Does anyone know a reliable evening babysitter?

Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
I'm looking for an evening babysitter in the Weeping Cross area for Monday night (Dec 22nd).

I know it's short notice, we did have someone, we were supposed to meet her today but she didn't turn up and is not answering her phone. (There is nothing wrong with us that might put her off, honest ...)

It will be a good rate of pay because there are four children.
 
Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks Withnail, I have already contacted that lady and she wasn't available. I have a couple of things to try tomorrow morning.

I'm really annoyed at the babysitter who was supposed to meet up with us today. She seemed really nice and normal on the phone, the only odd thing was that she said she charged £6 an hour, and when I said that was too little for 4 children / below minimum wage / below living wage, she said she didn't really need the money as she had a day job. She wasn't a teenager, she said she was 35. So why do babysitting at all then?

Anyway, better to be let down now rather than on Monday night.
 
Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
Hi Staffordjas, I have sent you a pm too. I have found someone for Monday now.

I suggest that anyone who does babysitting post on here, because there does seem to be a shortage of babysitters. There are some sites that claim to allow you to post your details for free, whether you are a parent or a babysitter / childcarer, but in order to contact others on the site you have to pay, typically £20 / month. And if someone who has paid tries to contact you, you cannot reply unless you have paid. I just paid up in the end.
 
acpoynton

acpoynton

Well-Known Forumite
Might be a stupid question but if someone advertises their services on a website do they have to have a CRB? Guessing a lot of people would rather use a neighbours teenage child than go through a website.
 
Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
The crb isn't compulsory, but they can get one and then indicate on the site that they have one. Then it is up to the parent to ask to see a copy. I suppose copies could be faked. I have no idea what they should look like.
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
acpoynton said:
Might be a stupid question but if someone advertises their services on a website do they have to have a CRB? Guessing a lot of people would rather use a neighbours teenage child than go through a website.
Click to expand...

I would of thought it should be compulsory as you can't be employed working with children without one. Also as a parent leaving a child for the first time with a new babysitter I would guess a parent would want the carer to have one. I work with children and I have to have one through my employer and when I have gone into premises to do events I have had to have a another one done, they only last for so long you have to have regular updates, I suppose it's because it doesn't stop people committing offences after they are issued.
 
littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
Floss67 said:
I would of thought it should be compulsory as you can't be employed working with children without one. Also as a parent leaving a child for the first time with a new babysitter I would guess a parent would want the carer to have one. I work with children and I have to have one through my employer and when I have gone into premises to do events I have had to have a another one done, they only last for so long you have to have regular updates, I suppose it's because it doesn't stop people committing offences after they are issued.
Click to expand...
I really don't know what to suggest to @Apricot , but I wouldn't think advertising for a babysitter on a public forum is the best idea, I wouldn't leave my daughter with half of my relatives* - never mind a stranger that I didn't know from offa the tinterweb ..... God knows what you'll end up with.

*which is why we never go out & have no social life.

At the end of the day you have to decide if a night out is more important than your (4) kids welfare ...

Good luck, hope you get something (safe) sorted. :)
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
littleme said:
I really don't know what to suggest to @Apricot , but I wouldn't think advertising for a babysitter on a public forum is the best idea, I wouldn't leave my daughter with half of my relatives* - never mind a stranger that I didn't know from offa the tinterweb ..... God knows what you'll end up with.

*which is why we never go out & have no social life.

At the end of the day you have to decide if a night out is more important than your (4) kids welfare ...

Good luck, hope you get something (safe) sorted. :)
Click to expand...


I suppose another option could be to invite friends round and if they have children invite theirs for a sleepover, have the first part of the evening watching a film which would be suited towards the children, or let them watch it in their room with some snacks, whilst the adults have a meal and chat downstairs, that way no expensive babysitter or worrying if your children or safe and you get a good time and so do the kids.
 
Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
We were due to meet the second babysitter today, so we could both be reassured about each other, and she has cancelled too, claiming sickness!! Truly, there is nothing wrong with us, and I don't know why this is happening. We do not at all resemble characters from "The Hills Have Eyes" - could it be that they have heard rumours about Weeping Cross?

Anyway, staffordjas is going to do it, at very short notice, so thank you to her for that. She has met us and did not seem particularly repelled by us.

It isn't just an ordinary night out, or we would have given up by now. It is my husband's works party, he hasn't worked there long and if we cancelled now it might make him seem unreliable. After all, who would believe that two separate babysitters had let us down? The company have paid for us as well.

We did try asking around people we knew with teenagers and the teenagers were not interested. That did not really surprise me as I know two families where the parents have ended up doing the teenager's paper round.
 
staffordjas

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Apricot said:
Anyway, staffordjas is going to do it, at very short notice, so thank you to her for that. She has met us and did not seem particularly repelled by us.
Click to expand...
Nice to meet you and your family today Apricot. It will be a case of 3rd time lucky....see you tomorrow night :)

littleme said:
God knows what you'll end up with.
Click to expand...

ME :D
Having met formurites WMR and Rikki quite a few times , hopefully they will vouch for me that I'm not the local nutter ;)

(CRB checked as well having worked in the local schools.)
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
My 15 year old daughter is available for baby sitting duties. She has some satisfied parents who will vouch for her if required. She's very responsible and is happy to meet the family/children prior to actually sitting. My neighbours 4 year old raved about my daughter all the next day after she babysat the other day. PM me if anyone needs her :)
 
Apricot

Apricot

Well-Known Forumite
My youngest daughter (aged 5) has been crying saying "I miss my babysitter ..."

I think Staffordjas will have to move in with us!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top