How did you find a good babysitter?

Those of you who have babysitters for those times when you need to go out for a few hours or for when you want to have a "date-night" with your spouses, where and how did you find them?

We do not live near family and, other than when family has been here to visit, we have yet to leave our LO's with a babysitter. I am a SAHM and love it, but realize that, at some point, I am going to have to find a babysitter for those times when I can't take the kids with me and have to leave the house. My DH is military and will likely be deployed at some point in the next year or so, too. It makes me VERY anxious to leave my LO's with someone other than trusted family but know that if he is gone for 12+ months, I am going to HAVE to find someone to help me out a few hours a week here and there.

Any suggestions and advice is welcome!

 

I am limited on my childcare options, too, with no family nearby and friends who all work. I don't know about your state, but MI has a registered daycare site. I was able to search all the daycare providers in the area with specific criteria. The site also lists their standings with the state in terms of inspections, complaints, etc. Any violations could be found on the website. This was a starting point for finding a part time person (which is the tricky part, but there ARE flexible daycare providers out there). From there I just went to potential providers and interviewed them, checked out their homes/centers, etc.

Another option...are you affiliated with a church locally? Often times they can be a great source for part time people...youth or otherwise.

Good luck in your search! It's tricky when you are a SAHM that just needs a LITTLE help, but hopefully you find some options. With DS#1, I sent him to daycare once or twice a week for partial days just because. Not only did I get a needed break, but he got the opportunity to work on his social skills. I believe interaction with someone other than mommy is a good thing and I think it was worth every penny.

Eve

 

Couple ideas if you don't go the route of care.com or just placing an ad and interviewing.

1) Find another mommy friend who would be willing to trade a couple hours here or there. Saves money.
2) Find a daycare that offers "drop-in" days where you just use them occasionally if they have space. There will be other kids there for them to interact with and it might feel more relieving than having them with a stranger all day alone - although they will obviously get to know them.
3) Join a church group or twins group if there is one and get referrals from other mommies or better yet, other twin mommies. Then you have face-to-face referrals from people you feel comfortable with.

We are in the same boat - no family. I have a neighbor with an 8 month old and from time to time we watch each other's kids for a couple hours so we can get a workout in or run to the grocery store. It is actually really nice and now that they are a little older, 2 hours is nothing!

Good luck and way to go with taking that step...I have just begun searching for a "date night" person...it is very hard to let go.

 

Thanks for the ideas, suggestions, and SUPPORT! Your responses have made this task seem a little less daunting.