What To Know About Sharing a Babysitter

Finding a babysitter can be difficult. You want to find someone who is qualified and will keep your child safe while also having fun. One way to help make finding a babysitter easier is to share a babysitter with someone else. While there are things to keep in mind, this option can help make things easier for all involved.

via Pexels

Parenting style

As with any babysitter, you want a shared babysitter who aligns with your parenting style. When sharing a babysitter, be sure that the family you are sharing with aligns with your parenting style to ensure the babysitter does not have to cater to two different styles. Meet with the other family before looking for a nanny to ensure that you are on the same page in terms of routines, screen time, and other important parenting choices.

Boundaries and expectations

While setting boundaries and expectations is important at all times, it is especially true when it comes to sharing a babysitter. Discuss things like schedules, rates, and other expectations and boundaries you have in place for your child. Be sure the babysitter is aware of their responsibilities and any medical concerns the children may have. Again, it is important that the other family and the babysitter align with your parenting style so your routine is kept as much as possible.

Communication

One of the most important things while sharing a babysitter is clear communication. It is important to have ways to reach your babysitter and the other family. This can be done via a group chat, phone call, or another method. Keep in touch with regards to schedules, especially vacations and extracurricular activities. It is also important to make sure you are able to afford the cost of a shared sitter, and if you are unable to pay, the other family needs to know that they will be paying the full price. Otherwise, another arrangement needs to be made with the sitter.

Creating the schedule

When you are sharing a sitter, it is important that your schedule aligns with the other family’s schedule. You have to keep this in mind for things like extracurricular activities, work schedules, and vacations. If these things do not align, one family may be left paying the whole cost for the time the other family does not need the sitter. This is where communication and clear expectations are crucial, as not having these things in place will throw things off. If you meet with the other family and right off the bat your schedules conflict, they may not be a compatible match for sharing a babysitter.

Cost conversations

Before you commit to sharing a babysitter, it is important to know what the arrangement is going to be for paying the babysitter. Whether you split the cost or pay by use, this is information that needs to be agreed on ahead of time so everyone knows what is going on and the babysitter is paid for their work. Discuss the payment method and how often you will be paying the sitter. Money conversations can be uncomfortable, but they will reduce conflict in the future if things are settled before conflict occurs.

Privacy and space

Whether the babysitter is coming to your home or the other family’s home, all parties involved need to respect the space and boundaries of the home. Know which rooms the children are allowed to be in and make sure they do not go in places they are not supposed to be. Have your babysitter communicate with you about boundaries being broken repeatedly. Certain rooms may be off-limits for a variety of reasons, and belongings in every room need to be respected.

Be flexible

As with everything in life, things can come up that change plans. Even if you think everything is planned to the minute, something can happen that changes everything. In these moments, it is important to be flexible and communicate with the other family and babysitter to keep them in the know of everything going on. It is also a good idea to have a backup plan in case things inevitably come up, so you know what to do.

Attention to the child

While you are sharing a babysitter with another family, your child will still receive more one-on-one attention than if they were in a traditional childcare facility. This can be a huge thing to think about, especially when comparing the costs of shared babysitters and childcare facilities. A shared sitter may be more expensive, but your child will receive more attention, even though the sitter is watching one or more other children as well. This allows the children to develop a close relationship with another adult, who may end up being a positive role model for the child. The children will also be able to gain a relationship with each other since there are fewer children than in a childcare facility.

There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to sharing a babysitter, but it can be a great setup if it aligns with your needs as a parent.