Babysitting Advice

LondonDiva

Hello MSE'ers

I'm currently saving like mad for a house deposit and given my likelyhood of a pay rise, I'm going to have to make some extra income.

While at Uni I nannied & babysat and I'm thinking of going back to that for additional income.

I have loads of experience (11 years!); CRB checked for the youth work I do & references, but am stuck as to how to get started. :think:

In the past my jobs & families came from word of mouth & people at Church. Now the kids have grown up & families have moved away and I really don't want to take a step back by asking people at church for work as

1) the babysitting I've been doing there has been voluntary respite stuff for new mums & to encourage couples to go on post baby dates etc & I don't want to create a conflict & 2) I've got a little bit (a lot) of a pride thing going on :rolleyes:.

SO I have a product, in quite a well heeled part of SW London with loads of kids to be babysat ~ but not a clue as to how to tap into the need I know is there.

As canny MSE'ers, how would you go about finding babysitters (I know, I know family!), how much is reasonable etc.

Any advice and pointeers would be gratefully received.

Diva:)

Mado

I've got the same problem but the other way around (unfortunately you sound a bit too far for me...).
I'm desperate to find someone I like to look after my kids after school for 2 days a week, and as much as I have asked around, I can't seem to think of a good way.
There is a website called https://www.nannyjob.co.uk (I think) where you can advertise yourself and families can contact you via email . It is free for everyone . You can also contact people who might look suitable for you.

Tell me if you find a solution ... I'd love to apply it in reverse!

Savvy_Sue

You could advertise in a newsagents, don't know that I'd respond to this but I would if I were desperate and if you mention that you're CRB checked that might help.

Then word of mouth, if you just let it be known that you are available for paid babysitting if anyone knows anyone who can afford to pay you you may get some business that way. I know it sounds daft but we all have pride: I was quite happy to take some free babysitting for church stuff, but preferred to 'pay my way' if I wanted to do anything completely social and not church related.

And I wouldn't have a problem if someone at church was doing both 'free' and paid babysitting.

Ah, now does the church run parenting courses? Or do you know of any locally? See if you can tap into them, maybe go along and make the coffee one week, and give out a 'business card'.

If any more inspiration strikes I'll let you know!

Oh! Do you get paid for offering respite care to the families of disabled children? Would you up for that one Saturday a month? Talk to your local council if so!

foreverskint

try advertising yourself at the local baby clinics, run by the health visitors.

find the local parent & toddler groups, pop in and offer your services. Tht way parents can meet you and get a feel for you and see how you play with the children.

Counting_Pennies_2

Find out the number of your local NCT branch and see if you can put in an advert in the local newsletter that tends to go out once every 2 months.
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/nearest_branch.asp
Some branches charge to put in an advert, others don't, but it will be something small if it is.

Put in all your qualifications and experience, such as CRB etc and maybe try and get a few references too.

One thing you might find if mums are too nervous to leave their precious babies (I was until he turned 1) is to offer help with the baby while mum is in the house. Similar to a doula. You get paid a certain amount of money (I think doulas it is around £8 per hour, not sure what you would get not being an official doula) and you help change nappies, play with baby while mum has a nap and generally take the pressure off.

Hope the above helps

LondonDiva

Mado wrote:

I've got the same problem but the other way around (unfortunately you sound a bit too far for me...).
I'm desperate to find someone I like to look after my kids after school for 2 days a week, and as much as I have asked around, I can't seem to think of a good way.
There is a website called https://www.nannyjob.co.uk (I think) where you can advertise yourself and families can contact you via email . It is free for everyone . You can also contact people who might look suitable for you.

Tell me if you find a solution ... I'd love to apply it in reverse!

Have you tried asking at the kids' school? They may know of a nursery nurse/friend of a friend/teacher looking to make some extra money.

*sigh* You can't beat word of mouth... :rolleyes:

thanks for the advice, I've had a browse on the site & I'll let you know how I get on. Please let me know if it gets sorted.

Diva:)

LondonDiva

Savvy_Sue wrote:

You could advertise in a newsagents, don't know that I'd respond to this but I would if I were desperate and if you mention that you're CRB checked that might help. !

I'm a bit wary of shop windows from both sides of the equation. Problem is most of my work was word of mouth so there was some trust on both sides.

There's always the safety element (mine!) and to be honest, I'm not sure people would be comfortable trusting their children to an ad on a window...

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Then word of mouth, if you just let it be known that you are available for paid babysitting if anyone knows anyone who can afford to pay you you may get some business that way. I know it sounds daft but we all have pride: I was quite happy to take some free babysitting for church stuff, but preferred to 'pay my way' if I wanted to do anything completely social and not church related.

And I wouldn't have a problem if someone at church was doing both 'free' and paid babysitting.

Ah, now does the church run parenting courses? Or do you know of any locally? See if you can tap into them, maybe go along and make the coffee one week, and give out a 'business card'. !

When I started out, it was all via word of mouth & then I had almost too much (not that I'm complaining, it paid for all my expenses at Uni & a year's study abroad!).

The babysitting I've offered for the past 5 years or so, is actually purposefully not for Church activities. There tends to be lots of interest in new borns for the first few weeks and then people forget that parents need some time out to remember how & why they had a life pre-baby. I babysit / take the baby away for a while on the condition that the parents go & do grown up things like going to the cinema, to dinner with other people, shopping etc to try & have some time either on their own or together.

:rolleyes:I'm trying to work on the pride thing, but I'm not sure if I'll conquer it :rolleyes: I'll let you know how that goes, but will look into networking with the parent classes.

Savvy_Sue wrote:

If any more inspiration strikes I'll let you know!

Oh! Do you get paid for offering respite care to the families of disabled children? Would you up for that one Saturday a month? Talk to your local council if so!

The respite care is unpaid for families I know... I hadn't even considered contacting the council to get on a list ~ I'll send an email to social services asap to check :D:D:D

Diva:)

alyssa_mae

There is a web site called net mums. look for the one for your area then u can advertise on the childcare board. also u find people looked for evening babysitters on there as well.

I work for an agency called sitters I done this for almost 4 years and its a nice little earner. you are vetted thoroughly but it also helps if you have a proffesion involving children. I am a registared childminder and a lot of the sitters are teachers. The have a website https://www.sitters.co. uk I think. I don't know if they cover your area but u could have a look.

LondonDiva

foreverskint wrote:

try advertising yourself at the local baby clinics, run by the health visitors.

find the local parent & toddler groups, pop in and offer your services. Tht way parents can meet you and get a feel for you and see how you play with the children.

I hadn't thought of trying this... I'll add it to my todo list! :D

Counting_Pennies wrote:

Find out the number of your local NCT branch and see if you can put in an advert in the local newsletter that tends to go out once every 2 months.
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare....rest_branch.asp
...
One thing you might find if mums are too nervous to leave their precious babies (I was until he turned 1) is to offer help with the baby while mum is in the house.

thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into this too.

Diva:)

alyssa_mae

I've just found a website that covers all areas nationwide
https://www.abtotchildcare.co.uk
hope this helps.

LondonDiva

alyssa_mae wrote:

There is a web site called net mums. look for the one for your area then u can advertise on the childcare board. also u find people looked for evening babysitters on there as well.

I work for an agency called sitters I done this for almost 4 years and its a nice little earner. you are vetted thoroughly but it also helps if you have a proffesion involving children. I am a registared childminder and a lot of the sitters are teachers. The have a website https://www.sitters.co. uk I think. I don't know if they cover your area but u could have a look.

Thanks

I'll look into it & feedback

Diva