other end, I'm hesitant!

edit: The babysitting "service" is really just a listings clearinghouse. The students don't receive any training; like with any babysitter, we'd of course ask about experience and references.

4realyo · May 2009

uhmm I wouldnt. Unless I personally knew the person or someone I was close with did & could act as a reference. Is it a service like a daycare where you drop them off or they come to your house?

ellemoney:) · May 2009

I think it might depend on the person. ?Last fall, I was a college student, so yes I would let me watch a child, haha ?

A few of my college friends (actual college age, I'm a little older than they are), I would definitely be ok leaving my child with.. a few others, NO WAY. ?They were even elementary ed majors and I still wouldn't.

It would definitely depend on the individual person

?

TarheelsInNJ · May 2009

4realyo:

uhmm I wouldnt. Unless I personally knew the person or someone I was close with did & could act as a reference. Is it a service like a daycare where you drop them off or they come to your house?

I just edited my response, because I realize I wasn't clear - it's really just a listings service. We'd still need to interview the students and everything, and then the babysitter would come to our house.

kell8807 · May 2009

I babysat while I was going to college too. The lady I sat for ran an ad in the university newspaper and I saw it. She just had me meet with her and hang out with their LO for awhile to see how we interacted and then I came back the next week. It worked out really well for us. I think I would do the same thing.

ArmyBride0604 · May 2009

I would. I grew up in a college town and my mom teaches at the university - we always had college age babysitters. We have daycare lined up for our son for every day but I'm totally planning on recruiting college students (SIL and her sorority sisters mainly) for when we need babysitters otherwise.

AMYfromKY · May 2009

I am a babysitter (well was) and am 21 years old. I feel like I am totally capable of watching a child. I would make sure to get one with references.

5dogs · May 2009

The college I attended's child/human development department frequently did this (in addition to the on-campus NAEYC accredited preschool), I wouldn't bat a lash about leave my child with them.

4realyo · May 2009

TarheelsInNJ:
4realyo:

uhmm I wouldnt. Unless I personally knew the person or someone I was close with did & could act as a reference. Is it a service like a daycare where you drop them off or they come to your house?

I just edited my response, because I realize I wasn't clear - it's really just a listings service. We'd still need to interview the students and everything, and then the babysitter would come to our house.

Then I would be more inclined to look into - it cant hurt to interview some people & get some references. It totally depends on the individual imo.

Genevieved · May 2009

If there is someone you know I think it would be better. I however have babysat in high school and college and parents and kids loved me. However there are some ppl out there that don't care that much. I would be calling other ppl they babysat for and I would also ask them to come watch your little one maybe for an hour or two once or twice while you are in the house. Make yourself busy but leave the baby with them and that why you can see how they do with a baby I'm sure you would find out pretty fast if you trust them or not.