Mother's helper for the older kids, sure. Easier to find outside of rich neighborhoods where teens don't need money.

For the baby? How old? Who cares for the baby all day?

It's really not a thing. It's unreliable, high turnover, crazy piecing together back up care, and an immense source of stress.

Plan accordingly!

You want to find a local 7th or 8th grade girl (so they will be with you for a few years before going boy crazy/going out after school). If there's not one you know nearby, call the closest MS counseling office, ask if they offered the babysitting class, and ask if they will be able to recommend someone who took it.

Yes if you live close enough to a college. We’re about 10 min or so from GMU and were able to hire after school sitters with just a couple gaps. Usually they could do like 4 of the days we needed but not all 5 or something but if you’re able to find a sorority girl then she usually has a lot of friends to tap into subbing options.

Yes it’s a thing. We have been very lucky because I know they’re like a unicorn. We only need childcare from 345-630 twice a week and the days rotate.
We lucked out sahm friend with a kid the same are for 2 years, then a teen neighbor for 2 years, and recently lifeguards from our pool who have done it while in their Senior year and the following summer.

We hav head luck finding one - we live walking distance from a high school and don’t require driving (and in fact forbid the teen sitter driving our kids). Finding the first one is the hardest but then as they graduate or get too busy, they recommend a younger friend. It’s key not to need coverage every day (or have two sitters), to not need driving, and to not have a baby/toddler where you can’t just use a kind, responsible 14 year old kid.

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Good job for a college student or someone who would just like a couple hours of work each day.

Few people can afford to pay their bills with just a couple hours of work each day.

Anonymous wrote:Two elementary kids and a baby. Spouse and I both WFH and have flexibility, but looking for a sustainable way to provide after school coverage. Is an after school babysitter a thing?

Is the baby in daycare during the day?

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Good job for a college student or someone who would just like a couple hours of work each day.

The legendary college students of dcum, always on the hunt for crappy jobs below market rate.

Good luck finding one. Might as well have a full time nanny.

It was a thing in the 1980s in the college town I grew up in. In the 2000s we lived walkable from a university, and while we could get sitters, they usually were only willing to work one day a week. (They also were unavailable during breaks and their schedules changed every term.) Luckily I had a flexible schedule but it would have been very stressful if we were relying on the childcare.

Anonymous wrote:Very very hard to find now.

It’s always been hard to find.

Very very hard to find now.

Of course. Good job for a college student or someone who would just like a couple hours of work each day.

Two elementary kids and a baby. Spouse and I both WFH and have flexibility, but looking for a sustainable way to provide after school coverage. Is an after school babysitter a thing?