How to Become a Babysitter: Care.com's Step-by-Step Guide

In my early teens, I started babysitting my younger cousins ​​so my aunt and uncle could have date nights. Eventually, I expected to get regular work, so I took a chance and made flyers for my babysitting services and put them in neighborhood mailboxes. I honestly didn't think anyone would call me, but then I got a family a call and I got a pretty good job watching their 3-year-old girl on weekday mornings over the summer.

Like any job, starting out with little to no experience can be intimidating, but everyone has to start somewhere – you can do it! Here's a step-by-step guide to becoming a babysitter.

Step 1: Learn the basics of parenting

Minors who want to become babysitters must always get their parents' approval before taking a babysitting job. (You must be 18 or older to join Care.) Next, they must gain training and experience that not only prepares them to care for children, but also makes them more employable.

A good place to start is by taking a course to learn the basics of babysitting.

“The course helps sitters understand what to expect during a babysitting job,” says Lianne Hoekstra, author of The Ultimate Babysitting Course Manual. “Sitters learn about responsibility, problem-solving, decision-making, and develop leadership skills.”

Introduction to babysitting courses, often aimed at ages 11 and up, can also help prepare preteens and teens to be home alone or care for younger siblings. The American Red Cross offers babysitting and child care classes across the country and online that cover the basics of child care. You can also contact local organizations, such as churches or health care organizations, that host babysitting classes.

Additionally, it's a good idea to take the Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED courses, says Elizabeth Malson, founder of the American Nanny Association in Sarasota, Fla. “Every babysitter should be trained in first aid and CPR in case of an emergency,” she says.

Step 2: Start volunteering to look after kids you know

The best way to prepare for a babysitting job is to get some experience in the field. Ask friends and family if they'd be willing to take care of their children. Experience on a babysitting resume doesn't necessarily have to come from paid work.

You can watch your younger siblings for your parents, or watch your cousins ​​for free like I did. Start by watching the kids while the adults run errands, and gradually work your way up to short date nights. Once your parents are comfortable with you watching their kids for longer periods of time, you can start charging a small fee or continue doing it for free to add some extra value to your resume.

Step 3: Gain experience working with children in groups

Working with a group of children is another way for parents to get the hands-on experience they desire.

“Get some experience doing group activities like camp before you start sitting,” says Rachel Szarupski, founder of The Babysitting Company in Miami, Fla. “This allows you to experience activities that kids that age like and helps you learn important things you need to know. For example, if you haven't worked with one-year-olds before, you might not know that toys with small parts shouldn't be around them or that phone cords can be dangerous. You really need to be one step ahead.”

Your local YMCA, church daycare or youth groups, camps, and after-school programs are good places to start, says Malson. And don't forget that volunteer work counts as experience, too. Many programs also offer childcare training, which can impress potential babysitting clients.

Step 4: Start selling yourself to people in your network

“Use your network,” says Sidra Ellison, who teaches babysitting and childcare courses for the Red Cross in Springfield, Massachusetts. “You probably have friends or family who need a babysitter.”

In fact, Hoekstra says that preteen babysitters shouldn't look outside their own networks because of safety concerns about contacting strangers.

You can call families or knock on neighbors' doors to tell them about your services. They'll probably ask you how much you charge, so be prepared to give them a flat rate, Ellison says. Average rates vary widely by area, so ask around and do a little research. You can also check your local average rates with a babysitting rate calculator. When you're just starting out, it's okay to start out with low rates, but don't underestimate your services and experience.

Step 5: Show your professionalism on paper

Even if you're a pre-teen or teen just starting out as a babysitter, you'll need to have some professional paperwork in place. This includes:

• One-page resume. “Even if you don't have much experience, resume“This includes the school you went to, your interests, and actions that demonstrate responsibility — for example, you may have been a student leader in a Girl Scout troop or you babysat your cousin every few months. Include any experience or training you have,” Ellison says.
• business card. Ellison says you should always print business cards. You never know where you'll run into your parents, so handing them a card with your name and phone number conveys both professionalism and casualness. You can print business cards for cheap from sites like: VistaprintOr, if you're confident in your design abilities, you can DIY it.
• Reference page. “I recommend preparing a sheet with three to five names of recommenders and including a short recommendation from each,” says Malson. “Contact them ahead of time and ask for their permission to include their recommendation, let them know who will be calling and what position you're looking for.” Relevant and appropriate references“Five quality references can go a long way.” References could be previous babysitting employers, teachers, coaches, or other people who have good reputations and can speak to your responsibility, quality of work, and work ethic.

Step 6: Conducting a successful parent-child interview

Find a babysitting job

“Assuming you find a job, the next thing that usually happens is an interview with a family member,” Ellison says. “The interview is a two-way street: you decide, 'Do these people want to work with me?' and they decide if they want to work with you.”

Some things to consider during the interview process:

• Personal safety. Consider meeting your potential employer in a public place, such as a cafe. If you know them, you can even meet them at their home to gauge the situation, but if you're underage, bring a parent along.
• Professionalism. Take it as seriously as you would any job interview: “Arrive early, dress appropriately, and be polite,” says Ellison.
• Question. Ask any questions you may have, such as your parents' expectations, the hours they want you to work, household rules, additional responsibilities like cleaning and pet care, whether the children have any allergies, and so on.
• Playing house. Engage with the children during the interview and allow the parents to observe your interaction.

Step 7: Set yourself up for success

Malson recommends preparing for a babysitting job by compiling a list (on paper or in your phone) of the parents' contact information, emergency numbers, your responsibilities, house rules, any allergies or special needs of the children, and addresses so you have all the information you need to refer to when you're on the job.

Plan some age-appropriate activities in advance and stock your babysitting kit with the necessary items (Ellison suggests including some children's books, ideally some of your favorite childhood books), and plan some open-door activities to help parents and kids get to know each other faster.

Make it fun. After all, kids will tell their parents about the time they spent with you. If you're a good babysitter, they'll keep calling you and might even recommend your services to their friends. That means less time searching for a job and more time actually babysitting.

Step 8: Once you have gained experience, expand your network

Once you are a bit older and have more experience, you can start venturing out into the community. If you are underage, you should work with and communicate through your parents. Also, always be cautious before accepting texts or calls from strangers or entering someone's home.

Here are some good places to find babysitting jobs:

• Homeowners association or neighborhood newsletters. “Some housing associations have newsletters – ask if they can include information about your babysitting business,” suggests Malson. “This may help you find evening or weekend work in your local area.”
• Student Employment Division. See if your college or school has an online job board where you can search for babysitting jobs or post your babysitting availability. (For example, New York University has NYU handshakewhere potential employers are pre-screened.
• Local social network. Does your neighborhood have a community Facebook or Nextdoor page? Maybe you can post information about your business there and keep an eye out for posts from parents looking for babysitters.

If you love children, you'll love every step of learning how to become a babysitter and gaining experience to land the job. And as you get the job, you'll be able to earn a pretty good salary. Currently, the average hourly wage for a babysitter is $22.38 per hour, according to the 2023 Cost of Care Report.

Best of luck to you as you begin your babysitting journey!