Banish the babysitter blues
Filed Under Events | July 22, 2008
Where have all the babysitters gone? If you’ve discovered that finding a good babysitter is one of the more unexpected challenges of parenthood then you’ll want to join the Lullaby League.
Rather like speed dating, the Lullaby League sets up events around town to connect mums with babysitters. You go, you chat, you scope out the sitters, they scope you out and if you like each other then, hey presto! Okay, it’s not quite that easy, but it’s a lot easier than canvassing all the teenagers on your block to see if they might be interested in taking care of your little ones.
Each mixer, which happen at different locales around town, starts with the potential babysitters introducing themselves and letting mums in on their preferences and availability followed by the mums briefly introducing themselves. That’s followed by some informal chatting and you leave with a Lullaby List, which is like a mini resume of all the babysitters, including their contact info of course.
We put the Lullaby League to the test via a phone interview with a potential babysitter, a UBC Psychology and Commerce student who speaks four – soon to be five – languages, plans to start her own business, and likes to get creative with kids. We weren’t sure if it felt more like a date (we liked her, we really liked her) or a job interview.
While the Lullaby League only chooses candidates who are college or university students with babysitting experience, you’re on your own for checking references and working out rates – but at least you’ll have someone whose references you can check and who you can work out rates with.
The first ever Lullaby League meeting is July 29th at 7:30 at the Caramel Salon on Granville Street. Interested? You might want to book soon (the cost is $50) as space is limited. As the Lullaby League grows they’ll start to have events that are more neighborhood specific, but for now they only cover Vancouver’s city limits so it’ll be a city-wide mixer with babysitters (and mums) from all around town.
Why does that scene from The Nanny Diaries where the heroine is mobbed by mamas wanting to avail themselves of her services keep springing to mind?
The Lullaby League: www.lullabyleague.ca
4 Responses to “Banish the babysitter blues”
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
Wow,
What a great idea! Any idea that is practical and fun is totally welcome by this mother of young children. Can’t wait to try it out.
Thanks again Lullaby League for thinking of us!
Great idea, but frankly, I think that online sitter services can’t be beat for ease of use and quantity of sitters. I use Care.com regularly, and LOVE it. They do free background checks, and have a ton of qualified sitters. Whenever I run an “ad” on the site, I get a slew of great responses. We have a few really great sitters that we alternate using now, for Saturday nights. My sister found her (great) nanny on the site as well. And no need to leave the house to do it! (Hey, if you have to attend an event like Lullaby League, don’t you have to find a sitter to watch the kids?!) :)
This is a fantastic idea! It is so hard to find babysitters nowadays – I love the fact that you have so many qualified candidates to choose from in one place! I will definitely be attending the event!
fyi, I just looked at that care.com site Margot recommended, and it’s US only, so I don’t see how that helps those of us here in vancouver.