FREE BABYSITTER!

Okay so maybe free is a strong word. However, all it would cost you is time.

In my area, we have babysitting co-ops. These are extremely easy to set up, and work out very well if they are well organized and well run. A babysitting co-op is basically trading babysitting hours. For example, I have a child. If I call/email the manager of my co-op to inform them that I need a sitter for tomorrow, they will send out an email immediately, or call everyone on the call list to find me a sitter. I would need to tell the manager of my co-op the following:
1. How many kids do I need a sitter for
2. How long I need a sitter for
3. What days do I need the sitter for
In my example I said I needed a sitter for my child. So I would call my co-op manager or email them saying "This is (your name) and I need a sitter TOMORROW for my ONE child. I will be going to a show with my husband, and dinner after. We would need a sitter for THREE hours."
The call or email would then go out, and whomever was able to babysit for me would contact me, or the manager of the co-op. Which ever my co-op has it set up to be. Then, I would drop my child off at their house, and they would watch my child for me while I was out. When I got back, they would email the manager of the co-op and tell them how many hours they watched my child for. I would also email the manager just to confirm. The person who watched my child is given 1 point for every hour my child was there for. It is 1 point per hour, per child. They could then exchange these points for babysitting services within the co-op.

I'm going to explain the steps you should take to setting up a babysitting co-op in your area, step by step. That explanation was probably very confusing.

1. You will need to find a group of people with children. Perhaps it's friends, perhaps its people who live in your town or city, or your area of the city. Anyone who has kids can be asked to participate.

2. Organize a meeting for the parents. In this meeting, discuss what a babysitting co-op is, and how it works. You all need to be on the same page as to how the co-op you form will work, as each one has its own unique quirks. Each one also has its own rules. For example, will you allow families in with large dogs? If so, are there any rules to follow when other children are there? Will you allow families in who smoke in the house? Will you allow families in with severe allergies or medical problems? Will you allow families in that have guns in the home? These are all serious issues that need to be discussed amongst your group.

3. Typically members of a co-op agree upon 1 point per child per hour. The co-op manager is the one who keeps track of this. He or she will send out an "invoice" every month via email to each member of the co-op letting them know how many points they owe the co-op or how many points they are ahead.

4. This system ONLY works if it is well managed. For this to work out you can't have any family get more than 20 or so points owing against them. Otherwise you end up with families who abuse the co-op. (This is a guideline only... Circumstances may make it so that a family who is normally sitting either with a credit, or minimal points against them, suddenly have 35 points owing. Perhaps a family emergency such as someone admitted to ICU and children are not allowed in... these situations all need to be looked at individually. Just if someone is constantly racking up a "debt" and never repaying it, it's time to cut them off)

5. The co-ops work out best if you can have a "mixer" party every few months (or every time a new family joins the co-op) just so that the kids are familiar with the families and the other kids. It will also ease the parents mind if they know the family who is looking after their child(ren) while they are out.

The steps which you would take to obtain a sitter, broken down are:

1. Email the manager with the information about when you will need a sitter... date, time, how many kids, and how long you will be gone.

2. Manager will then either email or call all members of the co-op until they find someone to babysit for you. (I should mention, if there is a family in the co-op who you DO NOT get along with, DO NOT want your child or children there, you need to bring this to the attention of the manager, and they will not be called or emailed to watch your children)

3. Once a sitter has been found, you confirm with the sitter the day before, then drop your child or children off as you normally would.

4. When you pick up your child(ren), the family who babysat for you will email the manager with the appropriate amount of points owed to them. You will also email the manager with the amount of points you owe. The manager will compare these emails, and sort out any discrepancies, if there are any, and then add the points to the "invoice" for the end of the month.

A sample invoice would look like this:

JONES FAMILY:
January 1st - 2 points owed
January 15th - 1 point owed
January 16th - 3 points owed
January 19th - 4 points rewarded
January 23rd - 2 points rewarded
January 26th - 3 points owed

January Total: 3 points owed.

It's very easy, and the cheapest way that I know of to obtain quality child care with someone you know or trust. In my experience, it works out best if you have friends & friends of friends do it. That way you know that you can trust the people who are looking after your child or children.

If you are having people you do not know in the co-op, for everyones peace of mind and safety, I HIGHLY suggest that you require absolutely everyone involved in the co-op to obtain criminal record checks.