Are there no parents in need of a babysitter out there?

Question

My friend has a steady babysitting job (every weekday this summer) and I was hoping for the same thing. Unfortunately, I only have an "every-once-in-awhile" job (maybe once or twice a month) and I've been searching for a new family to babysit for. I've networked my business by asking my other friends to let me know if they have any neighbors that need a babysitter and I asked my mom to talk to her friends at the gym about babysitting and once was interested. But so far, no one has really gotten back to me. I am relatively broke and I need money for the upcoming school year. Believe me, if I was old enough to get a real job (16), I'd jump at the chance. But I'm not, so as a 13 year old, there are limited ways for me to work. I really wanted this babysitting thing to work out, but so far, not many parents seem to need a sitter. What gives? ;)

Answer 1

I would just use persistence! You don't want to push too hard on your neighbors though, because no one wants an agressive teenager taking care of there kids. But everytime you see someone that has kids that you know, just say " Hi Mrs./ Mr.Smith, Are you in need of a babysitter anytime soon?" Just keep trying hope this helps! : ) P.S. I babysit kids in my cul- de- sac and I am right around your age so I don't think you're too young to do it. Good Luck

Answer 2

you need to get a certificate from the police station to work with children these days as parents can not trust anyone with their offspring as it is too risky

Answer 3

I dont understand why everyone is freaking and saying your too young i think the way you should guess how old you need to be is by whom your babysitting and how well you know the kids. I never babysit the children without being around them with their parents first because you need to know what their like. Also i babysit with a girl who just turned 13 and we baby sit a one year old(usally asleep) 2 4 year olds and a 5 year and 6 year old and i'm 15. IF i'm not with her i by myself babysat the 4 and5 year old. MY best bet is do what i did. The lady i babysit for i hang out with her and her children all the time so her kids love it when i come over and they start to love it so it makes it easier for the parents to leave. Also if you try to hang out with the parents they can really begin to trust you. I just turned 15 too a couple days ago, but honestly? I think i'm a pretty good babysitter i took a child development calss and want to get my 90 clock hour certicate. Thia lady is also a good friend of my moms. So just try to find people you know have kids and like i said get to know them as a  family and next thing you know their feel great leaving you with their kids!

**Another thing I noticed mom's ask of me is to be a mommy day helper, this means that You might get paid or might not, but it depends on the person. What you do is help a mother around the house for a couple hours a day. If you dont get paid and you do a great job she'll definaltey recommend you to her friends

**Okay i know i'm still going on, but i wanted to add that birthday parties are awesome networking. I was there with the lady i mentioned prevoius and the parents where very surppirsed that when the mothers 5 year old came in and was hurt she walked by her mom and came to me. it cracked us all up, but they were all asking me when i was free and saying that they needed a babysitter. JUST REMEMBER sometimes with familys the dont have a lot of money so i babysit cheap but frequently let them come to you with a price.

Answer 4

At thirteen i babysat, but only my nephews. Its because you are still young and a lot of parents dont even like the thought of having to let someone else watch their kid, so if they must, they prefer it to be someone who is experienced with children.

Every parent is different, i for one am very protective of my daughter and will only ask people to babysit her if ive known them a while and trust them, because my daughter is everything to me and so its like trusting someone with my own life :)

Answer 5

i have the same problem:(

Answer 6

im 13 ppl let me babysit so i dont see the problem.

Answer 7

My friends and I all babysit, and I've noticed that it's useless to try to network like that. If I ask my friends to let me know if anyone needs a sitter, they say they will, but nothing happens. It's because people are weirdly territorial over their jobs. Your friends don't want to let you know about it because they don't want to lose jobs themselves. It's weird. :-/ Or it could just be that no one has needed a sitter so your friends don't have anyone to recommend you to.

So ways to get babysitting jobs are: do you have a little sibling in elementary school? Talk to the person who creates the elementary school's newsletter, and ask if they can mention you as a babysitter. This works best at a close-knit elementary school where the parents all know each other. Or your mom can recommend you as a sitter to the other parents in your sibling's class.

If you don't have a little sibling, try putting up flyers around your neighborhood. That can be really helpful. Oh, and don't worry too much about your age. There are plenty of parents who would trust a 13 year old with their kids. Just act responsible and smart and look them in the eye.

Answer 8

No offense but there's no way I'd leave my child alone with a 13 year old. I didn't start staying home by myself until I was 13 and I definitely wasn't ready to handle taking care of child just a few years younger than me. You're still REALLY, REALLY young. It's also VERY, VERY hard to trust anyone. I wouldn't leave my Daughter with a babysitter, she only gets watched by Family and even that's rare.

Answer 9

I wouldn't allow a 13 year old to watch my child. You are just a child yourself.