How To Babysit: The Complete Guide (For Beginners & Experienced Babysitters)

Written & Illustrated by Matthew Taylor
Updated 2 July 2022
First Published 18 January 2021

It doesn't matter if you're just starting out as a babysitter or if you've been babysitting for years, we have all the information and resources that you need right here. Learn how to start your service, provide excellent childcare, grow and improve your business, and earn good money.

Here are our top 10 steps to start babysitting:

Make sure babysitting is right for you
Complete a first aid course
Put together a babysitting bag of supplies
Promote your babysitting service for free
Start with short jobs and build up over time
Always put child safety first
Be active and have fun on the job
Be gentle, kind, and understanding towards children
Maintain open communication with parents
Always look for opportunities to improve your babysitting skills

Let's look at these steps in more detail. Use the links below to browse our three chapters of helpful advice, downloadable resources, and guides on all aspects of babysitting, childcare, and running your own business.

Chapter 1. How to start babysitting
Chapter 2. Essential babysitting strategies
Chapter 3. Babysitting business
- Tax tips for babysitters
- Career babysitting

Chapter 1. How to start babysitting

When you decide to become a babysitter, it can be difficult to know where to start, that's why we have assembled a huge library of articles that are designed to help beginners at every step in their journey.

In this chapter, we have articles that will help you to set up your service, get all the right equipment you need, and we show you how to gain the qualifications and experience that you need to thrive.

Is babysitting for you?

In this section, we look at whether babysitting is the right thing for you. We cover the personality traits that good babysitters often share and the general requirements for the job so that you can get a good idea of what it's like.

Benefits of babysitting

There are many reasons why people decide to start babysitting, in this section, we'll look at the benefits of becoming a babysitter, what skills you can learn while on the job, and how babysitting can help you later in your life and career.

Equipment required

To become an effective and professional babysitter you will need to have completed some essential training (or have equivalent practical experience), some basic equipment for the job, and have printed documentation of your skills and experience for parents to assess.

In this section, we'll cover all of these babysitting requirements, we highlight which ones are essential to get before you begin, and which ones you can acquire later.

Getting started

In this section, we run through the general process of getting yourself set up and ready for becoming a babysitter, even if you're starting from scratch.

How to promote your babysitting service

Once your babysitting business is set up, it is essential that you have a cost-effective way to promote your service to new families.

In this section, we look at a variety of free and cheap advertising methods that we recommend to babysitters and how best to use them for your particular circumstances.

Babysitting interviews

An essential part of winning new babysitting jobs is being able to present yourself to parents in the best possible light by showcasing your good qualities, skills, and qualifications.

In this section, we cover all aspects of babysitting interviews, what to bring, what to wear, what to expect, and questions you should ask parents. These essential tips can give you the edge over your competition and increase your chances of finding repeat work.

Babysitting pay

One of the most asked questions by babysitters is "how much should I charge?" and to be honest, there isn't a simple answer. Your babysitting rate will depend on where you live, your age, what skills and qualifications you have, how in-demand you are, and also, how effective you are a negotiating your pay rate.

The following articles will help you to set your optimal babysitting rate based on your particular circumstances.

First time babysitting tips

Your very first babysitting job may be stressful if you don't know what to expect or if you are not well prepared. In this section, we help you to prepare, we describe what a first babysitting job is typically like, and we cover various situations that may happen when you're babysitting for a family for the first time.

Babysitting safety

Safety is one of the most important responsibilities of a babysitter, both safety of the children under your supervision and safety for yourself while on the job and traveling to and from jobs. In this section, we cover various aspects of safety that all babysitters should know. We encourage you to read all of these helpful articles.

Babysitting FAQs

In this section, we answer some of the most common questions people ask about babysitting and dispel widespread myths and common misconceptions.

See our babysitting FAQs page for even more questions and answers about babysitting.

For definitions of common babysitting terms, see our babysitting glossary.

Chapter 2. Essential babysitting strategies

To be an effective babysitter you will need a variety of skills so you can handle the different situations that might come up while on the job. In this chapter, we cover all aspects of general babysitting and reveal our many tricks for dealing with common situations that babysitters face every day.

Common babysitting duties

As a babysitter, parents will expect you to perform a variety of tasks while on the job. In this section, we cover all of the most common babysitting duties in detail, we share our secret tips so you can gain new skills and improve your service over time.

Child ages

How you plan for each babysitting job will largely depend on the ages of the children who will be under your care. In this section, we look at the specific babysitting requirements for individual age groups, the pros and cons of each age, potential pitfalls to look out for, and age-appropriate games and activities that we recommend.

See our guide to babysitting:

Child entertainment

After child safety, engaging entertainment is probably the most important thing a good babysitter can provide for children. In this section, we reveal hundreds of entertainment options for children of all ages including games, crafts, jokes, sports, and many other new and different activities that children and babysitters will both enjoy.

Improve your babysitting skills

If you're serious about becoming a better babysitter then this section is perfect for you. These articles will help you to learn more about childcare, the development of children, and how babysitters can make a valuable difference in children's lives.

Outings for babysitters

Babysitting doesn't have to be boring, it can be an adventure! In this section, we take a look at kid-friendly outings that you may want to try on your next babysitting job. The kids will love them!

Try babysitting at the:

How to deal with difficult situations

Babysitting is not always easy, some days you will be tested with difficult children, tricky situations, or unexpected events. In this section, we go through some of the most common difficulties that babysitters may face and offer advice and tips to help you to work through the situation or to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Popular babysitting dates

There are a few dates each year when babysitters find themselves in high demand. On these special days, babysitters can easily charge 1.5 times their normal rate. These are also times when new babysitters can find greater success in securing new jobs. Read on to learn how you can make the most of these dates to advance your babysitting business.

Chapter 3. Babysitting business

Babysitting can be more than just a job, it can become a long and fulfilling career that will support you just as well as many other occupations. And because babysitters are self-employed, it can give you flexibility and freedom that other jobs can never provide.

Tax tips for babysitters

When running your own babysitting business it's essential to correctly record your earnings and expenses for tax purposes. In this section, we look at the finer details of tax for babysitters.

Career babysitting

If you're serious about turning babysitting into a career then these articles can help you determine the best way forward.

Babysitting Business Secrets by Matthew Taylor

Start your babysitting business today!
My book, Babysitting Business Secrets, is out now as an inexpensive ebook or full-color paperback. If you're serious about becoming the best babysitter you can be, or if you want to make as much money as possible, then this book is perfect for you. I reveal all my tricks and tips for first-time babysitters or experienced sitters who just want to up their game. Get your copy today! Or, learn more about the book.

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