Elfie34 Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 I have a wedding coming up and need to find a babysitter. No family or friends near by. We are in eastern suburbs in Melbourne. How do you find a trusted baby sitter???I have never had someone babysit myKids and feel I need to start looking into this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Are your kids young enough for daycare? If they are, could you approach the centre manager to see if staff can/ allowed to do mind minding after hours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandelbrot Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 How old are your kids? I ask around other parents e.g. At school, or if they're still at child care most centres have a babysitting policy where you can ask for one of the carers (great as your kids know them). I've also used sittr.com.au and started with a short session before booking in a longer one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfie34 Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Good idea kiwi but they are 6 and 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandelbrot Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 When I say I ask other parents, I ask for recommended babysitters... Although I've also offered to look after my kids' friends as it's usually no bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Then school friends of your kids would probably be best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfie34 Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Would anyone use a male babysitter? Dh has a friend who’s uni age son Babysits... I feel uncomfortable for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbean Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Depends how well you know them I guess. My friend's step son does the school run for a family they know (picks the son up, plays at the park, gets him a snack, does homework with him). . He's 19. And I would be perfectly happy to have him babysit my child when she's older Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BECZ Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 You could still possibly ask at a local daycare centre if they have staff that do after hours.Otherwise I’d be asking school friends.Otherwise do each of your kids have a friend who you’d be comfortable with asking for them to have a play date/sleepover with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornToLove Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 We have always found our baby sitters through word of mouth, usually a work colleague or school mum with older teens. It’s always worked well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaCosette Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Since my older kids have been at school, I've relied on their friends' parents when I've needed someone to mind them. It works out well because then their child has a friend to play with. If that's not an option, I'd be asking around for recommendations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twit Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Not sure if it's still around but back when I had little ones i used findababysitter.com.au. You can select your criteria eg first aid cert, WWCC etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 https://www.findababysitter.com.au/ does seem to be the only fairly active one in Australia to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sincerely Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 I agree with others who’ve suggested asking your kids’ friends’ parents for babysitter recommendations. It might be that one of these parents would welcome a bit of extra cash and offer to do the babysitting themselves or they may offer to babysit for a reciprocal favour in future (assuming you can reciprocate). If not, they may still know a good babysitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murderino Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 If your child was friends with mine and you asked me for a recommendation for a babysitter I’d offer to have them for a sleepover and I’d have both kids for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Do you know any other wedding guests? Could you ask who's minding their kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twit Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Would anyone use a male babysitter? Dh has a friend who’s uni age son Babysits... I feel uncomfortable for some reason I would and have used male babysitters. I prefer to meet them first to see how I felt about them and how they interacted with my kids. But I would like to do that anyway male or female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfie34 Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 findababysitter is closing down in April and wont take new subscriptions!i feel like in Australia we dont use babysitters as extensively as they do in America. But maybe thats because ive never done it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyOMy Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Word of mouth for sure, ask your kids friends or in a classroom chat group if you have them. Or else ask your kids friends if they can have a sleep over.! Then you get the morning to recover a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 There may be a local babysitting and childcare Facebook group in your area, there certainly is in mine. People looking for babysitters always get a few people putting their hand up.Also, I think Australians do use babysitters, they just use other ways to find them. Surely it’s pretty normal for parents to sometimes go out at night without their kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreme Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Ask the parents of your kids friends for recommendations. Are there any teens living in your neighbourhood? Once our next door neighbour’s DD was old enough she did all our babysitting. It’s that extra layer of security knowing their parents are close by if there is an emergency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 findababysitter is closing down in April and wont take new subscriptions!i feel like in Australia we dont use babysitters as extensively as they do in America. But maybe thats because ive never done it!!! It's much more common for Americans to move interstate when they go to college, or for work, and not have family support nearby. Also they get their licence at 16 so teenagers have more independence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillipa Crawford Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Local community facebook group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seayork2002 Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 There may be a local babysitting and childcare Facebook group in your area, there certainly is in mine. People looking for babysitters always get a few people putting their hand up.Also, I think Australians do use babysitters, they just use other ways to find them. Surely it’s pretty normal for parents to sometimes go out at night without their kids? Not every one has the option but ds was mainly at his grandparents, other relatives or friends places.I do think we live fairly boring lives but we have never had an event where we needed to pay for a baby sitterI have nothing against the Idea but it costs enough to go out I am not paying to have a babysitter on top of that no event would be worth that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfie34 Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 There may be a local babysitting and childcare Facebook group in your area, there certainly is in mine. People looking for babysitters always get a few people putting their hand up.Also, I think Australians do use babysitters, they just use other ways to find them. Surely it’s pretty normal for parents to sometimes go out at night without their kids? Not every one has the option but ds was mainly at his grandparents, other relatives or friends places.I do think we live fairly boring lives but we have never had an event where we needed to pay for a baby sitterI have nothing against the Idea but it costs enough to go out I am not paying to have a babysitter on top of that no event would be worth that Cost is why I’ve never done it! Plus no family and I guess not enough friends!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.