Frequently asked questions
Parents’ FAQs
How much does findasitter.co.uk cost?
What happens when I register?
What happens when i become a member?
What are the benefits of becoming a member
How do I select the right babysitter?
How do I know if a babysitter is right for me?
How does a babysitter contact me?
What if there are no babysitters in my area?
What is Babysitting?
What is the difference between a babysitter and a nanny or childminder?
How much does a babysitter cost?
How much does findasitter.co.uk cost?
Findasitter.co.uk is the easiest way to find babysitters working in your local area 24 hours a day and it is very affordable. To obtain full access to the directory and contact babysitters listed, parents need to become a member and this costs just £30 a year. After your first year, you are prompted by an email to rejoin. You can cancel your membership at any time, once you no longer need to access the directory information. But the membership fee is non refundable once you have used the service.
What happens when I register?
Once you register, you will be able to do a trial postcode search to see how many babysitters are registered in your area but to contact them you have to become a member. You can also post a job advert, perhaps if you want someone with very special skills. To contact respondents to your advert you do need to become a member.
What happens when i become a member?
When you have filled out the membership form, you will be sent an e-mail to confirm your e-mail address. All you have to do is click on the link provided. This will confirm your membership and you will automatically become an active findasitter member.
You are then able to contact as many potential sitters for a personal interview as you wish through the website and you may keep in contact with them outside of the website if they give their contact details to you.
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
The benefits of becoming a member of Findasitter.co.uk are that the directory is regularly updated (as often as babysitters register and edit their profiles), you can contact as many sitters as you want, when you want, 24 hours a day without going through an agency. The membership is just £30, renewable annually. When you no longer need to access the directory just cancel at any time, by emailing us.
You can contact an unlimited number of babysitters while your membership is active. There is no limit to the number of babysitters you can contact. You might want someone different to look after your children if you are on holiday perhaps, or get to know a few babysitters so that one will always be available if your regular sitter is away or unwell. You can also use Findasitter.co.uk to find a babysitter if you are going away in the UK, perhaps on holiday or to visit friends and family, contact us for more information at info@findasitter.co.uk
Remember this is a national service across the whole of the UK.
An annual membership costs just £30.
But please don’t join until we have babysitters in your area. If you register with us and don’t find any sitters in your area let us know and we will do our best to get babysitters where you live to sign up. You can help us too by printing off one of our A4 flyers and put it up in your local area. Click here
As a parent you can also post a job advert, perhaps if you want someone with very special skills. To contact respondents to your advert you do need to become a member.
How do I select the right babysitter?
Once you are registered, you can use our full search option. In this option you can search the sitter information on your postcode and specific criteria. Use this facility to be choosy if you have specific requirements, like the babysitter must have a CRB or be experienced in looking after twins perhaps. We are certain we have the right babysitter for your family!
How do I know if a babysitter is right for me?
As an employer of a babysitter, you should interview and check out the babysitters who seem to fit what you need. Always ask to see CRB (or police checks), first aid certificates, references, and anything else that is important to you. Findasitter.co.uk is not an agency and part of the reason our service is so affordable is because we do not do background checks, screening, or bookings. Once you subscribe, you will have access to interview information and tips on dealing with sitters.
Always choose a few babysitters to check out and always meet and get to know any babysitter before
you arrange for them to look after your children for the first time. This is your opportunity to see if it will work out and to test how well you get on with them. Remember, they are looking after your precious children. Are they friendly towards your children? Do your children like them? What are their views on television and bedtimes?
How does a babysitter contact me?
Once you have made your selection, you will be able to contact the babysitters via an e-mail link in which you can put your relevant contact information. Other relevant information you might want to tell the babysitter may include: the type of sitting you need, how many children you have, your pets, special requirements, etc. The sitter will then reply and you can make arrangements for an interview.
What if there are no babysitters in my area?
If you find that we don’t yet have babysitters registered in your area (we are a new service), please let us know and we will do our best to get babysitters where you live to register. Don’t forget this is a great way for them to advertise their services and it is free for babysitters to register. Perhaps you have friends or family who might be interested? You can help us by printing off our poster click here and putting it up around your local area (in cafes, libraries, doctors’ surgeries perhaps). Please, DO NOT become a member of findasitter.co.uk if there are no babysitters in your area. We are happy to let you know when we have had babysitters in your area and we will do this by email.
What is Babysitting?
Babysitting is a term used for evening care of babies, newborn babies, toddlers, children, and younger teenagers. Babysitters are people who enjoy spending time with children who work as a babysitter generally to supplement their other income. They come in all shapes and sizes from the teenager who lives next door, mums and grandparents looking to earn a bit extra, to highly trained and qualified individuals who work in a regular day job in child care or education. Babysitting is usually seen as the occasional or more regular evening childcare. Personal preference is always important in your decision of whom you choose to use.
What is the difference between a babysitter and a Nanny or childminder?
A Nanny is highly trained and qualified to care for all ages of children in the parents’ own home, performing all the child care duties a parent would be doing; feeding, playing, bathing, cleaning, taking to crèche, some shopping and meal preparation. A childminder is someone who likes working with children and looks after them in their home, very often around the needs of their own household and family. They both work after children during the working day. Neither is better than the other, it’s down to personal preference and circumstances and sometimes money: a nanny may be the more expensive option (although not always when you have more than one child or can organise a nanny share with another family). Nannies and childminders are great and both can provide excellent day time child care for your child. I have used both for day time childcare and had fantastic experiences with both remaining firm friends with many. A babysitter looks after your children while you are out - usually in the evening or at weekends - so that you can socialise, have a meal, visit friends or do the odd evening meeting. Basically a babysitter helps you keep or rediscover a social life and maybe your sanity too!
How much does a babysitter cost?
This depends on all sorts of things which is why we don’t set a rate. In the area in which I live, the going rate is about £5 - £7 an hour. For weekends or Christmas it might be more. When there are additional children an extra £1 or 50p an hour might be normal. For children with disabilities the rate will be a little higher. It depends on things like:
- The age of your babysitter
- The distance your babysitter has to travel
- The number of children you have (and the closeness of their age)
- The time period and type of job
- The experience of the babysitter
- Whether your children have any disabilities
- How many babysitters there are in your area
Which is why we ask the babysitters on our website to say what they would like to be paid as a starting point for negotiations. But you should always agree the hourly rate before going out and Findasitter.co.uk suggests that you round it up to the next half hour.
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