“It’s one of the reasons we don’t go out as much as we would like to,” Kettering mom Amanda Caton said. “We have done a kid swap before, and her godparents watch her sometimes, but the older she gets, the more inclined we would be to go out, so it would be nice to have a steady baby sitter.”
Where to begin
For many parents, the neighborhood is a perfect starting point. Transportation, after all, is not an issue if there is a dependable teen or, even tween, living next door. An added bonus is that you most likely know the family, which can increase your level of trust and help the sitter feel more comfortable if they need backup while you are out.
“Word of mouth is a good start and, if you know the family, that helps, too,” Caton said.
But not everyone has access to a throng of eager and experienced childcare providers within walking distance. Then it might be time to take to the phone or the computer.
“I’m a UD grad and I was in Chi Omega (sorority), so I called the president of Chi Omega to see if anyone would be interested,” Washington Twp. mom Carla Rush said.
It was the best phone call Rush could have made, as Jessica became the family’s go-to sitter for three years until she graduated earlier this year.
“She really became part of our family,” Rush said.
Area colleges are one starting point, but moms can also contact their local high school or church for possible baby sitter suggestions or contacts. Daycare centers may also have teachers who baby-sit on the side.
Springboro mom Laurie Hurlburt discovered that finding quality care for her two children required little more than a few clicks of her computer mouse.
“We’re not from the area and we didn’t have a support system when we moved here,” Hurlburt said. “So, a friend introduced me to The Sitter Connection.”
Hurlburt was initially a bit apprehensive about contracting online with sitters who she had never met.
“That was until we started seeing the quality of the sitters,” she said. “They are very consistent and most are current college students with a lot of experience.”
The Sitter Connection, founded in Dayton in 2003, provides members with baby sitters who have gone through a screening process that includes an essay-based application, interview and background check.
Member parents go to the site to request a time. While they don’t communicate directly with the baby sitters, parents can make requests for sitters they have previously employed. Hurlburt has used the service as many as 40 times over the past year and a half.
“The quality of the sitters and the flexibility it provides are wonderful,” she said.
What to pay
Finding a sitter is only part of the equation as figuring out a fair rate can be challenging for parents and baby sitters alike.
“It depends on things like the number of kids, how old they are, the number of hours and whether they want me to do other things like cooking,” baby sitter Allison Cleaver said.
The Dayton 16-year-old gets paid $7.50 an hour for watching three boys ranging in age from 6 to 10 every week. Some families she works for, however, pay $10 or more an hour.
Baby-sitting hourly rates in the area can run the gamut from minimum wage to $25 an hour, as advertised on Care.com.
“If it’s just one of the kids, we pay $10 an hour, and more like $12 for both of them,” Rush said. “I feel like, with college students, you have to pay a little more.”
Caton also has paid a flat fee of $25 for two or three hours of childcare.
Kid swaps can be the most economical (generally free), but it does come with the commitment to watch your friend’s child or children at a date to be determined.
Services like The Sitter Connection and Sittercity take the guesswork out of the babysitter pay dilemma as they have standard rates. The Sitter Connection requires a one-time registration fee of $45 and charges a placement fee in addition to the $8-an-hour rate paid to the babysitter for up to two children.
Sittercity charges either a monthly or annual membership fee as well as a signup fee but offers a free seven-day trial on its website.
Most moms seem to agree that the cost is less important than the quality of care when it comes to their children.
“You want someone who will be 100 percent focused on the kids,” Hurlburt said. “That’s what matters most.”
A sampling of Miami Valley moms shared with us what they look for in a good baby-sitter. Here are the top qualities they cited:
1. Reliable
2. Dependable
3. Punctual
4. Honest
5. Interactive and engaged with the children
6. Babysitting certification and/or first aid training
7. Experience, especially with children in a specific age range
8. Positive feedback from their children, did they have fun?
9. Strong references, word-of-mouth
Breaking into the sitter business
Teens and tweens who want to start babysitting can increase their marketability with a babysitting course under their belt. The American Red Cross offers classes throughout the year as do area recreation centers like the Kettering Recreation Complex.
“People don’t usually ask if you’ve taken a class or if you’re certified, but it helps to mention it when you are meeting a family for the first time,” Chaminade-Julienne junior Allison Cleaver said.
The American Red Cross offers Babysitter’s Training sessions. Here is a list of a few upcoming classes. Check with your local Red Cross chapter for more options:
Nov. 6, Springboro Public Library, 125 Park Lane, Springboro
Nov. 13, 9 a.m.: American Red Cross Dayton Area Chapter, 370 West 1st St., Dayton
Nov. 20, 9 a.m.: Fairhaven Church, 637 East Whipp Road, Centerville
Nov. 27 and Dec. 18: American Red Cross Clark County Chapter, 1830 North Limestone St., Springfield
Dec. 4, 9 a.m.: American Red Cross Dayton Area Chapter, 370 West 1st St., Dayton
You must be 11-15 years old. Cost is $50. For more information, visit www.dac.redcross.org.
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