Hey mama, let me guess – you‘re drowning in dirty diapers and craving just one night out without the kids. I‘ve been there! Finding a babysitter you can trust is stressful. But have no fear, your fairy godmother is here…in the form of my Sittercity review. 😉
If you haven‘t heard of it, Sittercity is one of the OG websites for finding childcare online. They‘ve been around since 2001 and have over 11 million caregivers on the platform. Sounds great, but is Sittercity legit? Is it safe? And is it worth the money?
I gave Sittercity a whirl for a few months to find backup date night sitters. And I‘m baring all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. So sit back with your coffee or wine (no judging here), and I‘ll give you the tea on Sittercity. Let‘s dive in!
How Does Sittercity Work Anyway?
First off, signing up for Sittercity as a parent is a total breeze:
- Pop in your location, kiddos‘ ages, and when you need care
- Make a free account with your email
- Browse sitter profiles, filter your faves, and reach out!
You can see sitter bios, experience, rates, and parent reviews all in one spot. Major bonus points.
The catch? A lot of the best features (seeing full profiles, contacting sitters, background checks) are locked unless you pay up. Womp womp. Plans start at $35 a month, but they occasionally run promos!
For sitters, it‘s just as simple:
- Make a free profile with a bio, skills, and rates
- Upload a photo + complete Sittercity‘s ID checks
- Browse and apply to jobs from families in your area
One cool feature is the video profiles – it‘s a chance for sitters to show off their shining personalities beyond just a blurb.
Will Sittercity Help Me Find Mary Poppins?
Okay, Sittercity sounds easy enough to use, but what about the quality of the sitters? I‘ll admit, I went in a bit of a skeptic. Can you really find legit, qualified childcare from a website? Would I be stuck with a bunch of disinterested teens just looking for some mall money?
But y‘all…I was low-key impressed! A solid 75% of the profiles I browsed were professional nannies or daycare workers with serious experience and credentials. We‘re talking CPR certified, early childhood education degrees, the works. These were resumes I‘d be stoked to see for a full-time nanny, let alone a date night sitter!
Of course, it wasn‘t all sunshine and rainbows. I definitely came across a few sketchy profiles with barely any info and questionable pics. And the search results could be hit or miss in terms of sitters that met my particular criteria. But all it took was a bit of patience and filtering to find some real gems.
I ended up messaging about 7 different sitters over the course of a month. From those, I found 2 absolute rockstars that I now have on speed dial. They‘ve both watched my wild child toddler multiple times and I trust them 110%. That‘s a win in my book!
Okay, But What About Safety? Is Sittercity Legit?
I know what you‘re thinking – finding sitters online is great and all, but is Sittercity safe? As a mama bear, I‘d never put my kids in harm‘s way. And I‘m sure you wouldn‘t either!
The good news is Sittercity is the real deal when it comes to safety and security:
- Identity verification for all caregivers 🆔
- Optional $15-60 background checks on county/state/federal databases and sex offender registries 🕵️♀️
- Secure, on-site messaging (no personal info exchanged) 📱
- Parent reviews and ratings on caregiver profiles 📝
Sittercity also has an in-house Trust & Safety team that‘s constantly screening for red flags and booting any shady characters. In fact, according to their site, fewer than 0.05% of caregivers have been removed due to a failed background check or safety concern. Those odds sound pretty darn good to me!
For even more peace of mind, I always suggest a trial run with a new sitter (paid of course). Grab dinner close by and check in often. And don‘t be shy about asking for OFF app references too!
Sittercity vs Care.com: How Do They Compare?
Wondering how Sittercity stacks up against the other big fish in the online sitting pond, Care.com? I spent an embarrassing number of naptime hours diving into both sites, and here‘s the scoop:
| Sittercity | Care.com | |
|---|---|---|
| "Bill of Health" | 1M caregivers ID & background checked | No aggregate screening data shared |
| Ease of Use | Clean interface, targeted search results | More filters/options, but a bit overwhelming |
| Caregiver Quality | Many pro-level nannies and Family Reviews | Higher % of casual teen/college sitters |
| Pricing | $35-$150+/month depending on plan | $39-$159/month – slightly pricier |
| Extra Perks | Video profiles, free basic background checks | Wider variety of services like tutoring/pet care |
Both are solid options, but Care.com feels more like the Walmart of childcare (huge selection but hard to sift through) while Sittercity is like a boutique (smaller pool but more curated).
Personally, I vibed more with the sitter quality and overall experience on Sittercity, but your mileage may vary. It‘s like picking between Nordstrom and Macy‘s, ya know?
What Are Other Parents Saying?
But hey, don‘t just take it from me! I combed through hundreds of Sittercity reviews from REAL mamas and papas to get even more perspectives:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I‘m a first-time mom with major anxiety about leaving my baby, but Sittercity made it so much easier. Every sitter I‘ve booked has been a true professional. Worth every penny for the extra vetting and security!" – @mommyoftwo
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I love how many college students are on Sittercity looking for regular gigs. I found an awesome education major who watches my kids 2x/week while I WFH. Only complaint is I wish the subscription fees were a bit lower." – @sarahloves27
⭐⭐⭐ "It took some trial and error, but I finally found a great date night sitter on Sittercity. She‘s always on time and genuinely loves playing with my kiddos! I do wish there was an easier way to share my sitter faves with local mom friends though." – @twinsanity
The consensus? Sittercity is a super convenient way to connect with qualified caregivers, but it may take some time and money to find your perfect match. The safety features and prescreened pool of applicants are definitely the biggest draws!
The Final Verdict
Alright, moment of truth – is Sittercity worth it? All in all, I give it a solid A-!
No childcare service is absolutely foolproof, but Sittercity delivered on the goods. I loved having access to a diverse pool of pro-level sitters in my area ASAP. The background checks and secure messaging definitely helped me breathe easier. And booking/communication was a total breeze!
The only real downsides are the pricey subscription fees (I wish at least 1 basic check was included!) and the potential time investment to sift through profiles. But convenience and quality childcare is always going to come at a bit of premium, in my opinion!
So if you‘re a busy parent who wants some extra help with a side of reassurance, I say go for it! Start with a free account and browse around. Worst case, you‘re out a few hours and have to listen to Cocomelon on repeat again. 😉
My Top Sittercity Tips for Parents
To make your Sittercity experience as smooth as a baby‘s bottom, learn from my mistakes:
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Be SPECIFIC in your job posts and 1:1 messages! The clearer you are about your needs and expectations, the easier it will be to find your dream sitter.
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Pay attention to sitters‘ listed experience/skills, but also their overall vibe and personality. You want someone you genuinely mesh with, not just a good resume!
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Don‘t be afraid to ask LOTS of questions, especially about hypothetical scenarios. How would they handle a tantrum, picky eaters, bedtime battles? The answers are revealing!
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Chemistry is key. Set up a paid playdate or Zoom chat with your top picks before booking a big gig. When you know, you know!
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Last but not least – trust your mama gut!!! If something seems off, it probably is. There are plenty of fish in the Sittercity sea.
You‘ve got this mama! Finding childcare may never be easy per se, but Sittercity is definitely making it easier. And THAT is the tea. ☕
Now, who‘s ready for some uninterrupted adult conversation and a large glass of pinot? I know I am! 🙋♀️🍷
