Babysitting can be a great source of income for both teens and adults. If you love kids, you may be wondering how to get babysitting jobs in your area. Growing your business can take a little work, but with the right networking and knowledge about how to advertise your babysitting services, you'll be getting gigs before you know it!
How to Get Babysitting Jobs
The first step before you try to get jobs is to learn how to become a babysitter - this means things such as becoming CPR certified, knowing the legal babysitting ages in your state, getting experience with kids through volunteering or babysitting for friends or family members, and creating a resume.
Once you've gained some informal experience, you're likely looking to land some regular work. First things first, you need to market yourself. The good news is that you have is that you have it a lot easier than your parents did. The internet makes it simple to reach potential clientele. Here's how to get started!
Build Your Online Profile
While the internet gives you easy access to potential jobs, it can also limit your workload if your social media page is sending off the wrong signals. Take a look at your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter pages and consider what a parent might see as a negative factor.
You want to portray yourself as a model student, a hard worker, and someone who cares about others. Make sure you look good on these platforms prior to applying anywhere.
Additionally, think about updating your actual profile. Fill in those spaces labeled, "Bio," "Work," "Education," and Hobbies." Social media is one of the first places parents will look to find out more about you, making these pages an easy spot to advertise your skills. Include your certifications, volunteer work with kids and animals, and even your extracurricular activities.
Prep Job Documents
While today most people do their babysitting marketing online, it's important to have physical job documents as well. Thus, have your resume, references page, and any letters of recommendation handy in case someone contacts you for more information. You can also make affordable business cards at places Office Depot or through online print services.
When you meet someone who's looking for some help, hand over one of your cards so that they have an easy way to contact you for potential babysitting jobs.
When formatting these documents, keep these things in mind:
- Brand your business with a name and fun logo image or your headshot.
- Include your full name and best contact information.
- Don't forget a title - such as"Babysitter" or "Childcare Professional."
- List your certifications (CPR, First Aid, Babysitter Training, etc).
You can also format flyers to advertise your services using free programs like Canva! If you're not confident in your computer skills, simply personalize a free babysitting flyer template. Hang your flyers at local stores, on community bulletin boards, or even place them in mailboxes around town. Check with your local elementary and preschools to see if they will send your flyer home with students as well.
If your experience spans over two years, also consider including the phrase "XXX years experience." This can give parents peace of mind that this isn't your first rodeo.
Join Mom Groups
Facebook is a fantastic spot to find babysitting work and advertise your babysitting skills. All you need to do is add yourself to local mom groups and then post your services on their page. Also, look for moms who have posted that they need some help.
Just remember that as time goes by, your post will drop further and further down the feed, so make a point to post regularly. Give fast facts on your experience, certifications, availability, and rates. If someone in the group can serve as a good reference, tag them as well!
Register on Babysitting Apps & Websites
Childcare is a major occupation these days, so there are apps and websites dedicated to helping people find caregivers of all kinds in their area. Make a professional profile for yourself and see who's looking for help near you.
- Sittercity - You can create a profile to showcase your skills, apply for jobs, and communicate with families on Sittercity. There's a free membership option, but the featured sitter option requires a paid subscription.
- Bambino - You need one recommendation to get started on Bambino, but then you can communicate with parents and recieve job requests with this free social-media based app.
- Bubble - Set your own prices and choose the jobs you want. Creating a profile is free for babysitters, and you can find occasional or regular babysitting work with Bubble.
- Care.com - One of the best-known sites for sitters is Care.com. Their Basic Profile for caregivers is free and gets your information out there, but you'll need the paid membership to apply for jobs listed on the site.
- Sitter.com also has a free Basic Profile option and several paid member options to help families find you and you find new clients.
Check Online Job Boards
Standard job sites such as Indeed or Snagajob are other great spots to find work. These can also show you childcare businesses that are looking for workers. Check to see if anyone has posted a childcare need in a city near you or post your services for people to find.
Reach Out to Family and Friends
The more you spread the word about your availability for babysitting, the more likely you'll get a job. Word of mouth is everything, and even if someone is not looking, they may know someone who needs a sitter. Remember that everyone has a professional network that they can tap into, even teens.
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Have your relatives promote your services by telling their friends about you.
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Ask your parents and older siblings to promote your babysitting business where they work.
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Let teachers and school staff members know you're looking for babysitting work.
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If you have friends with younger siblings (or your friend doesn't enjoy babysitting), let their parents know you're interested.
Give all of these individuals a handful of your business cards. If they meet someone needing help, this is an easy way to ensure that they get your information.
Volunteer at a Childcare Center
Volunteering is a great way to meet parents who already know you and trust you. Home daycare centers, big childcare centers, and after-school programs often use volunteers to keep costs low and programming high. Have a resume ready to hand out when at these facilities and schedule in-person meetings with directors when possible.
Visit a Community Center
Many community centers have programs for children. Bring along your flyers and ask if you can make a quick announcement of your services at these classes. Additionally, be creative and show parents they will get the best deal by choosing you!
Run a promotion and offer to occupy kids for the rest of the class after your announcement or bring printable activities and crayons for the kids to use while you're talking. If the center hosts classes that highlight your hobbies or skills, offer to volunteer in these courses as well.
Check With Local Colleges
Many parents go back to school in the summer and will need someone to care for their children during the day. Check the school's bulletin boards in the main building on campus or post one of your flyers. Colleges often have an employment department where students can go to look for job opportunities or services available.
Go Where the Parents Are
If you want to meet parents in need of your services, check with fitness centers, grocery stores, and in-person mom groups to see if you can post a flyer or work with them to provide childcare services. Think about places where parents might have trouble keeping kids entertained and head there first.
Add Your Name to a Local Babysitting List
Schools and other non-profit organizations sometimes keep lists of certified babysitters on file. Make sure your name gets on that list so that parents can find your information. If no one in your area keeps a list like this, ask if you can help them to start one.
Improve Your Chances to Get a Teen Babysitting Job
Have you found that sometimes you get an interview with a parent, but you end up not getting the job? Parents want to protect their children and want to know that you'll protect them when you are caring for them. Look for ways to show your maturity, responsibility, and child care skills that will make parents feel confident you are the right person for the job.
Get Certified
Look for a First Aid/CPR class where you can get certified. You can also take a babysitter course to receive specialized training to better equip you to care for kids of all ages. You should also take as many classes in school and online as you can in areas like child development to enhance your knowledge base. Think about keeping copies of your certifications on hand and be sure to mention them when talking with potential clients.
Make a Fun Babysitter's Kit
You want to show your professional side to parents, but also need to engage kids with your fun side. If the kids don't want you babysitting, the parents might not either. You might want to make a fun babysitter's kit to take with you on interviews and jobs that includes things like the following:
- Lists of games to try
- Printable coloring pages and word puzzles
- Arts & crafts supplies
- Busy bags for kids to try
- Your favorite kids' movies
- Kid-friendly board games
- Simple science experiments for kids
- Great children's books to read together
Use Original Marketing Techniques
Look for unique ways to share your business other than hanging flyers or telling people you babysit.
- Create a meme about your babysitting services and send it to people you know.
- Get yourself featured in an article in the local newspaper or magazine.
- Set up a kids' table and share your information at the local farmer's market.
Make Yourself Memorable With Fun Babysitting Slogans
People usually have at least one slogan that they can say from memory. Coming up with a clever catchphrase for your business cards and flyers can be an easy way to keep you on parent's minds. Rhyming and puns can be a fun way to help you create a catchy slogan.
- Need a rest? Call the best!
- Looking for a home run this Saturday night? Pitch a no-hitter by hiring this babysitter!
- Running out of steam? Call in the Dream Team!
- Sitters "R" Us
- Ready for a Ruff Ruff Rescue? I Will Keep Patrol!
- Better Sitters Today. Better Parents Tomorrow.
- Take a mental health day while we play!
- When you need a break from your neighborhood? Who you gonna call? This babysitter!
Send Thank-You Notes
Finding jobs is easy, doing a great job is more difficult - and leaving a lasting impression is the hardest part of all. Show off your professional side by sending thank you notes to clients after every first babysitting job. Let them know how much you love working with their family and they'll love you even more.
Put Safety First
Always be careful when you meet new parents, especially if you don't meet them through a relative, friend, or neighbor. Think about bringing along a trusted adult when meeting new clients and never give out more than your name and phone number. If you ever feel uncomfortable with a situation or by what a parent has said to you, tell someone right away. Babysitting jobs are fun, but you need to protect yourself and always put your safety first.
