Where do you find an trustworthy honest reliable babysitter ???

freebiequennie

I too would agree with searching sites such as netmums, mumsnet, childcare.co.uk, gumtree

there are agencies such as sitters and safehands network

or ask at local pre-school, nurseries, local childminders.

some babysitters/nannies have own websites. Many nannies and childminders also babysit. I have my own website as an maternity night nanny and babysitter and know many others who do also so maybe a google search. I cover east midlands but if you type in babysitter and area into google many matches come up.

You would need to check they have a crb, get references both written and verbal if its someone completely new to you, have a couple of half hr/hr sessions where they get to know your daughter and first few times book them 45mins earlier than you need (i know cost implication) so you are all happy and you feel happy to go out.

tyllwyd

I've used sitters a few times and I was very happy with the babysitters they sent. You can build up a history on their website, so that you can state who your preferred babysitter would be (and anyone you don't want to use again).

2ba3c

We asked friends for suggestions and also found one on childcare.co.uk - er mt up with her and she brought all her documents (educational/crb etc) - she was lovely.

Good luck!

jackyann

Contact your local FE college and ask if you can put a notice up - specifying someone doing a childcare (or similar) course - as they have both the experience & CRB checks (the FE colleges I used had noticeboards specific to the child care students so that was easy)
Meet them first to get the measure yourself, then ask to tea with your LO. If happy with them, do make sure you see them regularly so LO is used to them.

gratefulforhelp_2

Nursery or preschool, these days tons of people are trying to maximise their incomes. x

claire16c

Just to say that I think you should get a feel for the person and or recommendations and not just rely on a crb etc. Im sure as a parent you will know who you will feel comfortable with or not when you meet them. Just because someone has a crb doesnt mean you should just hand your kids over, and vice versa.

I dont have a crb because Ive never worked in a job that has required one - and even when I once worked as a nanny for 3 months because only companies can apply for them and not single people, the Mum couldnt even get one for me without playing a massive fee to an agency so she didnt get one in the end.

Yet Ive looked after tons of children over the years and have really good references and familes who trust me.

However my husband who works at a gym, has to have a crb because apparently incase a kid comes in the gym? But Im sure that plenty of his mates who work there wouldnt have a clue about kids etc. And a crb check is only to show what has happened in a persons past/what they were caught doing.

So I think that your own instinct can be the most important thing rather than just a check that at the end of the day only shows stuff in the past. Sometimes I think that people get very caught up things like crb checks but dont actually spend much time getting to know the person.

fluffypocket

Some registered childminders also offer a babysitting service . They would be crb checked and you can see their latest ofsted report. You should be able to get details of childminders in your area from your local authority or surestart childrens centre they would also probably know of those that offer a babysitting service. I hope that helps

Abbafan1972

I can also recommend sitters.co.uk. It depends on where you live but a 4 hour booking would usually cost about £25.

We have a regular sitter that we usually get, we've only got a different one on a couple of occasions.