Posted on 5/29/2013
Written by Liz Wassmann
As the end of the school year approaches, parents everywhere are scrambling to figure out who is going to watch their children all summer. Traditionally, parents find sitters through word-of-mouth recommendations. While it’s great to know that friends have used and trusted sitters, it can be hard to find someone who meets all your needs through word of mouth alone. Whether you need a sitter for 40 hours a week or the occasional night out on the town, it’s worth looking online to find the perfect person.
Read on for ideas on how to find a sitter without leaving your home.
This app and accompanying website allows parents to book sitters from their smartphone. After creating an account, which syncs with a Facebook profile, it’s easy for parents to browse sitters in their area. The key difference? They can see who their Facebook friends have used and recommended. Sitters post their availability as well, so it’s easy to find someone who will be free at the necessary time. It’s possible to book, confirm and pay all from a smartphone. Great for last minute bookings, too; it’s easy to see who is available for tonight (free, App Store, Android coming this fall).
This website allows parents to locate caregivers and search through profiles for people that meet their exact specifications. Care.com mostly centers on childcare, but also features profiles from senior, pet and home caregivers. This is a great resource because of the sheer volume of people on the site and because you can see so much information about anyone before hiring. SitterCity.com is a very similar site; both are great for taking the guesswork out of hiring a caregiver and finding someone new in your area.
- Nanny agencies
While nanny agencies are not strictly online, a quick search for agencies near you can really help narrow down your caretaker search. While nanny agencies tend to charge a booking fee, you are guaranteed a reliable, trustworthy sitter that the agency has vetted. And don’t be fooled by the name; nanny agencies can help you find an emergency single-use babysitter as well.
- Social Media
Leverage your online presence to locate a sitter. Post a status or tweet asking friends for recommendations, send an email to the parents in your carpool, or ask your MeetUp group. Social media can also be a great way to do a little background research on potential babysitters.
No matter how you find a sitter, be sure to check their references, interview them, and see how they interact with your kids before the first job.
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