Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a teenager, or a college student looking for extra income, babysitting has got to be one of the easiest and fastest gigs that you can do. So, if you’re wondering how to get babysitting jobs and earn money on the side, you’ve come to the right place!
Babysitting jobs can be a perfect and rewarding side hustle idea for you most especially if you have experience with kids. It can be flexible, and can make you a full-time or part-time income.
How much can you make babysitting?
Babysitting rates jumped significantly over the years. According to an article in Marketwatch, UrbanSitter’s average per hour rate for one child in 2017 is $15.20 and $16.43 in 2018. The rate would still vary according to the location (California has the highest rate at around $16-$17 per hour and Ohio the lowest at $11-$12 an hour); age and number of the kids, the babysitter’s qualifications, experience, and certifications.
You are likely to earn more as a babysitter if the kids require specialized care and if you need to do additional duties. Meanwhile, CNBC enumerated the circumstances when parents would need to pay more for babysitting, namely: before and after-school care, last-minute help, holidays (New Year, Christmas and Valentines tend to see a spike for sitting demands), the month of August (back-to-school season tend to be more stressful to parents), and homework help.
What makes a good babysitter?
Unsure if you’re going to be a great fit for the babysitter role? Here’s a quick checklist to help you assess yourself:
1. You are responsible
Parents prefer sitters who are responsible for every aspect of the job. you need to come on time and perform your responsibilities. You should know how to handle kids’ demands and tantrums and be able to act fast in case of emergencies (such as an injury).
2. You are resourceful and imaginative
A good babysitter knows how to make play more fun, and not entrust the idle time to YouTube. You need to keep the kids entertained stimulating and educational activities.
3. You are kind
As the adult in the room, you need to show kids kindness. Kindness makes kids more comfortable at your presence, and they’ll be more likely to behave positively around you. kindness is a two-way street, and if you’re the first to show it, kids will mirror the attitude back towards you.
4. You are patient
There’s a reason why we’re often told why patience is the greatest virtue. As a babysitter, you’re dealing with tiny humans who have a limited understanding of the world around them. They might bombard you with silly “why” questions or misbehave while under your watch. It bears to remember that these are kids, and when you feel like your fuse is coming short, you need to find a way to keep it longer.
5. You are flexible
Some parents need someone who won’t just look after their kids, but also do some extra tasks, such as helping with homework, cooking with dinner and cleaning up, picking the kids from school and so on. If you are flexible and willing to extend extra services to your clients, they’ll be more likely to keep coming. On the upside, these extra tasks allow you to charge more.
Now that we’ve established the common traits all awesome babysitter has, let’s get to the nitty-gritty of this business.
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How to get babysitting jobs: The top apps and websites for babysitters
While you can advertise your babysitting jobs weekends services through traditional means, right now, parents and babysitters alike are tapping into technology to serve their needs. If you want to know how to find babysitting jobs, get booked regularly and keep the income coming here are the top apps and websites where you can find babysitting jobs near you.
1. Sittercity
Sittercity is one of the most popular babysitting sites. When you join Sittercity, you need to set up your profile which ideally highlights your skills, experiences, and qualifications as a babysitter. The rates will be negotiated between you and the parents. Sitters may also pay for a background check. According to the site, babysitters with background-checked badges in their profiles tend to get more views from parents than those who don’t.
2. UrbanSitter
UrbanSitter is an easy and free-to-use app and website that allows you to find babysitting jobs in your area. The site basically acts like a job board where you can look through jobs and apply. You get to keep 100% of your income and set your own hourly rate. The good thing about this site parents needs to verify their identities, thereby giving sitters a sense of security when applying for babysitting jobs.
3. Care.com
Care.com is probably the largest website for care providers, such as babysitters, housekeepers, tutors, and senior caregivers, among others. To join Care.com, you will sign up and create a profile. You may opt to become a paid member, which allows you to appear higher in searches, get more referrals through phone or email, and apply for jobs on the site. Care.com is popular because it filters jobs that are most relevant to you, particularly in terms of location. You may also pay Care.com to run a background check on you and parents are more likely to hire sitters with no criminal history.
4. Bambino Sitters
Bambino Sitters is quite a popular babysitting app in the US. It allows you to find babysitting jobs in your local area or neighborhood, rather than around the city. To join Bambino, you need to be recommended by at least one client. If you’ve looked after the kids of your cousin, neighbor or family friend, you may ask them to recommend you to Bambino. Once this part is done, your profile would be visible and you can start getting in more work. Bambino tracks the time you work and deposits payments directly to your bank or Venmo account.
5. SeekingSitters
SeekingSitters takes pride in matching families with the right babysitters. So instead of scouring the site for potential gigs, the site does the work for you. After you registered with the site, the company will run a background check through a private investigator. Once you pass the check, you should start getting matched up. You may be able to find full-time or last-minute bookings. It’s also a great place to find babysitting jobs on weekends.
6. Sitter.com
This is a babysitting jobs app that allows parents to post details of their babysitting needs and then sends it to their preferred babysitters in one go through a text message. The first person to respond “y” gets the gig, and the rest of the sitters are informed that the job has been filled. Additionally, the site also serves as a job board where babysitters can look for babysitting jobs part-time, track their tasks and hours as well as connect with potential clients.
7. Helpr
Helpr is one of the fast-rising babysitting jobs apps that’s often likened to uBer. Basically, parents only need to interview a babysitter once, and after that you get the job. Helpr also has a payment integration system, which means money doesn’t change hands between you and the parent. Instead, you get paid straight to your bank account. It also has a couple of nifty features, such as cancellation protection and 24/7 customer service support.
Babysitting jobs near you: Scoring Babysitting Gigs Is Easier Than Ever
Now you know how to get babysitting jobs, start putting together a fantastic profile, go through background checks (if necessary) and then start applying for babysitting jobs. Part-time and weekend babysitting jobs are some of the best ways to spend your spare time, especially if you’re looking to supplement your household income.
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