SitterCity

[Michele]

I know a few of you have used it. Any tips, advice? We were invited out tonight and having to decline because of lack of childcare made me hunt for babysitters. One of the docs at DH's practice has highschool daughters who babysit, but I haven't met them yet. I'd like to have a couple of options anyway though. I signed up for the free week trial and will probably upgrade at some point. Not sure if I should do month by month....I see a 20% off code of FALL20 that is good until Sept 15th.

[SuzySunshine]

I used it for a year and found my most reliable Roch sitter on there as well as the 3 that I interviewed here. I like older, college age, girls and felt that it was a better way to find them. I've used two of them since I found them when we moved here and they've both been great. One I prefer over the other but I feel safe leaving the kids with either.

My process was that I posted a job which said how many kids I had, what I was willing to pay and that I was looking for a date night type sitter. I got like 12 responses, I picked out the ones that best fit what I was looking for and interviewed them here at the house. Then I called a few references for each. I've been very happy with both of the ones I have used.

[SoonerTexan]

Michele--in the interim is there a drop-in style childcare place you can use? They're common here--my sister used to work at one. At the very least you can go out!

[Ladybug]

I used them when we moved here and I knew no one. I emailed 5, got three replies/interviews and hired 2. One worked out for a year, typical babysitter in college. The other was a grad student (library science who now works for a children's department of public library) and she worked for us for over 3 years. She was reliable and the kids loved her. Awesome sittercity experience! I felt weird going online, but she worked out better than any sitter we got through personal reference or connection. The current sitter generation is very comfortable with online connections and networks, but it took me a while to warm up to.

I paid for a year and only used it for a few weeks. I would only use it month to month until you gather a group of reliable sitters/numbers. The annual fee was a waste of money for me...

[Michele]

Thanks! I don't know if there is a drop in style place here. I wouldn't feel comfortable with it anyway. It's hard enough sending them to daycare. In my quick searching, it looks like there are quite a few possibilities based solely on profiles.

[Ladybug122]

I've used it as well. Have used it twice in the past 3 years and found 2 wonderful girls that we use and 1 person who sat for us a couple of times then pulled a no show. Needless to say she was done with me as I was supposed to go to work. Jerk. Anyway, I had good experiences despite the one bad egg. I got a TON TON TON of responses (I live in a college town and am looking for afternoon hours, ideal for students). I interviewed 5 and reference checked the ones I hired. Definately go month to month on subscription.

[Vishenka69]

I found my first two sitters there and have been very happy with both. I do same as Cheri, post a job and then wait for replies to start rolling in. Many sitters have their background checks already done and even reviews.

[PrincessFiona]

I used care.com and was really happy with it. I found a housekeeper who also does childcare. It was a win-win. A lot of the sitters on sittercity were younger highschool/college kids. I don't necessarily have an issue with that, but availability sometimes was a problem because they seemed so involved in activities.

Kris

[MrsK]

Just signed up for care.com. Retailmenot has a 20% off coupon code in case any one is interested.

[Vanquisher]

I've used care.com and been very happy.


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[MrsK]

Re: care.com - I've gotten a few responses. Now what? Do I interview them in my home? Or do I meet them in a public place?

[L.Jane]

I would do a public place at a non busy time like a starbucks or panera. I did meet at both of my current family's homes but I was very nervous going there. It really depends on your comfort level.

[Vanquisher]

I did interviews at my home, but I was hiring a house cleaner, so I thought it was important to get a sense of what they felt they could do and how long it would take for them to clean the space.


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[SuzySunshine]

I would have liked to do the interviews at like a coffee shop if I could have done them with one kid. I think its important that you get a feel for how they interact with the kids but I didn't want to take both so I did them at my home.

[MrsK]

I was thinking of bring K2 to an interview in a public place on a day that BabyK is in daycare. Then, if I like the sitter, hiring her come on a day when I have both kids at home to watch them while I unpack or do other chores - sort of like a mother's helper audition. That way we can get to know eachother, I can ease BabyK into the relationship, I can teach her our routines, and I can see if she panics when both babies and the dog all freak out at the same time (which happens at least 3 times daily).

Our day care raised its rates but I'll still need it about 2 days weekly to keep up with my Bar activity, CLE, volunteer work, errands, and chores around the house. Also, I want to hold their spots in case I get a job and to assure that BabyK has a spot in the preschool. I was going to send the boys on alternate dates so I'll have alone time with each of them too and so I can do Parents as Teachers with BabyK and an infant group with K2. On the odd occassion that I have 3 meetings in a week to which I cannot bring my kids, I'd send them to daycare the same 2 days and use the sitter for a couple hours on the third.