Finding someone that I don’t know to watch my daughter, has been such a struggle for me as a mom. Babysitting was one of my first jobs, but I am not too keen on entrusting my 4-year-old with a 12-year-old. The world is not quite the same place that it was back then. My friends that do use babysitters have had mixed experiences.
Normally my parents watch my daughter as needed, but they winter in Florida so that is not always possible. I had considered hiring someone to watch my daughter this summer for a few hours a week as I worked, but it didn’t happen. Is it August already? School starts in 3 weeks! Ahhh, so much to do.
But I digress. There is help in finding a babysitter or nanny. Last month I checked out the Local Nanny Listings on Care.com and their service of matching parents with caregivers. Their service focuses on more than just babysitters, they also provide lists of pet sitters, house sitters, and elder care givers. I signed up for their service and placed an ad. Within an hour I had received several replies from potential babysitters. By the next day I had received over 30 inquiries.
I sent replies to about 10 contenders and used their automated system to those I felt unqualified. That is a nice feature. You can click on their profiles and get access to references, experience, and a background check. I did not end up hiring anyone at the time, but I do have a list of people to call on now if child care is needed in the future. I highly recommend this service. It is helpful and much needed for many work at home parents.
