Care.com is great for occasional babysitters. Absolutely specify that she live within a few miles of your home. We did fingerprint background checks on all sitters.

Anonymous wrote:I've been hiring care.com sitters for nearly a decade. Only good experiences. Filtering is key.

-Under 21, but older is ok if in grad program
-owns car
-full time university student (not community college)
-nursing, OT, PT, speech students

haha, "not community college." it's the sad truth. The Montgomery college students were horrible.

Living in college towns, I have found great sitters on care.com. In the DC area (Rockville/Potomac specifically) I had no such luck.

I found several good sitters on Care.com. Since I was looking for occasional or summer sitters rather than full-time nannies, I didn't care that much about their professional training or child development philosophies. I was looking for safe, friendly, mature, active, sensible.

Lots of good advice already, but I would add:
Limit to only close zip codes, so you don't have transportation difficulties.
Care.com background check
Teachers or education majors are preferable.
Look for hobbies/activities that are in-line with your kids' preferences

Interview, with kids present. Call references. Hire for a short job first.

I would recommend it, but you can always do the background yourself if you want.

My friend found a great babysitter from them, and used her f/t until her kids went to school.

Much cheaper than other daycare, and more one on one especially since she did a lot of learning activities and kinder-garten readiness.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on the care.com background checks or background checks in general.

Not OP, but in the same boat - on care.com and have never had a nanny before that wasn’t recommended by a friend.

Care.con background checks are worthless. You need the fingerprint background check.

Can anyone comment on the care.com background checks or background checks in general.

Not OP, but in the same boat - on care.com and have never had a nanny before that wasn’t recommended by a friend.

Yes, we found two wonderful occasional babysitters on care.com. One is a nanny and the other a preschool teacher. Because of their day jobs, both are finger-print background checked and fully certified in pediatric CPR and first aid. Both are adult women, not phone-addicted, reliable and kids look forward to seeing them. It’s a great resource if you aren’t comfortable with the high school neighborhood kid.

I've been hiring care.com sitters for nearly a decade. Only good experiences. Filtering is key.

-Under 21, but older is ok if in grad program
-owns car
-full time university student (not community college)
-nursing, OT, PT, speech students

I had one and she was fin

I've done it many times and had generally good luck. Act like a man on a dating app -- make the first move, message the ones you like first rather than posting a job and waiting for responses. I did phone interviews/FaceTime before sealing the deal.

The sitters I've hired from Care.com are adults with white-collar day jobs who need a little extra cash. All are experienced with children (former nanny or teacher). There are college students on there but I haven't personally gone that route. Pay range is $15-20 for mine but it varies, and I only have one kid.

When I hired a long-term nanny on there I did end up with a Trumper/antivaxxer who was very good at the actual skills of her job, but in the era of vaccines being available, she would not be a good fit. Just be sure to confirm vaccination status before hiring if that is important to you.

I’ve had both. You really need to interview and go with your gut reaction. Our great sitters I have known for sure they would be good and was really excited to hire them ASAP when they interviewed. Our meh sitters were meh in the interview. This was fully consistent.

Our usual babysitters all returned to college so we are looking without much luck for an occasionaly babysitter for our 7 and 10 year old. I am thinking of using Care.com but have never done so before. Does anyone have good or bad experiences to share? Do you usually meet with/interview the sitter before using them? Any other tips?