Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions on Babysitting or playdate with a buddy, please look through these FAQs:
Parents
No – there are no upfront fees for registering as a parent or requesting contact on our website for babysitters.
Unlike other websites, we do not force you to pay first before you secure a babysitter or playdate for your child. We charge a Booking fee only when you found a babysitter and they fit your requirements
Before the booking is be confirmed (and, in some cases, before the sit request can be sent out), parents are required to add a payment method to their profile — this is a security measure for the platform and helps confirm our babysitters payments securely.
All payment is handled seamlessly via the app. The sit will begin in the app automatically at the agreed time and, when it’s over, either the you or the babysitter can “complete” the appointment. At the moment, we offer credit/debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay as payment options — you’ll see these on the pop-up menu on the App.
Every babysitter has their own profile on the app which you can check out before deciding whether to book anyone.
You can see the following information on babysitters;
Their name, age and photo
Skills and any qualifications
Their summary profile including languages they speak and attributes
Ratings and reviews left by other parents who’ve used them before.
Want to find a trusted babysitter? Download Babysitbuddies for FREE here.
Firstly, you can use the messaging tool in the app to get in touch with them to see where they are.
Hopefully they contact you first via the app as we encourage them to do so.
And please note that you will only pay the babysitter for the exact time they actually sit. So if they do show up late, you can use your discretion to edit the start time of the sit in the app when paying at the end. And if you need to find someone else fast, Post a job to find willing replacements within minutes!
Last minute cancellations are rare with babysitters compared to Nannies who are much older with more responsibilities.
The fastest way to find a replacement at short notice is to Post a new job out to more babysitters in the area who can then apply. You will still always be in control of which sitter you want to book, and who can step-in and help.
While Babysitbuddies is not an agency and do not employ the babysitters ourselves, it is IMPORTANT to us that the babysitters on the platform provide parents with a trusted and reliable service.
We therefore do take serious action when we discover that a babysitter has let a parent down by cancelling on them – especially when it’s at short notice.
As a parent/guardian, picking the right babysitter is an important and a personal decision and nobody is a better judge of what is best for you and your kids.
Having said that, we do have some general guidelines and measures you can take to help ensure everyone on Babysitbuddies stays safe.
When using a babysitter for the first time on the app:
Read their reviews: Independent reviews on our website is a good way of confirming if they are a right fit
Check their documents when they arrive: If the babysitter has stated on their profile that they hold any certificates, such as First Aid or DBS/CRB, then feel free to ask them to bring it with them to the sit.
Book them a bit early: You can book them 30mins to an hour earlier so that the babysitters, your kids and you to get to know each other before you need to leave is a great way for getting everyone more comfortable.
Stay local: If you’re not used to leaving your kids with someone else and/or you’re using a babysitter for the first time, it can be a good idea to stay local for that initial sit.
Babysitbuddies is not an agency for babysitters or nannies and we do not employ or recommend the babysitters on our platform. It is the Parent&Guardians on the marketplace who are choosing which babysitters to interact with, so please take steps you need to feel comfortable with your choice.
If you’ve any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at contact@babysitbuddies.com
Babysitters
No – there are no upfront fees for registering as a babysitter or requesting to contact parents.
Unlike other websites, we do not force you to pay first before you secure a babysitter or playdate for your child. We charge a Booking fee only when you secure a booking and are happy to take on the job.
Payment is transferred into the babysitter’s designated bank account within 72 hours. The team be on hand to support if you have any issues with paying so please do get in touch via our live chat on the app!
Once payment is confirmed, both Parent and Babysitters will both be asked to review each other. Reviews are an important part of how the platform operates and they help inform other parents about your experience on the app.
As a babysitter, picking the right parent is an important and a personal decision and we are not in a position to tell you which parent to babysit for or which children to have a playdate with.
Having said that, we do have some general guidelines and measures you can take to help ensure everyone on Babysitbuddies stays safe.
When babysitting for a parent for the first time on the app:
Read their reviews: Independent reviews on our website is a good way of confirming if they are a right fit
Request them to book them a bit early: They can book them 30mins to an hour earlier so that the parents, the kids and you to get to know each other before they leave. This is a great way for getting everyone more comfortable.
Stay local: If you’re not used to travelling or not sure about public transport or taxis, it can be a good idea to stay local for that initial sit.
Babysitbuddies is not an agency for parents, babysitters or nannies and we do not employ or recommend the babysitters on our platform. It is the Babysitters on the marketplace who are choosing which parents to interact with, so please take steps you need to feel comfortable with your choice.
If you’ve any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at contact@babysitbuddies.com
We encourage babysitters and parents to write bio descriptions as people get to know the profile faster and generally more likely to accept booking requests when they can read up a little bit more about the person requesting.
It’s another way to quickly build some confidence and trust between people. Don’t worry about writing an entire essay or your life story 🙂
Three – Four lines about you, the family ages, pet, experience and the home will suffice.