The Student Room Group

Help with babysitting ad please!!!

I really need to earn some more money, and I've done some babysitting for people i know, but i'd really like to put an advert round the streets near me so I can earn more money. However, I have absolutely no idea what to write - does any one have any ideas??? Also, should I put how much i charge on or leave that up to each family seperately??? thanks very much!
Reply 1
well its up to you whether you decide to have a standard rate (you'd need to research what other people ask) or just let people make you an offer.
Put your age, how responsible you are, your previous experiences of babysitting, when you are available, how much you are planning to charge (or whether you want them to make you an offer on salary) your contact details.
Reply 2
Also if you have a first aid certificate, say so, cos it really helps! I don't know if you have, I just know loads of school who make you do a course to 'enhance your CV' just a thought...
Putting up a public ad offering babysitting services can be dangerous...always make sure you take a friend with you the first time you visit the client and/or tell your parents/friend exactly what address you are going to and how long you are working for.
Reply 4
ali p
I really need to earn some more money, and I've done some babysitting for people i know, but i'd really like to put an advert round the streets near me so I can earn more money. However, I have absolutely no idea what to write - does any one have any ideas??? Also, should I put how much i charge on or leave that up to each family seperately??? thanks very much!

£5 ph is usually about normal to ask for babysitting. If you are putting an advert up around the town then make it short and simple. People will only glance at it first as they are walking past so you need to give them something to pause over. Also, at the bottom of your leaflet place you number in strips so that they are easy to tear off. Something along the lines of this works quite well:

Mature responsible student available for babysitting.
Available weekends and nights and at short notice
experienced in childcare from ages 1-13

and then your number at the bottom. You can talk about prices and when you can babysit if they phone you.
BlackHawk
£5 ph is usually about normal to ask for babysitting. If you are putting an advert up around the town then make it short and simple. People will only glance at it first as they are walking past so you need to give them something to pause over. Also, at the bottom of your leaflet place you number in strips so that they are easy to tear off. Something along the lines of this works quite well:

Mature responsible student available for babysitting.
Available weekends and nights and at short notice
experienced in childcare from ages 1-13

and then your number at the bottom. You can talk about prices and when you can babysit if they phone you.

wow thats a really good idea, i would of never thought of that
Reply 6
Yes, babysitting is a good way to earn money while looking between jobs, or even to gain some experience towards qualifications.
Reply 7
Hi I would get some referrences from people you have babysat for in the past for deffo cos then people can see straight away you can do the job, I'd say mention that in your ad as well and be as open as possible about what you do.
I'm a parent myself and thats the kind of thing I would be looking for to build some trust in the person I would be leaving my daughters with.
Hope this helps
Only1leon
Reply 8
I've seen babysitting ads in supermarkets, in the 'free advertising board' thing.

Look at them, see what they put.

My idea would to put the very basics:

What you are offering (Babysitting service)
Your name (Your Name)
How much experience you've had (How many years)
Telephone Number (Home phone or Mobile)

Then put something like:

If interested please contact me.

Good Luck! :biggrin:
Reply 9
Thanks for your help everyone - i really had no idea where to start before!
Reply 10
say u come with recommendations (get the people you've already babysat 4 2 write one) and say that ur good with kids and that. i dont reckon u could put a rate as u dont have any qualifications 4 looking after kids but its something u could negotiate with anyone if they decide 2 let u babysit 4 them
Reply 11
Baby sitting sauks man. Unless you go to some posh area and ask to baby sit superstar's choldren. Best way to earn money is through being a waiter or bar staff. You get loads of tips and you live on those tips :smile:
Reply 12
whatever you do don't write about loving children...i think it's pretty obvious why.
Reply 13
Inf3rno
Baby sitting sauks man. Unless you go to some posh area and ask to baby sit superstar's choldren. Best way to earn money is through being a waiter or bar staff. You get loads of tips and you live on those tips :smile:


But you get to raid the fridge!!
Reply 14
Baby sitting sauks man.

:eek: You get paid around £5 an hour to sit and watch TV and, like Micropanic said, raid the fridge! Little kids are normally in bed by the time you are there, and older kids who are still up are usually fairly easy :smile:
Reply 15
ali p
:eek: You get paid around £5 an hour to sit and watch TV and, like Micropanic said, raid the fridge! Little kids are normally in bed by the time you are there, and older kids who are still up are usually fairly easy :smile:


sounds like free money! - but what happens in the unlikely event the kid like dies under your watchful eye or something? you get all the crap thrown on you...murder/manslaughter/negligence etc!---would be a disaster. Other than those things, baby sitting is not too bad:smile:

p
It depends how much experience you have as to how much you charge - also what you're offering. For example - when I was fourteen, I babysat for £3/ph, and did some stuff for free to get experience/references. I didn't look after very young children, as it's quite difficult.

You get a range of experiences. I've had kids wake up at sixteen months with teething problems and had trouble getting them to sleep. Done all night sitting, and looking after kids who were sick. I think max no of kids I've sat for was five, ranging from eleven to twelve months old. I charge about £5/ph, but then - I cook, clean and do general au-pair/mother's help stuff as well.

If you're willing to cook, say so. If you're willing to do day-time care, ironing, vacuum, say so. Don't put your hourly rate on the ad - negotiate with each client. You charge something for one kid - more for three kids. It's all relative.
ive looked after my niece since she was born, shes 1 yr and 6/7 months. ive got lots of experence :biggrin: