Babysitting

skullncrossbones

So really want to start doing some babysitting and was wondering if anyone had any advice on where to advertise? I'm a level 2 nursery nurse, with 3 years experience and have babysat before. I've advertised on gumtree and other childcare websites but are there any that people have got work from as I'm not having much luck! thank you.

beth.stephenson2009

Try Nannyjob. You can register as a babysitter on there.

It might be worth contacting your local baby and toddler groups, and asking if you can leave flyers or something. And advertising in your local newspaper.

skintmum2012

Hi babysitting would be really good to earn a little extra i know a women who dose it full time. As a mum i would never take someone off gum tree or any other site like that to look after my kids could you use the preschool as your way in as i would feel much better having someone from the preschool look after them and i think in the end its all really word of mouth.

yalisrib

I advertised on findababysitter.com and a week later was babysitting up my road. Have you babysat before?I found it helpful if you say that you have experience and are willing to provide references, let the parents call your boss to confirm identity etc. A lot of new mums ae terrified of leaving their kids but have little choice.
Good Luck

cottonhead

You might want to put up a business card in local nurseries if they will let you. I know someone who works in a nursery and often does babysitting at the weekends for people who use the nursery. You wont be taking the nursries business away as they are closed so shouldnt be a problem !
From a personal point of view I would only use somone I knew. Would never trust someone out the paper etc so I dont think advertising in that way would be very useful. Your local family infomation service ( run by the council ) might help but you often have to be OFSTED registered before they will add your deatails.

icecreamdogpark

We`ve had girls handing out flyers outside schools before that way your babysitting stays really local

Nikadi

Try sitters, they're a national agency that take qualified (usually level 3) or experienced girls. Advertising on netmums has given me a couple of responses, asking on Mumsnet for advice about my cv got me a full time nanny job last year (but I am a regular poster, they don't appreciate unknown posters turning up and advertising services so be warned! Go on looking for advice and a regular might offer some hours!) and I paid for a childcare.co.uk membership back in November and had a couple of babysitting jobs from it (though I wouldn't pay just for babysitting, I paid as I was after nanny work, got my two nanny jobs from it!) I have had nothing from findababysitter but I know that it's more active in other areas.

If you have any related qualifications list them as that helps and if you haven't, seek out quals, the money spent is worth it if you're looking at childcare as a long term option.

Try advertising in the Friday ad if it's in your area, and in local corner shops.

Good luck

Thriftee3

One really effective way that a 16 year old did in my neighbourhood was she did an A4 sized flyer about herself with a photo and her biography. She made it clear in her ad that she hadn't been babysitting for long, but that she went to a local school, had good grades, was responsible an older sibling in her family. She also listed her parents phone numbers and stated that after the initial interview, she would provide her address, character references including her school principal and teacher and a phone number for an aunt she had regularly baby sat for.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I thought she did a really good job of building trust in her ad. I didn't need any services at the time, but a friend on my street ended up hiring her 2 nights per fortnight and was really pleased.

Hope that helps