Create a Photo Book. Starting at Just $9.99. Try it!
Show off your baby! - Get your own FREE
Baby Site here! (It's Safe)
Babysitting Co-op: How To Start A Successful Baby-Sitting Cooperative
by: Tracey Ah Hee
What is a babysitting co-op?
A babysitting co-op, sometimes called babysitting club
or cooperative, is just a group of families in a community who decide to share the task of
babysitting by swapping time with each other rather than charging money. In that way the
members of the coop can get access to occasional child care services without having to be
concerned about the high cost of or risk of using a paid babysitter.
Benefits
There are many benefits to this approach to childcare. For starters it is easier and less
expensive than regular babysitting. Also, rather than relying on one or two carers that
may or may not be available you have access to perhaps as many as 10 or 20 families, which
can make it much easier to find someone in a hurry.
For those without close family nearby, a coop can be a very valuable way to get away for a
few hours without the children to spend with their partner or on a “date night”
without the added cost of child care.
Lastly, with the cost of day care spiraling up, some people are using babysitting coops to
provide regular day care for a day or two a week. Getting a child into day care for just a
day a week or for occasional days can be very difficult but sharing the task amongst
several families can make it much easier.
Drawbacks
There are very few drawbacks to babysitting coops and perhaps the only one is the task of
managing the process. For instance the role of the secretary can be quite demanding. There
are however some new ways round this issue, see below for more information.
Approaches
There are two basic approaches to running a co-op. The first uses paper based
"babysitting money." Each unit equates to a fixed unit of time. Families then
contact each other directly to arrange and pay for the sit.
The second types swaps points, say 4 points for each hour of sitting. A secretary books
the sits and keeps track of the point transactions. Both systems can function well but
most groups opt for the points approach.
Co-ops often elect a rotating secretary. If a member requires babysitting, the secretary
is phoned requesting a sitter for a certain time and date. The secretary calls members and
locates a sitter as close to the member's house as possible, attempting to find a sitter
who owes points. The secretary then calls the member and sets up the sitting arrangement.
After the care has been provided, both member and sitter agree on the number of points and
these are reported to the secretary who records them. Points are earned by being a sitter
and providing care. Points are spent by using a sitter to care for your children.
Starting your babysitting coop
There are two main success factors in starting a new coop
1. When starting your coop you need to make sure you have a clear set of rules so that
everyone knows how the process will work. Rules to consider include:
* How small/large can the co-op can become: a minimum of five and maximum of 25 are
generally judged to be the best.
* How will new members be introduced?
* Starting points for each family.
* How many hours is each point worth?
* Minimum points below which a family is not allowed to request a sit.
* How will the booking process operate?
You will probably also want to have medical authorization forms available so that families
can formally authorize the sitting family to undertake emergency medical treatment if
required.
2. Make sure that you have regular (perhaps quarterly or six monthly) meetings so that
everyone can introduce themselves and get to know each other. Normally these are held at
one member’s house or in a park so that the children can come along.
Finding members
When looking for members of your co-op it is best to find other families that have similar
parenting practices and life values to yourself. There a lots of places to look including
your local playgroup, school/pre-school, child care center, parents and citizens clubs,
church, neighbors, and the child’s sporting or activities clubs.
Closing thoughts
One last thing to consider when setting up your co-op is the idea of using it for swapping
more than just babysitting. Perhaps you can also use it for car pooling to children’s
activities or looking after your pets when you go away. Once you’ve got the people
and process together there are lots of other time and money saving uses for your coop.
About The Author
Tracey Ah Hee is a working mum with two young children. At the end of her tether trying to
balance work, family and household chores she started http://www.HelpingHero.com as a way
to easily swap a range of services including Babysitting / child care, house sitting, pet
sitting, carpooling, grocery shopping and general household chores between her friends.
(c) HelpingHero All Rights Reserved
Click here to Find a good
babysitter in your city
Calling all MOMS!! |
*Work-at-home ideas