Finding a last-minute babysitter is usually the most stressful type of childcare booking for parents. Whether it’s due to a long-standing babysitting arrangement falling through, a late-running meeting or the offer of last-minute gig tickets, no parent wants to feel that they’re booking ‘good enough’ childcare. What’s more, by the time they’ve contacted all the options in their address book, it may well be too late. Here are our top tips to keep in mind when looking for a last-minute babysitter.
1. Last-minute doesn’t have to mean compromising on peace of mind
Bubble has been designed so that parents can post a job and find vetted, trusted sitters in their area as quickly as possible. Even with a day or just a couple of hours to find a sitter, the hard work’s already been done.
All Bubble sitters have completed an extensive verification process, submitting passport/ID documents along with two references and undergo an online background check. As part of registration, each sitter must integrate their Bubble account with their Facebook account and verify their mobile phone number.
2. Find a sitter your friends and community already know and trust
For extra reassurance, not only can parents read reviews of the sitter by parents in their community, but also see which of their friends has used a sitter and contact fellow parents directly in the app to find out how they sit went.
3. Secure instant access to your neighbourhood’s top sitters
With only 15 per cent of applicants being approved, parents can be assured that the sitters on the app are already the best in their area.
4. There’s no need to spend hours messaging or calling every sitter you know
With Bubble, you can notify multiple trusted sitters with the tap of an app. Once a parent has posted a request, all available local sitters instantly receive a notification and can respond straight away.
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Parents have found Bubble sitters at 6am to help out when they had vital work commitments and their child was off school sick; another was invited to key work drinks at the end of the day and was able to find a sitter in minutes to meet them at home for a handover so they could change and return to the event.
5. Insure and go
Is your sitter insured? We’ve given all Bubble sitters on the app £1 million public liability insurance.
6. Find a sitter who’s right for your family
It’s still possible to find the right fit for each family even when time is short. It’s clear to see on Bubble sitters’ profiles if they have their own car and experience with babies or children with SEN. Many Bubble sitters now have video profiles, helping parents select the right sitter for them and adding another layer of reassurance.
7. Complete clarity about qualifications
If parents would like a sitter with a DBS check, they can easily see if the sitter has one and if it’s been verified by the Bubble team by checking for the badge on their profile.
8. There’s always time to get to know the sitter in advance
Unlike agencies, Bubble allows and encourages parents to contact sitters directly and we encourage a meet-up or video call before the first sit. No time for that? Just check out the sitter’s video profile to get a quick idea of what they’re like.
9. Are you in control of the relationship?
While agencies usually manage the communications between parent and sitter, Bubble encourages parents and sitters to swap numbers ahead of a sit, too, and direct messaging can take place within the app.
10. Build a support squad you already know and trust
A last-minute sitter doesn’t have to be a new face. Parents who use Bubble on a regular basis will have had the opportunity to book and get to know lots of great sitters in their area. Many of our parents book a Bubble sitter to entertain the children while they’re working from home, doing a workout in the living room or sorting out life admin. Some call in a sitter to help with the hectic hours before bedtime or choose a sitter with teaching experience who can help out with homework.
The ability to select from a pool of trusted sitters means that when it comes to a last-minute job, regular Bubble users will already have a small army of help at hand, and can contact all their favourite sitters in seconds by posting a job in the app.
How to book a last-minute babysitter on Bubble
Booking a sitter at short notice couldn’t be easier – simply download the Bubble app on iOS or Android, click ‘Single Sit’ and enter your requirements. Once you’ve selected the time and date you need a sitter for, simply ‘Post a Job’ and local sitters will contact you directly.
Want to know how much it’ll cost? Check out our article on the average babysitting rates across the UK. Childcare, sorted – what’s next?
