What is a babysitter?

A babysitter takes care of your child (or children) while you're away - at work, on a date, at the gym, or for any other reason. Babysitters can be male or female, old or young, but some states have statutes regulating the age that minors can be left in charge (usually anywhere from age 12-16).

How are babysitters different from mother's helpers, nannies or au pairs?

A mother's helper is usually there to help with the kids while at least one parent is still present: maybe taking care of lunch and activities while Mom works from home, or doing the laundry while Dad gets the kids to bed. Nannies work on a more fixed schedule, either part-time or full-time, and there are usually employment/tax considerations to keep in mind. Au pairs come from other countries and live with the family, watching the kids and tending to other household responsibilities in exchange for room/board and sometimes a monetary stipend. Compared with those three situations, babysitting is much less formal and more of an as-needed childcare arrangement.

How can I determine if a babysitter is trustworthy?

Word of mouth is the most common way to vet a new babysitter. It's great to have someone that's already taken good care of your friends' children with no problems! The downside is that these sitters will be in high demand, and you might not be able to get them on your desired schedule. You can also ask for references or run a background check, if you're considering a babysitter that isn't known to you personally.

How can I find a babysitter near me?

When you're new to an area or don't have any available sitter referrals from friends, you could put the word out in local groups on social media. Unfortunately, that could attract less-than-reputable individuals! Instead, consider using a babysitter referral service: these platforms allow prospective sitters to create a profile, complete with client reviews and information about their background and any certifications they have (like infant/child CPR). Some referral services make it possible to get a background check, though the sitter may have to opt in before you can access the results.

Is it expensive to use a babysitter referral service?

You can expect to pay a membership fee in the neighborhood of $20/month to access most babysitter referral services. That gives you unlimited access to the database and to making connections with the sitters you find. Some platforms give you limited free access to get started, or a trial period to see if there are enough potential babysitters in your area to make it worth the membership fees.

What's a typical hourly rate for a babysitter?

That varies widely by geographic location, the number of children you have (and their ages), the expertise level of the sitter, and what you expect your sitter to provide. You can ask other parents in your area what the going rate is: underpay your sitter and they're not likely to come back! In the past, the reported average hourly rate for babysitters in the US ranged from $15-$20, but in less urban areas it tended to be closer to $10/hour.

Can I ask my babysitter to do light housework or other tasks?

Yes. You can make whatever arrangements you like with your babysitter. It's not uncommon to ask a sitter to fix a light meal, take care of the dishes after the kids are in bed, or tidy up the playroom while the children are watching a movie. Just remember that their primary focus should be on keeping your little ones safe, not housekeeping.

Bambino Review for February 2026 | Best Babysitter Agencies

Item: Bambino Review
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Saturday, February 14th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Babysitter Agency Reviews

Where is the best place to find babysitters? Looking for a way to balance work, social life, and family responsibilities? Or maybe you just need to pick back up on having regular date nights. Whether it's for a quick errand, an evening out, or an unexpected schedule change, it's a huge weight off your shoulders to find someone to watch the kiddos.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Bambino

Expected hourly rate between $10 and $20
Monthly membership fee between $8.33 and $19.99 per month
Vets with ID verification and three types of background checks
On-site monitored communication
On-site payment portal
On-site scheduling app
4.9-star average rating on third-party review sites

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Bambino website

Bambino is a 100% app-based babysitter finding site that's a popular, newer addition to the childcare scene. The company has been widely spoken of in publications like TechCrunch, What to Expect, NBC News, Healthline, Bustle, and Forbes. Everything is contained within the app and uses impressive features like booking and internal payments to streamline the babysitting process. The company was founded in 2015.

Tons of vetting criteria for sitters

Bambino verifies all of its babysitters on the platform, with high standards of qualification requirements. All sitters need to have a background check to list a profile on Bambino, and there are other requirements too. Babysitters must have a clear and well-defined photo of themselves with no distractions for ID verification. The photo has to be within 3 months old. Bambino will also complete a phone number and carrier validation, sex offender background check, as well as state and federal background checks, and all sitters must have a recommendation from someone else on the platform to have an active profile.

400,000+ registered babysitters

Bambino currently has over 400,000 registered babysitters on the app. We signed up for a quick look at the app to see how many babysitters were within our area. To get started, you'll need to make an account like we did, by putting in your name and email. However, there is no way to see sitters until you are logged in and complete a verification process to make sure that you're safe for babysitters to work for.

Secure communication and sitter reviews

Bambino offers 100% in-app communication, payment processing, and scheduling, so you never have to worry about third-party apps or a less secure route of talking directly. Plus, all babysitters on the platform have individual reviews from parents who have used them before, so you can see who the highest-rated babysitters are at a glance.

Pricing from $14 to $20 per hour

Bambino's app is free to download and create your account. Each sitter charges an hourly rate, which is only visible from inside the app. If you are a free user of Bambino, you can expect a service charge of $4.95 per booking. There is also a premium membership you can subscribe to, which waives all booking fees for babysitters. The membership is $19.99 for one month, $39.99 for three months, and $99.99 for 12 months (that's as low as $8.33 per month if you break it down). For pricing per sitter, you'll find most prices range from $14 to $20 per hour (this does not include the service fee).

Top marks from parents

Bambino is new enough that it doesn't have a lot of buzz on third-party review sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber. It also doesn't have any ratings on the Better Business Bureau. So, because it's an app-based service, we looked at the babysitting site reviews on the App Store and Google Play Store - and they're almost overwhelmingly positive. On the Apple store, you'll find a 4.9-star average rating out of 5 across over 24,000 individual users. On Google Play, Bambino has a 4.4-star average rating out of 5. Customers said it was a top-notch site for finding babysitters. Even parents who had exhausted other options, including Facebook recommendations and more, found someone to help them out on Bambino. Many reviews mention particular babysitters and note that the parents intend to call babysitters over and over again, since the app helped them find a perfect match.

Top pick: best security and tons of sitters

Bambino has incredible security and impressive usability for parents and babysitters alike. With secure communication and payments, free registration (and low fees if you want to pay for a premium membership), Bambino is ahead of the pack in lots of areas. With everything contained in the app, you never have to worry about going to a separate platform or struggling to find a different babysitter if one doesn't work out. With all the impressive features, rave reviews, and low overhead costs, Bambino earns our top spot in this review with a full 5 stars.

On the Bambino website

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Find Babysitters?

Looking for a way to balance work, social life, and family responsibilities? Or maybe you just need to pick back up on having regular date nights. Whether it's for a quick errand, an evening out, or an unexpected schedule change, it's a huge weight off your shoulders to find someone to watch the kiddos.

Having a trusted babysitter can make life much smoother with reliable, short-term care that can be scheduled quickly (even at the last minute). Babysitters have become an essential part of family life for millions of households, helping parents take a breath and regain balance, and enjoy some well-deserved time child-free.

Modern babysitter websites have made it faster and easier than ever to find qualified caregivers. Instead of relying on personal recommendations or posting flyers in the neighborhood, parents can now search from home and review hundreds of profiles in minutes. These platforms let you filter by experience, hourly rate, location, and even availability, so you can find someone who fits your family's schedule and comfort level.

Many babysitter sites also include reviews from parents for particular babysitters. This way, you can choose those who are rated as high as your standards by other parents in your area. This is a total change from how people used to find babysitters (by mostly hoping someone was living nearby who could watch the kids).

If you're like us, then safety is one of your top concerns, and online babysitter platforms have made big improvements in how they handle security and vetting. The best websites require background checks and identity verification before babysitters are listed. Some even offer secure payment options and built-in messaging systems to protect your privacy and keep all communication in one place. This level of transparency offers you much more peace of mind than the traditional word-of-mouth approach. By using a trusted site with a solid vetting process, you can see everything you need to know before you interview your next babysitter.

Hiring a babysitter isn't just about getting childcare - it's about giving yourself the chance to recharge and enjoy your personal life. If you're ready to jump in, but don't know where to start, don't sweat. We've got your back. Here are some factors that can help you narrow the field:

Security. How trustworthy are the babysitters on your chosen site? How does the platform vet potential options? Are there on-website chat features, apps, or video screenings that keep your communications with your new babysitter secure? Make sure you feel like you know your babysitter before you interview in person.
Qualifications. Does the platform ask babysitters to have any kind of qualifications (or provide details about those that do)? Look for sites that have icons that show background checks, CPR certification, and more. These will give you everything you need to know about your next babysitter at a glance.
Cost. If you're going out on the town and need someone to watch the kids, you don't want to overpay for a babysitter. Keep your budget in mind, as some price ranges can get pretty crazy. Make sure you compare prices for your chosen babysitter to what other parents in your area are paying.
Feedback. Finally, what are other parents saying about your preferred babysitter site? Look for platforms that have plenty of feedback from parents for individual babysitters. It can also be helpful to double-check your preferred babysitter service on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, Sitejabber, or the Better Business Bureau.

Whether you're planning a long-overdue date night, celebrating an anniversary, or catching up with friends, a babysitter can make it possible to take that time without worry. Having a responsible sitter watching your children means you can relax and focus on your evening, knowing everything at home is in good hands. That's why Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top babysitter sites out there today. That way, you can enjoy a night off from parenting and know your kids are safe, happy, and cared for, just like if you were there with them!

Bambino Review: Babysitter Agencies

2026 Babysitter Agency Reviews

Bambino

Where is the Best Place to Find Babysitters?

Babysitter Agency FAQ