How to find a great babysitter (Cary)? (Raleigh, Wilmington: chapel, daycare)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I must be going about this wrong, b/c we've had the hardest time! Here's what people have advised me, and the outcome:
- Try the listserve through your subdivision
(Our SD has no listserve with sitters, no organised anything for sitters)
- Try a babysitting service
(We've paid, joined two services and the list they gave us somehow didn't contain any sitters who could take on new families. Or we're finding a bunch of services in Raleigh but the sitters are not willing to drive 'all the way to Cary'. I feel like I am in a dating service hell!)
- Ask at your child's school
(School says they don't refer for such things, that's not their job)
- Check with your child's preschool, sometimes teachers, aides do babysitting on the side
(Pre school strictly forbades their employees to work for families outside the school setting, to 'maintain a professional relationship')
-Ask other mothers
(I've asked moms since we arrived a few months ago but they have all told me, 'oh, we haven't left the children with anyone, we're too nervous, so let us know if you find a good sitter, we will be interested!')
-Search Craigslist 'Childcare' section
(This may still be an option. So far, the women I contacted from Craigslist turned out to be different than who they advertised themselves to be. Not good. But I could continue to read through the ads. Few seem to be for babysitting in one's home, lots of childcare/daycare in other places/homes.)
We're a secular family so church is not a place we'd resource or even be at ever.
Any recommendations? We really want to find a sitting this month and have the children (we have three under five) familiar with her, make this a regular part of our lives.
Ooh, yes, forgot to mention that one! We rang but the girls we contacted who say they are interested in babysitting weren't interested in driving to Cary. Is it that far? I was thinking not, but apparently it is a barrier.
Our pediatrician suggested Meredith College, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State nursing, early education programmes.
There is a woman who runs a service with girls from Meredith College:
But it is for Raleigh or Wilmington. I'm concerned we'll get in the same situation with 'Cary is too far'. Also, if the sitter has to come from further away, we pay more. The link above has a rule: 'if driving distance exceeds 2 miles (one way) there will be a 2 hour minimum or a minimum payment of $20'. Since the service is based in Raleigh for Meredith College girls, it's def further than 2 miles.
Is there a pool or swim club in your neighborhood? That's where we found several of ours. I just started walking up to teenage girls at the pool and asking them if they babysat.
I have a 12 year old daughter in Cary who is just starting to babysit and has taken the Red Cross babysitting clas sbut I'm not sure if I would comfortable leaving her with 3 kids under 5 just yet. Otherwise I'd offer her up to you!
I must be going about this wrong, b/c we've had the hardest time! Here's what people have advised me, and the outcome:
- Try the listserve through your subdivision
(Our SD has no listserve with sitters, no organised anything for sitters)
- Try a babysitting service
(We've paid, joined two services and the list they gave us somehow didn't contain any sitters who could take on new families. Or we're finding a bunch of services in Raleigh but the sitters are not willing to drive 'all the way to Cary'. I feel like I am in a dating service hell!)
- Ask at your child's school
(School says they don't refer for such things, that's not their job)
- Check with your child's preschool, sometimes teachers, aides do babysitting on the side
(Pre school strictly forbades their employees to work for families outside the school setting, to 'maintain a professional relationship')
-Ask other mothers
(I've asked moms since we arrived a few months ago but they have all told me, 'oh, we haven't left the children with anyone, we're too nervous, so let us know if you find a good sitter, we will be interested!')
-Search Craigslist 'Childcare' section
(This may still be an option. So far, the women I contacted from Craigslist turned out to be different than who they advertised themselves to be. Not good. But I could continue to read through the ads. Few seem to be for babysitting in one's home, lots of childcare/daycare in other places/homes.)
We're a secular family so church is not a place we'd resource or even be at ever.
Any recommendations? We really want to find a sitting this month and have the children (we have three under five) familiar with her, make this a regular part of our lives.
TIA!
How about one of the high schools in town? Some high schools have child care programs where the kids are also CPR certified.....just a thought. Jeannie
Is there a pool or swim club in your neighborhood? That's where we found several of ours. I just started walking up to teenage girls at the pool and asking them if they babysat.
I have a 12 year old daughter in Cary who is just starting to babysit and has taken the Red Cross babysitting clas sbut I'm not sure if I would comfortable leaving her with 3 kids under 5 just yet. Otherwise I'd offer her up to you!
Aw, thanks! I know that 3 under 5 is daunting, and it does requires someone who really has stamina and likes kids.
I've watched babysitters at our SD pool with great interest, thinking they might be an option. For whatever reason, they haven't been quality. 19 year olds looking very bored, yawing a lot, thumb in mouth not watching their charge....or having long flirty chats with the boys at the pool. I saw a 2 year old fall into the adult pool yesterday and his two babysitters didn't even notice! Another mom had to help. So I haven't been impressed to hire who I've seen so far.
Try a website called Sittercity. You do have to pay for it but it's been well worth it. You type in your zip codes and you can find sitters in your area. There are profiles, background checks, reviews from other parents etc. You can also post jobs and sitters will apply. Then its up to you to interview them and pick the ones you like best. They are all over 16 or 17 and the majority of them have their own transportation. We've had nothing but great sitters from the site.
I would be interested in helping out. I'm a regular to the forum and Raleigh - I'm married and in my 40's - love kids and have helped out my friends with kids for years.
Maybe if you could help out with gas money? - I'm not doing it for money but I have a lot of free time and it would be a good use of it.
You can PM if you would like - I helped with organizing both the meet-up's.
I'm Donna Webster.
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