Gone are the days when parents could only call their grandparents, nanny, or the teenager next door when they wanted to go to a party or simply had to work late. Today, there’s an entire industry dedicated to helping parents find nannies and other childcare professionals online, giving them options and freedom that grandparents never had when we were kids.
Many of these websites and apps are designed to make the search for childcare easier and faster. These companies offer parents a comprehensive package to review customer reviews, recommendations, and personal profiles of childcare professionals. Most companies also vet the nannies and babysitters on their listings, which means it’s not just your responsibility to do your due diligence.
Before you start your online search, talk to friends and family about the best babysitting sites. Reach out to parents you know at your child’s daycare or in your neighborhood and ask if they have any recommendations. Ask them if they have used online services and if they have any recommendations. You can also use social media to ask for recommendations.
When you decide to search online, decide what you are looking for in a childcare professional and compare prices to find the company that best suits your needs.
What Are You Looking For?
The first step is to decide what you are looking for. Do you simply need a caregiver who can watch the kids after they have a few hours of sleep while you go out for dinner and drinks with your partner? Do you need someone who can pick up the kids from school and stay with them until they are asleep? Would you like a nanny who speaks a foreign language to raise a bilingual child? Are you looking for a full-time assistant who can also cook and clean? As for a male tutor, is that an option?
The question of what you need is something only you can answer, and it will have a big impact on where and how you search. One thing is for sure: This is a very important decision and should not be taken lightly.
When looking for savings:
- Seek recommendations from friends and family.
- Read user reviews.
- Do you need additional services? (Someone who cooks, cleans, or can teach your child a foreign language?)
- Don’t hesitate to ask about background checks and references.
Important Features
- Wide range of caregivers
- References and background checks are provided.
- Profiles with search options to suit your needs.
- Availability and ease of use:
- Safety and peace of mind are likely to be top priorities when looking for a nanny.
- Most services either conduct their own background checks or rely on third-party nannies who sign up for their services. Make sure you check out these services to find the nannies you’re interested in and review their references and testimonials.
Ease of Use
As a busy parent with young children, simplicity is probably your watchword.
Look for an easy-to-navigate website that doesn’t require technical knowledge or time entry.
Perhaps the most important thing in terms of ease of use is the mobile app. Nine of the 10 brands on this list have a mobile app, although one of them, Sitter.me, is only available for iOS devices.
The best babysitting apps are not only convenient and easy to use, but they also let you schedule babysitting appointments from the office, the grocery store, or wherever you need them.
Here’s our analysis of the 10 best babysitting apps and platforms.
1. Care.com
- What we like: You can view each babysitter’s full profile online.
Care.com is easy to use. Just enter your location and you’ll see a selection of available babysitters. Each nanny on the site is verified and has a personal profile with a photo, a description of their experience and services, prices, and user reviews. While Care.com is undoubtedly the best site for finding nannies, it uses its platform for more than just childcare: you can also find tutors, as well as care and cleaning services for adults and seniors.
2. Sittercity
- What we like: You can interview potential nannies before you hire them.
Featured in the New York Times and Good Morning America, Sittercity is one of the largest babysitting apps, with millions of members and a wide range of childcare options, including services for children with special needs. To find a sitter on the platform, you can post an ad with your needs and schedule. You can interview applicants and review your search when you’re done. Like Care.com, SitterCity.com also offers senior and pet care.
3. Urbansitter
- What we like: You can read reviews from other parents in your community.
Urbansitter has over 150,000 nannies on its platform and serves over 60 cities across the country. Each nanny page includes a video that lets you get to know the nanny as they introduce themselves in a short 30-90 second video. You can post screening questions that potential nannies can answer during the application process, as well as read reviews from parents in your community. The average booking time on Urbansitter is 3 minutes, which is a huge advantage for last-minute babysitting needs.
4. Sitter.com
- What we like: It leverages the Telesafe call system for added security.
Sitter.com works like other sites in that it quickly connects you with nannies in your area. While the platform doesn’t conduct its own background checks, it does provide parents with the tools and resources to do so, with options like Social Security number tracking and a national criminal background check. It also offers private or secure ways to communicate with potential nannies, including private messaging. Sitter.com’s proprietary Telesafe system allows you to communicate with other users while keeping your identity protected.
5. Nanny Lane
- What we like: Pre-screened checks.
Nanny Lane is a well-designed and easy-to-use nanny service that, while it doesn’t have as large a network as other sites, makes up for it with security measures and additional features. You can request a background check on any nanny you’re interested in, which will include a Social Security number check, sex offender database, global watch list, and national and state criminal databases. Another cool feature is Nanny List’s nanny sharing program, which allows you to share your nanny with other families to save money.
6. Zum
- What we like: 360-degree visibility of your child through comprehensive technology.
Zum has won multiple Fast Company awards for its innovation in school transportation. With over 4,000 schools, Zum offers school transportation for parents who are too busy to take their kids to school, practice, or after-school activities. Parents get 360-degree visibility through the app, as well as constant communication with the driver. Zum is growing rapidly in size and popularity, although it currently only serves the San Francisco area.
7. Sitter.me
- What we like: A reliable option for temporary babysitters
If you’re looking for a temporary or last-minute option, sitter.me was created by parents who want to help other parents who need to hire a babysitter right away and don’t have the time to find a long-term option. With Sitter.me, you create a list of babysitters you’ve approved, send a message to everyone on your list, and the booking is accepted first.
8. Au Pair in America
- What we like: Designated by the U.S. Department of State with over 30 years of experience
Founded in 1986 and the first of its kind to be designated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair in America has decades of experience placing full-time foreign nannies with families in the United States. The company handles the necessary paperwork to find a full-time nanny for childcare and household chores. Au Pair America has high standards for its nannies, who must have 200 hours of experience, no criminal record, and a valid driver’s license with a clean record.
9. Sitting Around
- What we like: Reliability, built on community strengths.
Many sites take a community approach to childcare. With SittingAround, you can join a childcare co-op. It’s a community-based system where parents take turns looking after their children, and instead of exchanging money, they exchange childcare for childcare. You earn points for childcare that you can redeem when someone is free and you want to do it.
10. Bubble
- What we like. Ideal for last minute emergencies.
Bubble is a free babysitting app that is advertised as great for your short notice, regular, and temporary babysitting needs. It works like ride-sharing apps like Uber; Enter the time and date you need a babysitter, then view the participants and their rates, then choose one. The app allows you to base your decision on recommendations from friends.
Safe, Reliable, and Trustworthy Childcare Made Easy
There are few decisions you as a parent can make that are as important as caring for your children. With today’s online options, finding reliable child care is easier than ever, but there are still some basic guidelines to follow. Know what you’re looking for, look for links and explore, and find a website or app that has the right features for you. The idea of finding an online tutor may take some getting used to, but you’ll find that it makes tutoring easier and maybe even safer than ever.