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When did you start using non-family babysitters?
We are lucky to have both sets of parents in fairly close proximity, so we've been able to call on them to babysit when we've needed it. But I'd also like to have someone local that we can use from time to time. DS sleeps through the night, so even having someone who could basically house sit and be there in case of emergency after he goes down, so we can go see a movie or something, would be great.
So, I just sent a message to two of the moms in our neighborhood to ask if they have any recommendations. My next door neighbor, who has a 5 year old and a 3 year old, just responded with the following:
"We have never used a sitter before...crazy!!! I have had a friend watch the girls maybe twice in their lives. Yikes! Our family is so no help so guess we have learned to deal."
That's a little crazy, right? I'm not weird for considering leaving my 10 month old with a sitter on occasion, am I?
And as a side note, has anyone used sittercity.com or anything like that?
Re: When did you start using non-family babysitters?
That's crazy. We have watched our friends' kids -- I feel like that is just something friends do!
MOTY here -- DS2 is only five months old and has had a non family sitter three times so far.
We found our sitter through neighborhood recommendations.
I clearly don't have kids but I agree with Amy...you should be able to ask friends. I've watched our friend's kids and if my family couldn't do it, I'd ask them in return.
I think it would take a while though before I'd hire a stranger though. But if it was a recommendation through someone I trusted, I'd be more inclined.
ETA: To answer your original question, I dont think its nuts to leave your kid with a sitter at 10 months old. Sometimes you need a night out!
My little nuggets
Thank you, ladies!
And HW, thanks for the offer...I may take you up on it some time!
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD
This is pretty much us. We were stuck for a sitter for a wedding when he was about 7 months old so one of my girlfriends watched him for us. Otherwise, we've been lucky to have family available.
I'm super paranoid about other folks watching him. It's not that I wouldn't use an outside the family sitter, but I'd just rather have someone personally recommended over a website.
ETA: I'm also happy to watch the little guy if you're ever stuck!
In 11 years, I have never had a non family member watch my darlings but only because we have such a large family so close to us, we are fortunate to never have to. We try not to ask the grandparents because they watch Anna during the week but occassionally they take them for overnight dates if we have somewhere we have to go. I will usually ask one of my cousins or a friend if we want a date night. And their godmothers always beg to take them so I gladly hand them off if the opportunity arises.
We did just say though that we are going to look into getting one of the neighborhood girls one night. I would feel more comfortable with that than someone from a website.
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
I once threw m at Amynumbers unannounced and she watched him for me. Godsend.
My parents love to come watch him so if I know in advance I just ask them. I'm pretty sure m would stay with anyone to be honest.
We really just started last year, because like Kell, we have tons of family that ask to do it. I have nieces that will come and do overnights. My SIL offered to take Charlie and Sam for a week when I am in the hospital with #3. Rumdrinx helped me out in a jam once too - mr. eagles was leaving on a Sunday night for a work trip and there was a 4pm Eagles - Dallas game. Thank goodness for her, because shortly after I found out I was pg so that was kind of my last hurrah
Amynumbers also sat for us once while we went out for our anniversary. This board has great babysitters!
All that said, we did want someone local for dinners out. A friend of my sister's who owned the daycare her kids went to, moved to Drexel Hill and has a teenage daughter that goes to Prendie. The kids love her and she is reliable and I felt better because I know her parents, so she wasn't really a stranger
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
I am like a Nest Nanny!
The day M showed up at my door was a riot. I carried him down into our rumpus room and Mr. Numbers was all "Where the hell did M come from?"
I didn't know our non-family babysitter from a hole in the wall, but she was recommended on our neighborhood facebook group by someone (who I do not know from a hole in the wall) she nannies for.
I had her come over for an hour (with pay) to sniff out whether she was a serial killer. She hasn't robbed us yet, so that's cool.
I did get a recommendation from a neighbor, but she's going off to college in the fall, so even if she works out it will be temporary.
I do like the fact that a lot of the people on care.com/sittercity have background checks. I know that's not foolproof, but it does add some layer of comfort.
You know what - use her because chances are she will know someone who is going to college locally or has friends going into their senior year of HS
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
Brilliant. You're so right.