Explanation of cooperative babysitting and how to run a co-op group.
If you have kids, you know how hard it can sometimes be to find a trustworthy babysitter. And once you find a babysitter that is good with children, responsible, and mature, then you have to pay them! Babysitting fees can significantly increase the cost of a night out with your spouse. That is why many parents are turning to babysitting co-ops.
What is a Babysitting Co-op?
A babysitting co-op is a group of parents who share babysitting responsibilities with one another. One parent will sit for another for free, but in return, the parent receiving the services will also have to sit from time to time.
How Does it Work?
Every co-op is different but many follow the same basic guidelines:
- Members of the co-op either know each other already or get to know each other before babysitting begins. New members must spend a certain amount of time getting acquainted with the other parents before providing babysitting services.
- Members start out with X number of hours of babysitting available to them (usually just one or two).
- For each hour of babysitting provided, members earn an hour that they can redeem for free babysitting in return.
- A treasurer is designated to keep track of hours earned and used.
- A list of members is provided to everyone in the co-op. A parent needing a babysitter may call anyone on the list, but no one is obligated to sit.
- Babysitting is not provided "on credit." In otherwords, if you have not earned the hours, you cannot use the hours.
If you are looking for a way to save money on babysitting or want a pool of reliable babysitters on which to call, a babysitting co-op may be just what you are looking for.
