Back when I was a preteen, I started babysitting by watching my younger cousins so my aunt and uncle could enjoy a few much-needed nights out. Eventually, I became hopeful for regular work and I took a shot in the dark, making some flyers about my babysitting service and putting them through my neighbours’ letter boxes. Honestly, I didn’t expect anyone to call, but one family did, and I got a pretty sweet gig watching a 3-year-old girl every weekday morning over the summer.
Like with any job, it can be intimidating to get started with little or no experience, but everyone has to start somewhere. You’ve got this! Take these steps to break into babysitting and start building your business.
Step 1: Learn the basics of childcare
Aspiring babysitters who are underage should always first get their parents’ approval before pursuing a babysitting job. Next, you’ll need to get some training and/or experience that not only prepares you to care for children but also makes you more hireable.
A good place to start is to take a course in babysitting basics. It prepares you for what to expect while babysitting. You learn about responsibility, problem solving and decision-making and gain leadership skills.
Introductory babysitting courses are often geared towards ages 11 and older and can also help prep tweens and teens for staying home alone or looking after younger siblings. Check with local organisations like churches or healthcare organisations, who often host babysitting classes.
In addition, it’s prudent to take an adult and paediatric first aid/CPR/AED course. Every babysitter should absolutely have first aid and CPR training in case of emergency.
Step 2: Start volunteering to watch kids you know
The best place to get prepared for a babysitting job is to get on-the-ground experience. Ask friends and family members if you can watch their kids. You don’t have to have had a paid gig to have experience to put on your babysitter CV.
You can watch younger siblings for your parents or babysit your cousins for free. Start by caring for them while the adults run errands, then work your way up to short nights out. Once they feel comfortable leaving you with the little ones for longer periods of time, ask for a small payment, or keep doing it pro bono for the CV boost.
Step 3: Get experience working with kids in a group setting
Working with a group of kids is another way to gain the hands-on experience parents desire.
Before you start babysitting, you can get experience working in a group setting, such as working at a camp. That way, you get experience in the activities that kids of that age like to do and learn important things to know. For example, if you never had experience working with one-year-olds, you may not know that you shouldn’t have toys with small pieces around or that a phone cord could be a hazard. You really need to be one step ahead.
Church nurseries or youth groups, camps and after-school programmes may be good places to start. Remember that volunteer work counts as experience, too. Many programmes offer childcare training as well, which can impress future babysitting clients.
Step 4: Start marketing yourself to people in your network
Tween and early teen babysitters shouldn’t look beyond their own networks, due to the safety concerns of contacting strangers. You can call family members and knock on neighbours’ doors to tell them about your services. Know that they will ask how much you charge, so be prepared to tell them a set rate. Do a little research by asking around, since the average rate varies largely by area. You can also check average local rates with our babysitting rate calculator. When you’re just starting out, it’s OK to begin low, but don’t undervalue your services and experience.
Step 5: Showcase your professionalism on paper
Even when you’re just starting out as a babysitter, you should have professional paperwork. This should include:
- One-page CV: Even if you don’t have much experience, you should have a CV. This can include where you go to school, your interests and things you’ve done that show responsibility. For example, if you were student leader of your girl scout troop or you’ve babysat for your cousins every few months. Include any experience and training you have.
- Business cards: Definitely have business cards printed. You never know where you’ll meet someone who’s a parent, and passing along a business card with your name and phone number offers both professionalism and ease. Business cards can be printed affordably at several sites, or you can DIY if you’re confident in your design abilities.
- Reference page: Have a sheet to hand people with three to five references with a little paragraph endorsement quote from each one. Contact your references ahead of time, ask them permission to include a quote from them, let them know who might be calling and what position you’re seeking with them. Make sure it’s a relevant and appropriate reference. Five quality references will go a really long way. Your references could be previous babysitting employers, teachers, coaches or other people who have positive reputations and who can vouch for your responsibility, quality of work and work ethic.
Step 6: Ace the interview with parents—and the kids
Assuming you find some jobs, what usually happens next is you have an interview with the family. The interview is for both parties. You decide, ‘Do I want to work with these people?’ And they decide if they want to work with you.
A few things to think about during the interview process:
- Personal safety: Consider meeting a potential employer in a public place, such as a cafe. If you know them, you can meet in their home to get a lay of the land, but bring along a parent if you’re underage.
- Professionalism: Take this as seriously as any job interview. Be early, dress appropriately and show manners.
- Asking questions: Ask all the questions you have, including the parents’ expectations, hours the family will need you to work, household rules, additional responsibilities like clean-up and pet care, and whether or not the children have any allergies.
- Child’s play: Engage with the child or children during the interview, so the parents can observe your interaction.
Step 7: Set yourself up for success
Prepare for babysitting gigs by prepping a notebook page or single sheet that includes the parents’ contact information, emergency numbers, your responsibilities, house rules, kids’ allergies or special needs, and the address. That way, you have all the info you may need to refer to while you’re on the job.
Brainstorm in advance some age-appropriate activities, and pack the supplies for them in a kit. Throw in a children’s book, perhaps one you loved when you were their age. You might also want to plan a few icebreaker activities, so you and the kids can get to know each other a little more quickly.
Make it fun! After all, kids will tell their parents all about your time with them. Being a good babysitter will motivate the parents to continue to call you and perhaps recommend your services to friends. In that case, you’ll spend less time hunting for jobs and more time actually babysitting.
Step 8: Once you have more experience, expand your network
Once you’re a little older and more experienced, you can branch out into the community. If you’re underage, you should still work with and communicate through your parents, and always exercise caution before accepting texts or calls from strangers and entering anyone’s home.
A few good places to find babysitting jobs:
- Residents’ association or neighbourhood newsletter. Some residents’ associations have newsletters; ask if you can include information on your babysitting business. If you can tap into that, you may be able to get evening and weekend gigs right in your neighbourhood.
- Student employment office. Check to see if your university or school has an online job board where you can search babysitting job listings or post your availability to babysit.
- Local social networks. Does your neighbourhood have a community Facebook or Nextdoor page? You might be able to post information about your business there, or keep a lookout for posts from parents looking for a babysitter.
If you love kids, you’ll probably love every step of learning how to be a babysitter and gaining the experience that can get you jobs. And, as you work your way up, you can start to earn some pretty good pay.
Best wishes as you begin your babysitting journey!