Booking a babysitter for the first time? These tips will give you confidence

Booking a babysitter for the very first time can feel a bit daunting. It feels like a big step, and many parents experience a bit of a hurdle to get over. Don’t worry, you're not alone! With good preparation, the right approach, and these 4 practical tips, you'll be able to head out the door with confidence.

Tip 1: Meet the babysitter beforehand

Before the babysitter officially starts, it's a good idea to meet in advance. A short introduction helps you get a feel for the babysitter. Make sure the kids are present during the meeting, so they can start getting used to the sitter. This way, you'll quickly know if it’s a good match!

Tip 2: Provide a detailed briefing

When it's the first time someone is watching your children, a thorough briefing is essential. Not just for the babysitter, but for your own peace of mind. Tell the babysitter everything they need to know: what the routines are, what to do if the kids feel unwell and want to call mom or dad, and how to operate the appliances in the house. The more information, the better prepared the babysitter will be, and the more relaxed you’ll feel when heading out.

Looking for your trusted babysitter?

Sign up now with Charly Cares and discover verified profiles in your area.

Sign up

Tip 3: Keep it short the first time

For the first babysitting session, it’s a good idea to keep it short. Plan a brief session so you can see how things go and start building trust. After that, you can plan longer sessions with ease. Be sure to leave the house during that first babysitting session, even if it’s just for a quick grocery run nearby. If you stay home, the kids and the babysitter won’t be able to properly adjust to each other.

Tip 4: Don’t book the babysitter when the kids are already asleep

It might be tempting to have the babysitter come when your little ones are already asleep. But how will the kids react if they wake up during the night and don’t recognize the sitter? Instead, have the babysitter around during dinner, bath time, or bedtime. This way, the kids get to know the sitter, and the babysitter gets a proper introduction to the routine.

Check out the Angels' profiles in the app

With these tips, your first babysitting experience will be a lot less nerve-wracking! It’s also good to know that in the Charly Cares app, you can read more about the Angels’ experiences through their profiles, including reviews from other parents they’ve babysat for. Sign up now and discover trustworthy profiles in your area.

Sign up

Reviews from parents about our Babysitting Angels

Alexia from 's-Gravenhage

“Excellent! Kids loved her and she was sweet and responsible. Recommended!”

Laura from Amsterdam

“Very nice and confortable with the kids! Thank you !”

Diederik from Wassenaar

“Perfect!”

Jeroen from Eethen

“You are a warm, confident and trustworthy babysitter. Your presence has a calming effect.”

Eva from Amsterdam

“Great babysitter!”

Roderic Xavier from Almere

“Thank you Nadiia, children are always happy when you come home. Until the next time!”

Antoine from 's-Gravenhage

“A very friendly babysitter”

Julieta from 's-Gravenhage

“Thanks Laida!”

Karina from 's-Gravenhage

“Amazing as usual”

Cécile from 's-Gravenhage

“Ashy was very good and reliable with our 5-month baby. We will not hesitate to seek her help again.”

Mendes from Amsterdam

“Great!”

Sofia from Rotterdam

“Lauren is a nice and reliable person with whom my daughter had a lot of fun.”

Gayathri from Eindhoven

“She did great and friendly”

Adrienne from Amsterdam

“Martina is so wonderful!!”

Loes from Utrecht

“Goof was enthousiast!”

Fabina from Rotterdam

“She’s reliable, friendly, my two year old daughter feels comfortable around her.”

Anukool from Amstelveen

“Good babysitter”

Danielle from Amsterdam

“Sarah is amazing! Today she baked a cake with our kids & did crafts and they had an amazing time.”

Tom from Amsterdam

“Carmen was punctual, friendly and relaxed. Our daughter her her seemed to get along just fine, and we would be happy to have her again as a babysitter”

Frequently aksed questions about booking a babysitter

How do I find a fixed babysitter?

If you're looking for a babysitter for multiple days per week, we recommend inviting as many Angels as possible for the booking. Create the fixed babysitting reservation yourself, select as many Angels as you can, and post the booking on the Jobboard. This increases the chance lof a successful booking!

For bookings starting from September and lasting a longer period, we advise selecting multiple Angels for 1 to a maximum of 4 times and then discussing whether they can stay for an extended period. We have many students in our database, and they don't yet know their schedules for September in August. Additionally, our experience shows that bookings further in the future are less likely to succeed compared to those happening sooner.

I want to meet the Angel beforehand. How do I arrange that?

Sure! Create a booking for the time you actually need a babysitter. After an Angel has accepted the booking, you can agree to meet through the chat or you can call the Angel directly. If you would prefer to meet in person, you can create a short, two-hour booking to get to know each other.

What types of Babysitting Angels do you offer?

At Charly Cares, you can find several different types of Babysitting Angels. Some Babysitting Angels are available to support a family on a fixed basis, whereas other Babysitting Angels prefer to babysit only occasionally. There is always a babysitter who fits your babysitting needs, whether you are looking for a fixed, after-school, flexible, or last minute babysitter.

We do not have any au pairs or nannies on file. We do have fixed Babysitting Angels who are available to babysit at fixed times every week. Need a babysitter for multiple days every week? In that case, we advise that you book multiple Angels.

Are all Angels screened and what does the screening entail?

Before an Angel can start babysitting via Charly Cares, we meet the Angel personally. 2 references are also checked at first. During the meeting, we dive into motivation, experience and personality. But ultimately, it is up to parent and Angel to judge whether there is a good match between the two parties. We therefore recommend a personal introductory meeting before the Angel comes to babysit.