Have you tried hiring a babysitter lately? If so, you might have been surprised to find the babysitting landscape has gotten more competitive than ever. The Care.com Babysitter Survey finds the vast majority of parents (84%) say it’s difficult to get any time away from their kids due to the many challenges of finding a sitter, and just under half (40%) of parents say they have missed work obligations because they couldn’t find child care.
From missed work obligations to skipped date nights, the survey shows what’s at stake when parents can’t find quality care and what’s making the babysitter search so tricky. Here are the major highlights and takeaways.
The challenges parents face when booking a babysitter
Currently, over half of parents say they get time away from their children at least once a week, but that figure would increase to 63% if it were easier for them to find a babysitter. For moms in particular, the babysitter challenge has a major impact. Only 48% of moms get time away from their kids regularly, but that’d increase to 61% if it were easier to find care.
Unfortunately, the challenge of lining up a sitter has more parents canceling plans than making them. The majority of parents (89%) say trouble finding a sitter has forced them to cancel or decline plans within the last six months.
Parents search high and low for qualified babysitters
When it comes to hiring a babysitter, parents are looking for trustworthy, experienced and highly qualified candidates. According to the survey, parents rank the following as the most important credentials for a new sitter:
- Background check (26%).
- Experience (24%).
- Certifications (23%).
- Availability (15%).
- Reviews (13%).
Due to the potential difficulty of finding a babysitter, most parents (62%) say they begin their search at least a week in advance.
Parents also search for new sitters everywhere, from their online parenting groups (10%) to professional babysitting services (46%). More than a third (35%) seek referrals from family and friends.
Babysitter stealing is a real problem
While family and friends might seem like the best resource for finding a new babysitter, the survey shows that fears about babysitter theft may keep loved ones from sharing their go-to care providers.
Twenty-eight percent of parents say they share their babysitter with family and friends, but more than a third (36%) say they keep their sitter a total secret.
The survey also found that parents aren’t just being paranoid about the potential for babysitter stealing — it really happens! Forty-one percent of parents say they’ve had a babysitter stolen from them, and 35% of parents have stolen a babysitter from fellow parents or friends.
Not being able to find a sitter impacts the whole family
The importance of a quality babysitter can’t be understated. Not only do they provide vital care to kids, but they also play an important role in parents’ mental health and relationships.
- 80% of parents say lack of time alone has strained their relationship with their partner.
- 68% of parents say periodic time away from their children improves their relationship with their partner.
- 68% of parents say time away from their children positively impacts the mental load of being a parent.
Ultimately, babysitters are essential figures in the lives of busy families, and this survey shows that it’s more important than ever for parents to be able to connect with the care providers they need.