Care.com ?

starrysmile18 · January 2015

So, DH and I live 6 hrs away from both his family and mine. I don't have any single, child-less friends who would be willing to come baby sit.

DH and I haven't been on a solo date since April. April!!! I have started to nose around on care.com for a sitter, but it makes me nervous because it's literally going to be a stranger watching my son. I'm aware that I can conduct interviews and have some time with her before we leave her alone with Carter, but it's still something I'm not sure we should do.

Have any of you used this site or something similar? Do you have any feedback about this?

I feel like we need to get out and build our relationship again before baby #2 comes.

MRoxy0628 · January 2015

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

smb+jab · January 2015

MRoxy0628 said:

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

I was going to ask this too. Ours provides as list upon request of girls that are willing to babysit. most are the classroom aides or teachers so you can pick and choose. Friends of ours have used this option before and it worked out great.

in regards to care.com, we actually used it to hire a girl to clean our house every other week. She's a college student but she offers babysitting too. I would just suggest having whomever you pick come over for a little bit while you are home for a trial if that option one isn't available. that way you can see if your child is comfortable with her or not....

hmp1 · January 2015

I've never used care.com but we have used teachers from daycare.

We also trade sitting with our friends with kids. It's a great way to save money on date nights by not having to add in the extra cost of a sitter. Plus the kids all play together for most of the night. We do earlier date nights with this arrangement. Like just dinner or just to a bar for drinks and live music but we don't do dinner and a movie 4 hour outing.

melody921 · January 2015

MRoxy0628 said:

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

This is what I was going to say. I love our sitter and she's a daycare teacher. As for care.com, I never used it, but friends have and have had luck.

AKB090609 · January 2015

I'm now beginning the search as well, the last time DH and I had time alone was on vacation last February, so I feel your pain. I know that lots of the teachers at my center were also on care.com, I think it is a good reasource if you don't know a lot of people in your area. I plan to ask some of the girls at our gym daycare since I know that they are only working part time and DD loves them.

starrysmile18 · January 2015

melody921 said:

MRoxy0628 said:

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

This is what I was going to say. I love our sitter and she's a daycare teacher. As for care.com, I never used it, but friends have and have had luck.

Wellll, I'm the director at his Center. I've asked a few of my workers and have had a few interested. I'm not sure if its awkward for them since I'm the boss lady....

kelbel527 · January 2015

mhanson18 said:

melody921 said:

MRoxy0628 said:

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

This is what I was going to say. I love our sitter and she's a daycare teacher. As for care.com, I never used it, but friends have and have had luck.

Wellll, I'm the director at his Center. I've asked a few of my workers and have had a few interested. I'm not sure if its awkward for them since I'm the boss lady....

A lot of people I work with use our daycare teachers. If you have a few interested, I would totally use them. Technically, they're already "Working for you" at work, so babysitting shouldn't be too different? It might change up the dynamic a bit, but it would be people you trust, which is really nice.

Otherwise, I would ask around other coworkers or your H's coworkers if they have someone they love and recommend. I think referrals are always great.

hmp1 · January 2015

mhanson18 said:

melody921 said:

MRoxy0628 said:

Where does he go for daycare? If it's a center, I've heard of people asking someone who works at the daycare center they go to since they already know your child.

This is what I was going to say. I love our sitter and she's a daycare teacher. As for care.com, I never used it, but friends have and have had luck.

Wellll, I'm the director at his Center. I've asked a few of my workers and have had a few interested. I'm not sure if its awkward for them since I'm the boss lady....

If they showed interest, I would try it out. They can always turn down the specific date if they really don't want to do it. But you are paying them to babysit, it isn't like the boss is using them for free care so don't stress over the relationship aspect.

Unknown · January 2015

This content has been removed.

Holly_1007 · January 2015

I used to advertise on this site when I was in college. When I asked the moms about their experience with it after I was hired they always said it was fairly easy to pick out the wackos based on their profiles, applications and messages.

Bizarre story: one of the families I babysat for had another child after I stopped working for them and that child is in keagans preschool class.

AKB090609 · January 2015

Personally, I would not use my employees as babysitters, I know with the company I used to work for it was discouraged for teachers to babysit for families and there was paper work and stuff that was supposed to be done. I also think you could be asking for trouble if you (their boss) are having them work in your home. I obviously don't know your center or your employees, but I know there would have been a shit show had i highered some of the girls at work to babysit.

starrysmile18 · January 2015

Thanks all for your thoughts. I'll wait with Care.com and just have H check with some ppl he knows, otherwise I have several girls I can ask at work!

Eastie156 · January 2015

mhanson18 said:

So, DH and I live 6 hrs away from both his family and mine. I don't have any single, child-less friends who would be willing to come baby sit.
DH and I haven't been on a solo date since April. April!!! I have started to nose around on care.com for a sitter, but it makes me nervous because it's literally going to be a stranger watching my son. I'm aware that I can conduct interviews and have some time with her before we leave her alone with Carter, but it's still something I'm not sure we should do.
Have any of you used this site or something similar? Do you have any feedback about this?
I feel like we need to get out and build our relationship again before baby #2 comes.

I've used care.com and sittercity.com both for sitters and to find a nanny. I had better luck with care.com but most sitters and nannies use both sites. You have an option to pay extra ($75?) to get a complete background check which includes verifying license and any convictions for criminal offenses.

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