How much should I charge for babysitting or nannying?

Wondering how your babysitting or nanny rates compare with your peers? UrbanSitter surveyed nearly 1,000 babysitters and nannies to help you decide how much you should charge for babysitting or nannying. We’ve calculated the average rates sitters & nannies are charging, and we show how this differs by city, level of education, years of experience, age, and ethnicity.

As a job marketplace that caregivers turn to for essential income, UrbanSitter strives to support diversity, inclusion and equity. While it is up to each sitter and nanny to decide their babysitting or nanny rates on UrbanSitter, we hope that by sharing this information, more sitters and nannies will feel empowered to charge what their peers are charging, regardless of their age and ethnicity.

We recognize that what you want to charge doesn’t always align with what a parent wants to pay. There is more work to be done educating both sides of our marketplace and society at large. Stay tuned as we will share future projects and initiatives to support equity.

Babysitting & Nanny Rates By Years of Childcare Experience

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Babysitting & Nanny Rates by Caregiver’s Level of Education

Average Babysitting Rates by Level of Education

Babysitting & Nanny Rates by Age of Caregiver

Babysitting Rates by Age of Caregiver

Babysitting & Nanny Rates by Ethnicity

Babysitting Rates by Ethnicity

Babysitting Rates by City

Babysitting Rates by City

See more babysitting rates by city for 2022 in additional areas and for 2 children.

Looking for babysitting jobs or nanny positions? Join UrbanSitter to create a free profile and search for jobs.

10 Babysitting Tips to Make You the Best Sitter Ever

nanny share

The best babysitters in your area have regular clients, earn a great hourly rate and take pride in what they do. The good news is that elevating your level of service may be easier to do than you may think. Incorporate these tips our sitters tell us makes them successful in your efforts to be the best babysitter ever.

1. Be Reliable.

The most valued quality a babysitter can have is reliability. Being on time, if not early, goes a long way and is appreciated by parents. Ensuring that parents trust you will help with earning regular gigs.

2.  Ask Questions.

Whether you are on the phone discussing a job possibility or you are receiving instructions before the parents leave, ask as many questions as you need to. Some babysitters assume that parents will think that they are inexperienced by asking questions, but most parents prefer that you have all of the information that you need to keep their children safe.

3. Obtain Certifications.

If you have not already obtained your CPR certification and taken a babysitter training class, now is the time to do so. You have to be prepared for all possibilities when you are entrusted with the care of someone else’s children, and these training courses provide you with invaluable information and skills.

4. Understand and Enforce Rules and Limits.

As a babysitter, you are tasked with enforcing all of the parents’ rules and limits. Most parents may tell you about their children’s ploys and behaviors, and they will likewise tell you how you can overcome those issues and enforce the rules of the house.

5. Feel Confident About Reaching Out.

Parents understandably do not want to be bothered numerous times every hour with questions and feedback, but they do want their children to be safe and properly cared for. If you need to know where the extra diapers are or if the children need sunblock on before playing outside, you should feel comfortable reaching out.

6. Be Observant.

Your eyes should be on the children at all times. You also should be aware of the potential environmental dangers that lurk nearby. Take preemptive steps to avoid dangers.

7. Stick to the Routine.

The parents will provide you with a routine to follow, including times for meals and naps. Many parents follow a schedule at home, and they want you to stay as close to that schedule as possible. If you put children to bed an hour or two later than you should, you may not be called for a second job.

8. Interact with the Children.

Your primary job is to keep the kids safe and healthy, but you also need to keep them happy and entertained. Be respectful and firm, but also friendly and fun! If you babysit regularly, it makes sense to put together a bag of books and games that are ideal for all age levels. Before each job, you can fill your bag with age-appropriate items.

9. Choose Your Clients Wisely.

Many parents in your area are looking for a babysitter, but you do not have to accept every job that comes your way. If you know that children are unruly or if you feel uncomfortable about the ages or number of children, for example, you can turn down job offers.

10. Provide Honest Feedback.

At the end of each job, parents inevitably will ask how things went. Avoid simply saying that things went well. Instead, provide honest feedback about your challenges and how you handled things.

When parents are looking for a babysitter, they want the most qualified individuals who they know will keep their children safe and happy. When you apply these tips to your efforts, you may develop several regular clients.

20 Funny Jokes for Kids

sitter telling joke

sitter telling joke

When you are interviewing for babysitting jobs in your area, parents understandably want to see how well you interact with their kids. With no prior experience with the children, this might feel uncomfortable and take a while to warm up. As a babysitter, it can be difficult to navigate these waters.

One fun way to break the ice with children is by telling a few lighthearted, age-appropriate jokes.

Try These Funny Jokes for Kids:

  1. What do you call a song that you sing in a car? A cartoon.
  2. What do dogs say when they sit on sandpaper? Ruff, ruff!
  3. How did the farmer count all of his cows? With a cow-culator!
  4. What has a lot of keys but cannot open a door? A piano.
  5. Knock, knock.
    Who’s there?
    Snow.
    Snow who?
    Snow use! I forgot my name.
  6. What should you do if a bear is sleeping in your bed? Find a new place to sleep.
  7. What did the rug tell the floor? I’ve got you covered.
  8. What is loud and green? A frog horn.
  9. Knock, knock.
    Who’s there?
    Spell.
    Spell who?
    W, H, O.
  10. What did the mama broom ask the baby broom at night? Are you getting sweep-y?
  11. Why did the egg laugh? Someone told it a yolk.
  12. What do you call a dinosaur that is sleeping? A dino-snore!
  13. What is fast, loud and crunchy? A rocket chip!
  14. Knock, knock.
    Who’s there?
    Owls say.
    Owls say who?
    Yep, they do.
  15. Why was the math book sad? It had a lot of problems.
  16. What does Tennessee? The same thing that Arkansas.
  17. When does bubble gum cross the road? When it is stuck on the bottom of the chicken’s foot.
  18. How did the pig get to the hospital? In a ham-bulance.
  19. What has only one horn and can give you milk? A milk truck.
  20. What kinds of bones do dogs never eat? Trombones.

Nail The First Impression

Breaking the ice with kids while also making a great first impression with parents can be stressful, but the perfect solution is to tell a joke or two. Consider picking out a few jokes that are suitable for the children’s ages ahead of the interview. By doing so, you may more easily land the best babysitting jobs in your area.

Fun Activities for Kids and Babysitters: Ideas & Tips

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Even the best babysitters in your area may be at a loss for finding fun activities to do with your children. Your preferred babysitter may spend many long hours with your children in the months and years to come, and this is the time that should be fun and stimulating for them. If you want to encourage your babysitter to limit screen time and to engage your children while you are gone, suggest some of these thoughtful ideas.

Make Cookies

If your babysitter has basic baking skills, making cookies is a fun and delicious way to spend time. Frosted cut-out cookies take much more time to make than chocolate chip cookies, and they allow for more interaction with children. This is only one of many types of foods that children can participate in making. For example, they can make ice cream sundaes, cut-out shapes for their lunchtime sandwiches, a fruit salad with cutting help from the babysitter and more.

Build a Blanket Fort

Before you leave, pull out several blankets and sheets that can be used for the walls and ceiling of a living room or bedroom fort. The act of creating the fort can keep the kids and the babysitter busy for a while. Once the fort is created, they can play together, read books or even tell their own made-up stories in their shelter.

Create Works of Art

Many children love to draw, paint and work with clay. Other ideas include working on sand projects, making slime, creating snowflakes and more. Set aside several types of art supplies before leaving the house. The kids and babysitter can use the supplies in their own creative ways to produce beautiful or unique works of art.

Dance to Children’s Songs

If your children love music, another excellent idea is to recommend a dance party. You can compile a mix of songs that your kids enjoy, or you can suggest that your babysitter stream music from an app on his or her smartphone. This is a fun way to get your children moving regardless of outdoor weather conditions.

Play Board Games

Many kids love to play games with their parents, but you may not pull the games out as frequently as they may like. Set out a stack of your children’s favorite board games and card games. Regardless of your children’s ages, board games provide interactive fun that can extend potentially for several hours.

Work on Puzzles

An alternative to board games is puzzles. Simple puzzles are ideal for young children, and there are numerous puzzles that are increasingly challenging for older children. Determine your children’s skill level, attention span, and interests when picking out a puzzle.

You may go to great lengths to find the best babysitters in your area, but even these skilled, qualified professionals may not know what your children like to do or what activities are available in your home. Suggest or plan for some of these excellent activities so that your children truly enjoy spending time with their babysitter.

How To Get Jobs on UrbanSitter

Learn how to get jobs on UrbanSitter, including landing your first job, how UrbanSitter works, and maximizing your earning potential. Read on, then take an optional short quiz afterward to test your knowledge.

How Families Use UrbanSitter 

Families can either post a job or search by specific date and time to find caregivers for their children, pets, seniors or for household services. To boost your chances of getting a job, you should apply to job postings and make sure that you have availability on your calendar so that you show up in search results.

How to Get Jobs on UrbanSitter

1. Apply to lots of jobs – it’s easy!

    • Applying to jobs is easy. You simply click “Express Interest” on the Job Board and follow the next few steps.
    • Answer screening questions if a family includes them. Many families will automatically screen you out if you don’t answer their questions.
    • Add a personal message. Stand out amongst other caregivers by adding a personal introduction message when you apply.
    • Stay optimistic! Getting the first job is the hardest. Often caregivers need to apply to dozens of jobs their first month before landing one. Once you land a job, you are automatically connected to that careseekers network and your second and third jobs should come much faster.

2. Make your profile stand out.

    • Add a video. Many families only hire caregivers with videos.  If you are applying to a babysitting job, some families show the videos to their kids, so they know who is coming to babysit and will be excited to meet you!
    • Complete all sections of your profile, even the optional ones.  While only a few fields are required for profile approval, many families search based on ages of kids you’re willing to babysit, languages spoken, special experience with children, seniors or pets, willingness to drive children or seniors or help with extra tasks, such as household services.  To help families make informed decisions on COVID, you can add a COVID-19 vaccine badge to your profile to indicate you’ve received the vaccine. If you have not filled in these sections of your profile you won’t show up in as many searches!
    • Get reviews from families you’ve worked for in the past or those who can speak to your professionalism, previous experience, and personality.
    • Review average rates in your area. Caregivers often land jobs faster when they start with slightly lower than average rates. You can always raise your rates as you land jobs and reviews.

3. Add availability to your Calendar and update your Job Seeking Status.

    • Your Job Seeking Status on your profile lets families know the type of jobs (kids, seniors, pets or household services) you’re looking for, what type of commitment (full-time, part-time, or occasional) and when you’re generally available.
    • Keep your availability on your Calendar up to date. If you’re looking for occasional caregiving jobs, it is critical that you add availability to your Calendar to be featured in the search results. Families search by date and time, so if you don’t have availability on your calendar, you won’t show up in their search results. Working one-time caregiving jobs is a fantastic way to get reviews and build up your reputation on UrbanSitter, even if your goal is to land a part-time or full-time job!

4. Download the UrbanSitter app (iOS or Android)

    • Check the Job Board any time, anywhere and be the first to apply to jobs.
    • Reply to messages and booking requests from parents quickly to earn a “replies within an hour” badge.

UrbanSitter Policies To Know

On UrbanSitter, both careseekers and caregivers expect each other to follow through on every accepted booking – jobs AND interviews. UrbanSitter reserves the right to hide or deactivate your profile at any time. Depending on circumstances, your profile can be reinstated. Reasons our Member Services team might hide your profile:

1. Reliability concerns (read the full Reliability Policy here)

    • No-showing for an interview or job
    • Canceling a job within 24 hours
    • Negotiating the terms of a booking after accepting.  (It’s always okay to decline a booking if it’s not the right fit!)

2. Violations of our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Our team reviews concerns on a case-by-case basis.

How You Get Paid

Families choose to pay you via cash or credit card. You must have direct deposit set up on your account to accept credit card payments. Many families only book caregivers who accept credit cards. Direct deposits take up to 3-5 business days after a job to process and land in your account. Please do not ask families to change the payment method. Many families prefer the ease of paying through the system and often specifically choose caregivers who accept credit cards over those who don’t. Negotiating the payment method after accepting a booking is a Reliability concern.

how to get jobs on urbansitter

UrbanSitter Caregiver Expectations 

Do !

Don’t ❌

Keep your calendar up to date.

Don’t decline jobs because you forgot to update your calendar. This is very frustrating for families and could affect your placement in search results!

Keep your Job Seeking Status up to date.

Don’t say you’re interested in part- or full-time work if you’re really not.

Answer all messages, interview requests and job requests.  

Don’t ghost families! Leaving messages and requests unanswered will hurt your Caregiver Stats and reputation. (Note: Declining jobs is always better than leaving messages and booking requests unanswered.  If there are families you don’t want to work for, you can “hide” them so they can not request bookings from you.)

Only accept jobs that are right for you. Decline jobs that are not the right fit (it won’t hurt your rankings!)

Negotiating booking terms or rates after accepting a job is not allowed.

Maximizing Your Earning Potential

We surveyed 1,000 families to find out what families are looking for in a great caregiver and here’s what they said.

Top 10 Things Families Love

1. Engage with the kids, pets and seniors and have fun! Limit phone use and screen time (yours and the kids), according to the families guidelines/instructions

2. Clean up the kitchen when you feed the kids, pets and seniors and tidy up toys or activities you played with. Rule of thumb: leave the house in the same (or better!) condition than when you arrived.

3. Text updates or cute pictures, but please ask whether or not it’s okay to take pictures of the kids, pets or seniors first.

4. Stick to the routine and schedule. Every family is different, so they appreciate when you follow their instructions/family rules!

5. Reconfirm the job the night before or morning of for peace of mind.  Also, text when you’re on your way.

6. Arrive 5 minutes early. Definitely don’t be late!

7. Ask about the routine, house rules, and allergies when you arrive.

8. Offer to take off shoes and wash your hands when you arrive.

9. Give a quick recap of your time with the kids, pets and seniors and don’t linger when it’s time to leave.

10. Bonus: Go above and beyond.

“My favorite caregiver always leaves little notes for the kids to read in the morning.”

“My favorite caregiver comes with a craft.”

“My favorite caregiver asks if there’s anything around the house that she can do after the kids, pets or seniors go to bed.”

Caregiver Brittney M. says, “Be creative and find what makes you unique – and be the best caregiver you can be.” 

 

 

Do babysitters have to pay taxes in 2022?

Do babysitters have to pay taxes?

Do babysitters have to pay taxes on earnings from UrbanSitter jobs or other child care jobs? According to the IRS, the minimum income you had to make in 2021 to file taxes in 2022 is $12,550 if you’re filing as “single” and you’re under 65, or $14,250 if you’re 65 or older. If you’re filing jointly because you’re married, the minimum income ranges from $25,100-$27,800 depending on your and your spouse’s ages.

It’s important to remember that UrbanSitter is not an agency, and we do not employ sitters. As a result, we do not provide W2s or 1099s to sitters. That’s why we’ve put together this handy list of resources that you can use to help make filing your taxes as easy as possible.

How do taxes work?

How do I know what taxes I owe?

Where can I find my UrbanSitter earnings?

You can find a complete history of all payments received through UrbanSitter on your Account – Transactions screen.

How do I file my taxes?

Where can I get tax help or advice?

Will I receive a tax form from UrbanSitter?

UrbanSitter does not provide tax forms for babysitters or parents registered on our website or app. When using urbansitter.com, babysitters are independent contractors, not employees of UrbanSitter.

If you need to know your earnings for the previous year, you can find a complete history of all payments received through UrbanSitter on your Account – Transactions screen.

Where can I find more information on taxes?

We hope we’ve helped answer the question of “do babysitters need to pay taxes?” If you need more detailed tax information please visit the following sites:

Are there resources that can be used throughout the year to make filing taxes easier?

Yes! If you’re a full-time nanny or babysit for the same family on a regular basis throughout the year, services like Paychex, The Nanny Tax Company, Intuit, or Square Payroll can help keep track of your earnings and taxes paid.

Disclaimer: UrbanSitter’s presentation of the resources in this blog post is not in any way an endorsement or tax advice. Taxes and tax advice are complicated by nature, and you should be sure to do your own due diligence when preparing for the upcoming tax season. UrbanSitter is not responsible for any tax or other advice provided by any entity, nor is UrbanSitter responsible for filing or assisting in the filing of taxes for parents, babysitters, and/or nannies registered on www.urbansitter.com.

How do you handle babysitting jobs where the parent is working from home?

babysitting or nannying while parents are working from home, sitter for work from home parents, nanny for work from home parents, child care while parents are home

8 tried-and-true ways to provide child care and work together with work-at-home parents

Babysitting or nannying while parents are working from home can all too often become a case of ‘too many cooks in the kitchen.’ Children often want to stick close to mom and dad, and the sitter may struggle to distract them enough to give the parents some space. We asked UrbanSitter’s experienced babysitters for tips on how to navigate the nanny/parents relationship and provide exceptional child care while parents are home — here’s what they said!

1. Communicate
The only way to ensure that both you and the parent(s) are on the same page is to talk about it. “Before starting the actual sitting, I have a conversation with the parents about the developmental stages of their child,” says nanny Nadia Joseph. “I ask if I can make any suggestions and we go from there.” Open communication can be a way to encourage teamwork and set a standard for honesty for everyone.  You can say:

  • I’ve noticed as baby grows out of infancy she has become better at recognizing who her primary caretakers are. What are some ways we can work together to make sure she doesn’t get confused or upset when you are working from home while I take care of her?

This strategy worked for Joseph, who says that “while initially we had some pretty challenging situations, with major temper tantrums when kids heard or saw their parents, we agreed on a plan and strategies and the parents are on board.”

Looking for babysitter and nanny jobs? Create a free profile at UrbanSitter.com and start applying today!

2. Establish boundaries
“The best way to co-exist with a parent at home is to accept that there are boundaries,” says UrbanSitter member Christy Chan. When working with parents who are accepting of your role as a childcare provider, use this to your advantage. Use professional language to clearly establish what is and is not fair, and come to a common agreement. Examples may include:

  • Baby tends to get confused when he sees you coming in and out of the office during his playtime, which makes him fussy. We are going to stay in the living room and nursery today so that he doesn’t get mixed up. Would you mind if I got some one on one time with him?
  • When toddler has multiple people in her room shortly before naptime, she has a hard time falling asleep. Would you like to be in charge of putting her down today, or should I? We can take turns.

Babysitter Safiya Taylor has been able to use this technique well, saying, “generally the kiddos know that I am in charge once I show up, so they don’t really run off to the parents when they don’t get their way!” Sitter Dalia Cabrera Martinez agrees, stating that this type of sitting works best when “they usually close their office door and try not to come out unless they want to spend time with the kids.”

3. Say goodbye
Experienced nanny and mom Susan Malone says “learning to say goodbye happily” is crucial. In this case, you and the parent set the tone for the child, so cheerful goodbyes help to create an environment in which the child is happy to be in your care, even when their parent is also at home. Going through familiar goodbye routines can help the child understand the transition from being in the care of their parents, to being in your care, even if the mom or dad remains in the home.

4. Make it a game
Another tip when providing child care while parents are home, making a game out of goodbyes is a fun and helpful coping mechanism, generally best for older children. This method has worked for UrbanSitter member Dori Heather, who says that she and the children she take care of “make a game out of it somewhat,” with rules such as needing to stay quiet outside of the parents’ office door. You can make up the rules of the game as you go, with suggestions such as:

  • Asking the kids to be ‘as quiet as a mouse’ or to ‘tiptoe as softly as a cat’ near the area where the parent is working.
  • Pretend the floor is lava and the office space is a volcano, and thus off limits.

5. Take the kids outside
“I usually choose to take the child outside of the home, returning briefly for meals, naps, et cetera,” says baby sitter Ava Martinez. This achieves two goals: both bringing the child away from the immediate temptation of being with their parents, and engaging them in fun activities outside of the house, affording them opportunities to learn and to have fun. It’s a win win for uninterrupted work – the parents can concentrate on working from home and the babysitter can provide the child care without distraction.

6. Change as needed
As children grow older, their needs change. Whereas a toddler may not have a need to be close to their parent every single moment of a day, a breastfed infant must be in close physical proximity to her mother. Being respectful of both the parent and child’s needs is crucial. With new parents, sitter Alexandra De Martini suggests being “especially mindful of the mom or partner just starting back to work, as they might not be totally sure what they want and their needs will evolve over the next few weeks.”

7. Have fun with it
“My current nanny family, the dad works from home and honestly it doesn’t bother me whatsoever. We have an excellent relationship and he respects me as a nanny so I am never bothered! I act the same as if I were home alone,” says Pennsylvania sitter Caleema Lawler. Actively put work into establishing positive camaraderie with both the parents and children so that you all feel totally comfortable in each others’ presence. This can come in many forms—intentionally spending time together with both the parents and children together to get to know one another and having monthly scheduled meetings to communicate successes and issues are two suggestions.

8. Move on it it’s not right
If you are aware that babysitting while the parent works from home is something that you wouldn’t be comfortable with, move on from the opportunity. Instead, take roles that allow your natural talents to shine and leave these experiences to other sitters.

Looking for babysitter and nanny jobs? Create a free profile at UrbanSitter.com and start applying today!

Meet Kate Talbot: Successful Author, Content Creator, and Digital Strategist… and an UrbanSitter Babysitter!


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Kate Talbot has built her successful career by using digital storytelling to empower communities at brands like Kiva and Virgin America, as well as scale early-stage startups for growth. In her free time, she writes for online publications like Social Media Examiner and KISSmetrics, educating small business owners and entrepreneurs on how to successfully use millennial social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to build their brands. Recently, she published a book on the topic of Snapchat Marketing. Of course, like any city girl she was at the Dry Bar downtown on a recent Monday morning getting glam for an important event and ran into UrbanSitter CEO Lynn Perkins (whom she babysat for years back) and they got to chatting…

Here, Kate shares with us her experiences with UrbanSitter, what it’s been like having written a successful book, and more insight into her career and life.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you know UrbanSitter CEO and Co-Founder, Lynn?
For me, I am all about the side hustle. SF is expensive and any avenue in which you can use technology to create multiple revenue streams is important. My girlfriends and I (as many of us) have babysat since our tween years, and after business school in 2012 we all signed up for UrbanSitter. This was a great way to supplement our job incomes off the bat.

I learned from my friend Lisa, who is a babysitting all-star, that the best way to build your babysitting profile is to reply to jobs right away and babysit on a Saturday night. From doing so, I ended up replying fast to a query and booked a job during the 2013 holiday season for Lynn. I had a wonderful time babysitting for her son and she was highly supportive of my own story and helping me succeed. We connected on LinkedIn, and I always loved following all the news about UrbanSitter; especially this amazing feature in the First Round Review on Lynn and UrbanSitter.

As fate happens, I ended up running marketing for a First Round Capital company—which also funds UrbanSitter—so at a dinner roundtable I met Daisy [Downs, Co-Founder of UrbanSitter] too! I let the other attendees know that even though I was in the tech space, I also was an UrbanSitter babysitter, which delighted everyone.

You mentioned going to business school, where did you study?
I went to the University of San Francisco, where I focused on Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

I grew up in Moraga in the East Bay —I have lived in New York City, too—but I knew I wanted to be in the Bay Area long-term. My dad and brother both went to USF for law school, so I knew I’d be getting a great education.

Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re doing now?
I have my own consulting firm where I lead growth marketing for early stage startups—whether that’s influencer marketing tools or cybersecurity technology—it really runs the gamut but I love it all.

I also write on the side. I do that because it’s a passion of mine.

In fact, when I babysat I am able to write when the kids are asleep. One of my favorite articles I wrote on Snapchat was written in a Pacific Heights apartment overlooking the Bay, while babysitting for a great family.

You just wrote and published a book about Snapchat, what was the process like?
I combined the writing which was already published on the topic and leveraged my community. I’m extremely fortunate to have contacts across all industries at big brands and media entities, and they were able to provide case study insights into their own execution of the platform. My mentor, a VC from Onset Ventures, who encouraged me to write the book, wrote the foreword about the future of enterprise marketing and Snapchat.

I also mentor at Stanford for an undergraduate course in media and technology. From this class, I was able to hire a recent graduate to design all the creative assets. That was probably my favorite part, because we had so much fun thinking outside the box and what would help the audience understand the platform from a visual perspective.

What interested you about Snapchat enough to write about it ?
I’ve always been really in tune with the millennial, and now Gen Y, audience on what the next trends will be. As a user myself and talking with my 22-year-old god-sister and her friends, I realized the power of Snapchat as an authentic way of telling stories and connecting with friends. Since I’d already been writing about social media for Social Media Examiner, I pitched the topic of Snapchat for Business. I was one of the first writers to do so, and it’s led to amazing opportunities speaking at business schools and conferences. I figured next steps, why not write a book!  

What has the reception been like for your book?
It did amazingly well! I felt so thankful for my community that downloaded it. During the 5-day free promotion, it went to the #2 spot in all of Business Marketing and Sales on Amazon. It was also #1 on Amazon for Advertising and Professional Development and #1 on Product Hunt books.

To wrap up: If you could give advice to sitters using the service, what would it be?
My advice would be to think of your profile as a personal brand. Fill out your profile in the best light possible. Also, remember parents are really looking forward to their date night or event they are off to, so be as professional as possible and always make sure you are doing your best! I know it can be tough sometimes, but keep trying to babysit more and more even if you get overwhelmed.

Babysitting in SF is a great way to explore the different neighborhoods—I didn’t know about all the parks that were out there—and connect with the families! If I hadn’t followed up with Lynn, I wouldn’t be in this position. You never know what will happen!

You can pick up a copy of Kate’s book, Oh, Snap! You Can Use Snapchat for Business, on Amazon, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and see more of her work on her website at http://www.katetalbot.me/.

 

Meet Kendall: Chicago-native, Vanderbilt Student and Babysitter!

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With over 35 glowing reviews on UrbanSitter, it comes as no surprise that Kendall has an upbeat and bright personality. Now studying child development at Vanderbilt University, Kendall hopes to transition her people skills and passion for helping others into a full-time career after graduation.

Here, Kendall shares with us what life is like as a student at Vanderbilt, how she first got into babysitting, and her perspective on the parent-babysitter relationship.

You go to college at Vanderbilt, what are you studying?

I’m studying child development and English and sociology, so I have a major and two minors. Honestly, most kids at Vanderbilt probably have some combination of that: multiple majors and minors. I started as a special education major and then realized I wanted to work more with people in general, not just kids, though I had always babysat and worked with kids. It’s been interesting to learn to what makes people tick and how people interact and work with others.

Right now, my part time job on campus is in the admissions office, so I’d love to work as an admissions counselor after college. That would be working with 18- year-olds instead of two-year-olds. There is a lot of travel and meeting people and reading applications, taking care of different tasks at a time in the same way I keep up with my UrbanSitter account.

What drew you to Vanderbilt, specifically?

I’m from Chicago—the suburbs originally—so I’m about an 8 hour drive away from home while I’m at Vanderbilt. There’s 5-10 kids per year that come specifically from my high school to Vandy, so I always figured it could be an option. I liked the balance of rigorous academic curriculum and a community of people that are supportive, but not so cut-throat or competitive.

How did you first get into babysitting?

My very first sitting job was down the street from my house and I was a mother’s helper, but then she started leaving me with the kids. Through high school I sat on weekend nights, but I was also very involved in high school—I danced and participated in a lot of activities—so I just started right on my block where my parents could watch me walk there and walk home.

Who first introduced you to UrbanSitter?

When I came home after my freshman year of college, I had set up a full-time nanny job but it fell through. My dad actually had heard of UrbanSitter and he was the one who encouraged me to go for it. That was summer of 2014—and I was a Brand Ambassador with the UrbanSitter team in Chicago, which was a great way to get acquainted with the platform. And now I have a great basis to explain to parents how [UrbanSitter] works.

Has UrbanSitter helped you achieve any specific monetary goals or ambitions?

All of my spending money for when I studied abroad came from UrbanSitter! There are things that I’ve been able to do—I go to a school where people have a lot of money—and experiences and trips can feel really inaccessible to people who don’t have that kind of money. I went to Amsterdam and Prague and all over Europe because of the money I saved from UrbanSitter.

What do you love most about babysitting?

I have loved babysitting, not only because I love working with kids, but because the parents that I work are for are generally the generation between myself and my parents. So getting to know those parents and seeing how they are adults, without being exactly like my parents or other college students, has helped me see what life is like 5-10 years beyond college. . I see a lot of value in making relationships with parents, too, because you can learn or be exposed to other experiences through them.

What would your babysitting style is like?

I would characterize my babysitting style as pretty warm, though I will enforce rules and boundaries because I know how a lack of boundary-setting will affect a child developmentally. I don’t like to skimp on rules for one night just because I’m the babysitter, not only because it makes it harder on the parents when they come home, but also because it makes it harder on me if I come back to watch the kids again. I try to view my relationship with families as being part of a team. I establish myself as someone who will lay down the law if I need to, but if the kids don’t make me lay down the law, then they know we can have fun.

What tips would you give to sitters just getting started on UrbanSitter?

I would say it’s important to wait for the families that you feel like you’ll vibe with. I’ve worked with families that weren’t a good fit for me and the difference between that and the families I’m really great with, is almost worth more than the money. I would say waiting for families that you feel value you and what you bring to them, and care about your time and experience, there are those families on UrbanSitter; and it’s worth making sure that you are clicking well with anyone you work for.

Hire Kendall today on UrbanSitter!

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Parents: Discover your community’s most-trusted sitters and nannies.

Exciting New Features – Videos, Messaging, and more!

UrbanSitter is excited to announce groundbreaking new features designed to make your babysitter search faster and more efficient than ever before. These features launch today in select cities as part of new membership packages. Log in to view Membership Plans available in your area.

Lights, camera, action!

Babysitter Profile Video

At UrbanSitter, we strive to provide lots of information and efficient tools to help you find the babysitter that’s best for you. New Babysitter Profile Videos bring a sitter’s profile to life as they introduce themselves in a short 30 to 90-second clip.

When your time is precious, profile videos can help you screen a handful of sitters quickly. Of course, videos can’t replace a face-to-face interview, but they can provide a level of assurance, especially if you’re nervous about meeting a new sitter for the first time.

You’ve got questions…. A LOT of questions.

New UrbanSitter FeaturesNaturally, when you’re looking for a babysitter, you’re bound to have lots of questions. Even before you get to the point of interviewing, sometimes you just want to ask a question: Will you babysit twins? Are you okay driving my car since you don’t have one? One question can make all the difference, and you don’t want to waste time. That’s why we created the new Ask a Question tool, so you can message sitters anytime with a quick question.

You can also add optional Screening Questions when you post a job to the Job Board. Sitters who are interested in your job may include short replies to your screening questions with their profile, so you can get to know them before the interview. Ask your “make-or-break” questions or general questions to get a sense for their personality. You can choose from our list of common questions, or write your own.

Curious about UrbanSitter’s new features? Create a free account today and start searching for babysitters in your area!