Finding a Last Minute Baby Sitter

While children are undeniably a blessing, they are also a responsibility. Many parents have had to forego many a date night, spontaneous adventure, or last minute vacation deals in order to provide care for their children in the absence of a responsible and affordable babysitter. While it is inevitable that some sacrifices must be made in order to attend to your children, last minute babysitters do exist, if you know where to look for them. Having a babysitter pool that you can draw from when you really need to get away can be invaluable to the health of your marriage and personal well-being.

Your Network

Some of the best last minute babysitters may be sitting right under your nose. Friends and family are typically eager to help you care for the kids at a moment’s notice, if you only ask. Instead of assuming that you will be a burden on them, realize that your family and friends love your kids and may very well be delighted to have a day or two to hang out with them.

Social networking sites are a great way to ask your friends for last minute babysitting help without putting individual pressure on them to say yes. Simply post your request for a last minute sitter and whoever is up for the adventure can reply to your post in a matter of seconds. Additionally, if your friends and family are not able to watch the kids themselves, they may be able to refer you to a trusted individual within their own sphere, who might be able to help.

Professionals

While you may not know the individual sitters assigned to watch your children through a reputable babysitting service, you can be certain that each sitter has been thoroughly screened by the agency beforehand. If you need a last minute sitter, you can simply call an agency (such as Care-On-Call, Sitter City, etc.) and they take care of the rest. Depending on how much notice you give the company, you may be able to request a specific sitter, or they may just alert several sitters on their list and send whichever qualified respondent calls in first to take the job.

The sitter service to which you entrust your children assumes responsibility for the care of your children. This legal responsibility holds them to a high standard in terms of the care providers that they choose to send to your home.

Forums

Free forums such as Craigslist are also a great place to find last minute babysitters. Either post your need in the “domestic” or “childcare” forums, or you can simply browse through the lengthy list of babysitters that have posted their own availability. If you are in a real time pinch, stick to posters that include a telephone number where they can be reached, as email communication has the potential to take up more of your precious searching time. Make sure that any sitter you choose can provide you with impeccable references that you yourself can call.