Get a Baby Sitting Job

A lot of people get their first job experience as a babysitter. This "how-to" will teach you how to get a babysitting job.

Steps

  1. Make sure you have experience in babysitting, or you can get a reference from someone who thinks you will do well. Your experience can even be just having watched a little brother or sister, or helping out at a daycare.
  2. Ask your relatives, friends, or parents' co-workers if they know anyone who needs a babysitter.
  3. Know the going rate. Determine how much you want to be paid, how many children you can handle, and what time you can babysit until. Discuss the pay with the parent if your price seems too high.
  4. Advertise. Nobody's going to come to you if you don't advertise! Go around your neighborhood and look for people who are outside with children. Tell them that you can help babysit if they need help. Also you could always make little business cards and hand those out at church, school or if your neighborhood needs child care help! Tell them more about yourself! Post flyers, give out pamphlets.
  5. Arrange to meet the people who need a babysitter. You will need to find out how many children will you need to take care of, what will be your pay, emergency numbers, and other safety concerns. Also, be certain to find out how you will get there and how you will get back home!
  6. Ask them to refer you to others. After you have done a job, you can ask their parents if they can tell others about you. That way a lot of people would know that you can help!



Tips

  • Arrive a few minutes early for each job, especially on the first day: you want to learn about the house (the locks alarms etc)and meet the kid(s)But don't arrive too early!.
  • Talk to the parents to find out what the bedtime is, entertainment ideas, snack needs, and any extra responsibilities.
  • Know how you are getting home. Are your parents picking you up? Are you walking home? If not, always make sure you feel safe with the parents before they drive you home. If they have been drinking all night it might be a good choice to call home and see if your parents can drive you home.
  • Asking questions is ALWAYS a good idea. The more you ask, the better. It will help make the parents feel safer leaving you with their child when they are certain you know exactly what to do.
  • If you know someone who might be a potential babysitting client, make sure to be social with the parents
  • Bring your own set of toys when you babysit, call it the surprise bag. Kids love surprises. Also stock it with a mini first aid kit, an address book, and craft supplies.
  • If you are babysitting girls, they might love to have their nails done, or you can show them how to make friendship bracelets (if they're old enough)
  • Be nice to the kids, and they will love when you come over.
  • Try to get yourself out there, flyers in mail boxes work!
  • Take a course: chances are having a red cross certification will get you more jobs.
  • Make sure to do a great job babysitting the first time. If you do the parents might recommend you to other parents.
  • Try to know what the kids like to do like ps3 or Xbox to keep them entertained or sports like football or rugby.
  • Join a babysitting website like http://www.care.com/, https://www.sittercity.com/, or http://www.babysitters.com/ A lot of parents search for babysitters there.

Warnings

  • Do not accept a babysitting job if you don't feel comfortable with the family or with one of the children. Since you are your own boss, you get to decide who you work with.
  • Never use any form of physical discipline on kids that you babysit.
  • If you feel a child is being abused or neglected, tell a trusted adult such as a parent.
  • Do not advertise for babysitting with flyers without your parents permission. A good arrangement to make if you want to use flyers is: Every time you get a new client, you mother/father should come with you the first time to meet the family and check out the parents. Otherwise, it's probably best just to use other means.
  • Make sure you meet the family before babysitting.
  • Never leave the child unattended.
  • Ask parents of child if its okay to use their belongings.

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Sources and Citations

  • Sittercity - Helps you find a job as a babysitter in your area. Rates calculator lets you work out how much to charge.
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