Need A Sitter For the Holidays?

The following post is sponsored by UrbanSitter.

December is around the corner & as a busy mom I’ve got a lot on my to-do list. There are holiday parties, parent-teacher conferences and Christmas shopping, among many other things. While I do have family nearby that can watch my daughter, it’s not always possible. That’s why it’s so nice to utilize the services of UrbanSitter, an online resource that connects parents with babysitters.

UrbanSitter started out in San Francisco in 2011, but has quickly expanded to over a dozen cities throughout the United States, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago and San Diego. I learned about UrbanSitter last month through a mom-friend & eagerly checked out the site. I found it to be very user-friendly. The steps are simple: sign into the UrbanSitter website using your Facebook account, create a parent profile, then with a few clicks of the mouse you’ve got a list of babysitters to choose from.

(image: UrbanSitter)

The great thing about UrbanSitter is that you can look for sitters based on recommendations from friends and parenting networks such as your local YMCA or mommy group. UrbanSitter also has search functions so that you find a babysitter based on their rate, experience, education level , response time & other criteria. Another handy tool that they have is the UrbanSitter iPhone app. It’s so easy & convenient to search for sitters while you are on the go! You can also use the app on your iPad or iPod Touch.

After reading the bios of several babysitters & reviewing their video profiles, I sent a booking request to a sitter located in a town about 15 minutes from my home. She responded within 2 hours (messages are sent through the UrbanSitter website) & we made arrangements for her to come to my home to watch my daughter later that week, who would be home all day due to a school holiday. The sitter arrived promptly & I chatted with her for about 10 minutes so that I could ask her some questions about her background & babysitting style. How did it go? My daughter loved playing with the sitter while I got to work in my home office, free from distractions. Win-win!!

Parents, are you in need of a babysitter this holiday season or for the new year? Do you live in the LA/San Fernando Valley area? If so, you are in luck! UrbanSitter and Real Mom of SFV invite you to attend a special event in Sherman Oaks. Join us on Friday, December 13th from 5-7pm at Lollipop Dream. You’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s newest babysitters, mingle with other parents, enjoy light appetizers & drinks, plus do some holiday shopping!

Kids are welcome to attend, as we’ll have plenty of kid-friendly snacks & drinks, not to mention plenty of sitters to engage with your little one while you shop the store!