Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Babysitting and childcare Beta
A neighbor who watches your kids while you're out: meals, play, bath and bedtime, following your rules and routine.
- How often
- As needed
- Where the work happens
- Looking after people or pets
- Who it suits
- Can suit a teen, with a parent's okay
- Before you start
- Check local rules
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
A babysitter takes care of your children while you're away for a date night, a work event, an appointment or a few hours to yourself. The job is keeping kids safe, fed and happy, and following the family's routine.
Parents usually want someone they can call again and again, whom the kids already know and like, and who lives close enough to come over on a weeknight without a long trip home late at night.
A sitter from the neighborhood may already know your family, your street and the kids at the bus stop. That familiarity helps, but it never replaces meeting them, calling references and trusting your own judgement as the parent.
Also called: babysitting, date night babysitter, childcare, sitter for tonight, after school babysitter, evening babysitter.
What's usually included
- Watching and playing with the children the whole time you're gone
- Meals or snacks you approve, and cleaning up afterward
- Bath, pajamas and bedtime following your routine
- Homework help, if you ask
- Picking up the kids' toys and dishes
- A report when you get home: how it went, what they ate, when they fell asleep
What to ask before you hire
- Your children's ages, plus any allergies, medical needs or fears the sitter must know about
- House rules on screens, snacks, visitors, phones and outside play
- Is the sitter allowed to drive the kids anywhere or take them out of the house?
- When do you expect to be home, and how will a late return be handled?
- How will the sitter get home afterward, especially if they're a teen?
- Where are the first aid kit, emergency numbers and your home address written down?
Staying safe
- Parents: meet the sitter first, call their references, and try a short session while you're home
- Leave your address, emergency contacts, allergy and medical information, and how to reach you, all in writing
- The parents stay in charge: the sitter follows their rules and calls them first, or emergency services in an emergency
- Sitters: don't open the door to anyone the parents haven't named, and never leave a child alone in the bath or near water
Local rules
Some cities, counties and states have rules for paid childcare — for example a license once someone cares for children from several families or watches kids in their own home. Check your local rules before you hire a sitter or offer childcare.
Babysitting and childcare by town
Questions people ask
What should I check before hiring a babysitter?
Meet them, ask for references from other families and call them, ask about first aid training, and read the ratings other neighbors have left. Ratings help, but the choice is yours as the parent.
How do I find a sitter for a regular weeknight?
Look for neighbors who offer babysitting in your town, or post a Need on Papalocal describing the night, the kids' ages and what you're looking for.
What age is old enough to babysit?
That depends on the child, the sitter and your local rules. Starting a younger teen with a short daytime job, while you're nearby, is a good way to see how they do.
Should the sitter come over before the first night?
Yes. A short visit while you're home lets the kids meet them and lets you see how they get along before you leave them in charge.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- Babysitting can suit a responsible teen with their own parent's OK as well as adults; each family decides whom they're comfortable with
- Take an infant and child CPR and first aid class from a recognized provider, and keep the card with you
- Meet each family before your first job, and bring references from other families you've sat for
- Ask the parents to write down the routine, allergies and emergency contacts, and follow them exactly
- Set your own price for your area, thinking about the number of kids, their ages, late nights and holidays
- Show up with a book or a game and leave the house as you found it; families call back the sitter their kids ask for by name
