6 tips to stay prepared as a last-minute babysitter

How to work as a last-minute babysitter so you’re every family’s favorite.

Whether you have a regular full-time job or are piecing together various part-time positions, extra money through a flexible gig like last-minute babysitting can be just the boost your wallet needs. It can also be a great way to build experience with lots of different families - for instance if you are new to a city and want to make new connections or get to know several different neighborhoods to strengthen your resumé. 

6 tips for last-minute babysitters

1. Answer babysitting requests quickly

Whether it’s a yes or a no, responding quickly to families or babysitter placement agencies shows you’re a reliable communicator who takes their requests seriously.

Even if you’re not sure and need to rearrange your schedule, let the family or agency know just that. A lot of agencies will also go straight to the next candidate if you do not answer within a certain timeframe. 

You could say, “I have something booked at that time with a friend. Let me see if I can reschedule and confirm with you within the hour.”

2. Say hello the family

Once you have booked a gig, reach out via email or text to introduce yourself and confirm the specifics of the booking. This also gives families a chance to send you any helpful information on finding their home, the kids’ schedules, or other routines for the day. 

3. Have a checklist for working with new families

Once you’re at the home of a family for a last-minute gig, there’s usually a lot of information to gather and not a lot of time before they are out the door. This is especially true if the family hasn’t sent you anything ahead of time.

Keep a checklist on your phone to ensure you’re not missing anything vital. The bonus is that parents will feel secure knowing you’re on top of everything.

Your babysitting checklist may include: 

    • Parents’ contact information and emergency contacts

    • Keys to the house - even if you’re not leaving the house during the shift, this is necessary in case of emergency

    • Any lovies, routines, songs, lights, that are needed for a cozy bedtimeor naptime

    • Food routines and where you can find things in the kitchen

    • For daytime gigs, any addresses of schools or activities and their schedules, and confirm whether you need to bring ID or similar for pickups

4. Always wash your hands first thing when you arrive!

This hopefully needs no explanation, but also cannot be repeated often enough. The family will appreciate the care you’re showing. 

5. Always clean up at the end of your babysitting shift

A good rule of thumb is to leave the home in the state you found it. To become the family’s favorite go-to sitter, do a little more:

  • Make sure play areas are clean, toys are put away, and common areas are tidy

  • Wash any dishes and run the dishwasher if it’s full

  • Wipe down kitchen counters and tables

If you’re working an evening shift and the kiddos are asleep, use some of that time to go above and beyond - there’s nothing parents love more than to come home to a house full of happy (or sleeping!) children and a clean, peaceful space. You’ll make their day!

6. Before you go, give a quick recap of your shift

Parents are keen on hearing about the day to different degrees. They may also already have been checking in throughout your shift. Regardless, when they show up, instead of throwing your shoes on and running out the door, linger to give them a short recap of how the day or evening went, and be available for any questions.

Don’t be afraid to tell them if something didn’t go well, but include how you handled it (for example: “The toddler was a little sad around bedtime, but we read an extra story and had a snuggle and confirmed that you’d be there when they wake up tomorrow, and then everything was okay.”).

With younger kids especially, parents always like to know if they ate okay, how long any naps were, if potty training kids had any accidents, etc. 

Give parents peace of mind

By going just one step (or two or three!) above and beyond during your last-minute babysitting gigs, you will give parents an immense amount of peace of mind. And if they find that in a sitter, guess who they will be reaching out to first every time they need someone?

If you think you’d be a stellar last-minute sitter, Smart Sitting’s backup care program—Always On—may be perfect for you. Through a convenient app, parents can book sitters and keep track of their favorites, while Smart Sitting handles all the paperwork and you get paid smoothly and regularly.

We hold our backup sitters to the same high standards of any caregiver in our network, so if you are an experienced, engaging, professional sitter, we want to hear from you.

Apply now and we’ll help find your best babysitting gigs today!

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backup careCajsa Landin