Babysitting - any ideas/hints/info?

ladylouise62

Since I am now only getting half-time work, I was trying to come up with any other ways of adding to the money as I'm not quite covering basic bills. It just dawned on me that babysitting (I mean the evening sort) was a possibility, but I have had no experience of it since I was a teenager in the 70s - and I expect that things have changed a bit since then.
So:
- Would it be possible for a middle-aged woman to get babysitting jobs
- where would you find them
- what do people pay nowadays
- ... anything else that I hadn't thought of asking :-)

hermum

You could try advertising on gumtree, but don't put your phone number on, as you can get some weird replies, cards in local shops, or ask friends who know young families if any of them need babysitters.
There are agencies for babysitters, it may be worth googling to see if there are any in your area, you could then get your CRB check done through them unless you have a current one through your job.
Most people now who want a babysitter seem to want a police check & first aid certificates. Not like in the 70's when I was also babysitting.

MrsGSR

There is a a company you can sign up with called sitters. Your local authority childcare website may also have vacancies I know ours does.

louisaL

Hi I own a childcare agency and have a babysitter register. The one thing we ask for at least is a CRB check which you can get done through most Nanny agencies and umbrella organisations.

It would be worth (if you can remember) writing up a cv to include the ages of the children and the duties of the babysitting you have done in the past.

We ask for 2 childcare references (usually families the Nannies/babysitters have worked for) and at least 1 character reference. Every company is different but if you chose to go through an agency this is usually what they ask for.

I supply babysitters for a 5* hotel in luton and cover Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire so if you live in any of these counties or happy to babysit in any of them just let me know

louisaL

Also you can advertise yourself on findababysitter.com, childcare.co.uk and nannyjob.co.uk

ladylouise62

Thanks. Looks like I've got some work to do first :-)

Marteebies

You could do a simple health and safety or first aid course to add to your credentials and it is always a good thing to have on your CV as you move forwards anyway! Local councils usually run cheap courses in the evenings!

sweetilemon

I think it depends where you live and how much you expect to make. Where i live its young people who are asked because they are cheap £3/hr type thing but i suppose in bigger place it might be different. Im in my early twenties but everyone knows everyone here i think if i suggested to anyone they would assume i meant for nothing...so i dont bother. Hope you get some work.