Best Babysitting Classes & Certifications for Skill & Confidence

Find an online babysitting certification course to learn valuable skills and jumpstart your babysitting career.

Updated January 27, 2023
Young girl using online education website

Babysitting offers a great way to make some money and gain working experience, and a babysitting course can prepare you for the serious responsibility of caring for a child. Fortunately, there are a handful of online options that allow you to learn valuable babysitting skills. Choose from certificate programs to self-paced courses and even free babysitting classes to find the best route for your needs.

Free Babysitting Training Online

Most babysitting online courses charge fees for their training, but there are some free, self-paced classes you can take online. These are a great introduction or complement to paid babysitter classes because they will help you gain additional skills to support your babysitting career.

  • Although the Red Cross babysitting online course is not free, they publish the babysitter's training manual online, so you can brush up on your knowledge before you take the course.
  • The Virginia Cooperative Extension has uploaded their Babysitting Basics course materials. While preteens and teens can earn certification only through course attendance, you can use the materials to learn techniques that will help make your work successful.
  • Babysitter database website UrbanSitter features a resource section for babysitters and nannies offering advice on how to do a great job to encourage repeat customers. There are also informational articles about dealing with kids with food allergies and misbehaved children.
  • TeensHealth offers a comprehensive resource for babysitters that includes instructions for creating a business plan and ways to entertain children.
  • Care.com has several useful articles that cover everything from how to learn the basics of child care all the way to acing your first babysitting interview. Once you have your babysitting business up and running, you can even use their platform to search for jobs.
  • Even though their courses aren't free, the Babysitting Certification Institute has a free learning center filled with great tips, along with a babysitting quiz you can take to test your knowledge.

Courses for Babysitting Certification Online

Babysitter courses are well worth the investment because 66 percent of parents report they would pay more for a babysitter who has undergone safety training. You can find babysitting classes in most communities through your city's Parks and Rec department, your local American Red Cross chapter, and more. However, most of these programs are in-person and have specific start dates. If you're looking for an online babysitting class that you can take from home after school or on the weekends, the following are great options.

Babysitter reading book with adorable toddler

American Red Cross Babysitter Training

The American Red Cross offers one of the most highly regarded babysitting classes for 11-year-olds and older. The course is available online, although you can take the class in person at many local Red Cross locations. The training teaches skills in caring for infants and children up to 10 years of age.

You'll learn skills such as how to stay safe, playing with kids, handling emergencies, feeding, and bedtime. The student must receive an 80 percent on the final exam to receive a printable diploma. The Red Cross has added some resources that are helpful, including starting and managing a babysitting business.

  • Cost: Currently listed as $85.00 for the complete online course (prices may vary depending on your location)
  • Availability: Online 24/7
  • Estimated completion time: The course takes four hours to complete.
  • Requirements: Since the lessons are in video format, you'll need high-speed internet for streaming.

Babysitting 101

Universal Class offers a course for future sitters and nannies, and those who want to refresh their skills. The course covers safety aspects of babysitting as well as how to run your service as a business.

The material is broken into 10 lessons and 17 assignments that are self-paced. Review each chapter completely and take notes because you must pass a final exam at the end. The topics include everything from running a babysitting business, to safety, to appropriate forms of discipline.

You can earn continuing education credits (CEUs) for completing this course if you earn a final grade of 70 percent or higher and download a CEU certificate.

  • Cost: Currently listed as $70.00 with no certificate or $95.00 with CEU certificate
  • Availability: Online 24/7
  • Estimated completion time: You have six months to complete the course, which takes an average of three hours or more.
  • Requirements: PC or Mac, Android, iOS

Babysitting Certification

Expert Rating offers a certification course geared toward college-aged students and adults who are interested in pursuing babysitting as a career.

The course is divided into seven sections that cover topics including activities and playtime, discipline, a plan to avoid problems, and your responsibilities as a sitter. You can take the certification exam once you've studied all the course materials, and you must take the exam within one year of purchasing the course.

  • Cost: Currently listed as $19.99
  • Availability: Online 24/7
  • Estimated completion time: One week to one month, depending on your pace
  • Requirements: Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox and an email account

Kidproof Babysitter Training Program

Kidproof Safety offers an online training course for ages 10 and up. The course covers babysitting basics, such as finding a babysitting job, how to care for kids of different ages, how to deal with a difficult situation, and some safe and fun activities to do with the kids. Also, the future babysitter will learn what to do in a medical emergency and what to do if they suspect neglect or abuse.

With the purchase of the online course, you'll get all the same materials you'd receive for an in-class course. Included is the babysitter's handbook (e-book), email access to a Kidproof certified personal instructor, access to the online learning portal on Kidproof, and a certificate of completion (upon successful completion of the course).

  • Cost: Currently $40
  • Availability: Online 24/7
  • Estimated completion time: Seven hours, though you have six months to complete it
  • Requirements: High-speed internet, speakers, and Adobe PDF Reader
    Babysitter playing with little girl

Safe Sitter Essentials

Safe Sitter Essentials' live trainings are designed for students in grades 6 to 8 who would like to venture into babysitting. The course is broken down into four lessons: safety skills, child care skills, first aid & rescue, and life & business skills. The program uses interactive games as a way to reinforce the material, and the digital presentation is great for visual leaners.

Instead of a self-paced course, Safe Sitters offers live virtual classes on specific days and times, so you'll need to find a training that works with your schedule, then register to save your spot. If you're looking to get more out of a babysitter course, you can register for the Safe Sitter Essentials with CPR or even their expanded course, which is 11 hours long.

  • Cost: Currently $68.00
  • Availability: Virtual classes offered on specific days/times
  • Estimated completion time: Six hours
  • Requirements: High-speed internet and speakers

Babysitting Certification Institute

The Babysitting Certification Institute is a leader in babysitting certification programs, and their course includes everything you need to quickly and confidently get certified. The material was developed by experienced babysitters who know what you need to become a skilled caregiver.

The creators of this program also understand that test taking can be nerve-racking, so they offer unlimited exam retakes. If you don't pass the first time, you can try again as many times as you need. However, you won't receive your certification until you pass the 50-question exam with an 80 percent or higher.

  • Cost: Currently $95.00 for certification, and $65.00 for recertification
  • Availability: Online 24/7 with no course expiration
  • Estimated completion time: Two hours
  • Requirements: High-speed internet and speakers

Udemy Complete Guide to Becoming a Babysitter

Udemy is known for their wide range of online courses, so it's no wonder their Complete Guide to Becoming a Babysitter class is a hit. This online program covers everything from "What Does a Babysitter Do?" to guidance on how to handle unexpected situations while on the job. The course features 39 bite-sized lectures (ranging from one minute to nine minutes in length) plus three quizzes.

  • Cost: Currently on sale for $10.99, originally priced at $19.99
  • Availability: Online 24/7
  • Estimated completion time: Three hours
  • Requirements: High-speed internet, speakers, and printer for worksheets

Babysitting Is Serious Business

Babysitting and child care are major responsibilities and require hard work. Taking an online course is a convenient way to learn the skills you'll need to become a qualified sitter and decide if you're mature enough to meet the challenge. These are skills that will not only help you start and run a successful business, but can be applied throughout your life and future careers.

Best Babysitting Classes & Certifications for Skill & Confidence