How does one go about finding a babysitter? We've always been very lucky in that we have a lot of family in town, so we've never had to look outside of our family for someone to watch Ty. However the babysitting questions got me wondering - how the heck would I even find a sitter if we ever needed to?
Re: S/O Babysitting
Photos from Libby Hilf Photography
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
Really? I'm pretty sure our DC has rules against that.
I can use one of my DC teachers too. I actually have one's number and email if I even need a babysitter. Many of the parents there use the teachers I believe.
I checked with the director, she actually gave me a list of the couple of teachers in the center who do babysitting on the side!
Photos from Libby Hilf Photography
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
Huh, I wonder why? Our director tells me who babysits and who's available.
Some centers it is against the rules. They make the parents and staff sign contracts at some that they won't. These centers are usually afraid of "poaching." When a parent asks the staff member to become their nanny. Poaching is very common, for example one family at the center I am at pays $1,000/week for all their children. I don't make that in two weeks so we could come up with a middle number and both make out. It has come up with another family and one staff member but we have amazing insurance and it's hard to give that up and some parents prefer the center atmosphere. One place I worked made the parent sign a form that they understood when I was not at the center I was no longer an employee and anything that happened off the clock was not their responsibility, etc.
I don't have anything against it! If it were available, I would definitely take advantage of it. It's not allowed at our DCP.... I think it's for the reasons PP stated.
We just scheduled one of our DC teachers for a few hours next weekend!
We also have talked with friends with babies about exchanging date nights, though it hasn't happened yet. Once we had a couple of friends watch her. A few times we've had our parents watch DD when they've been in town (they don't live locally). We need to start getting out more, so I'm excited for next weekend!
Thanks ladies! I never even considered DC teachers, but for some reason I'd be hesitant to do that - I feel like it's imposing on them to watch him 4 days a week for 9.5 hours a day, and then on a weekend. However, I've never really considered it or talked to anyone about it, so that could totally change my mind.
I wish we had friends with kids. We have my SIL and my BFF, and that's it. And honestly I don't trust SIL with both of our kids. She's great with kids, but she gets stressed out with her own that I can't imagine her with two (and she wants to try for #2 in the fall so they'd be 2 years apart ?)
I would totally trust BFF with him - she babysits others with her LO all the time, but generally if we're looking for a sitter it's because we're out with her!
I need to get out there and start meeting more people!