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Urban Sitter Review

Tuesday, November 5th

2024 Babysitter Agency Reviews

Urban Sitter Review 4 Star Rating

Urban Sitter

4 Star Rating
  • All babysitters are background checked and reviewed by the Trust and Safety team
  • View detailed information, including client reviews and number of repeat families
  • Over 1 million caregivers in their database
  • Available in 60+ cities
  • Good for last-minute childcare
  • In business since 2011
  • "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

If you've been exploring options for finding reliable babysitters, you might have come across UrbanSitter, a platform that has been discussed by reputable sources like Forbes, CBS Working Mother, Business Insider, Parents, CNN, Mashable, and The Wall Street Journal.

Over 1 million caregivers

Established in 2011, UrbanSitter set out to simplify the process of finding a babysitter by streamlining the steps involved in browsing potential candidates, aligning schedules, and handling payments. With a network of over a million caregivers, including babysitters and nannies, available in more than 60 cities, UrbanSitter aims to make your childcare search easier.

No-hassle browsing

Here's how UrbanSitter operates, and it's somewhat similar to many of its competitors. You can create a profile at no cost; we were pleased to see just how quickly that process goes, because they don't ask you a ton of questions before letting you browse babysitters in your area. The results list can easily be filtered by any criteria you find important, like rates for more than one child, rate per hour, teaching skills, and so on.

Filter your results

And, once you've got your results list, that too can be sorted to show you best matches first, by hourly rate or distance, or even most reviews from families. In our mid-range metro area, we found over 100 babysitters near us, many of whom had at least a handful of reviews from other families. It's easy to see at a glance what the babysitter's hourly rate is, how far they are, the date they passed their background check, and if they have a low cancellation rate.

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Helpful to see the number of repeat families

Clicking on a profile gives you an even greater wealth of details, like their introduction, their calendar for bookings, hourly rates, and much more. Our favorite part is seeing how many repeat families they have: what better indicator of success is there? In our area, we found a babysitter with almost two dozen repeat families included in her 27 five-star reviews.

Post a job listing if you want

Or, as a family seeking childcare, you can post a job description for free, outlining your specific childcare needs and availability. Once your job is posted or you've selected a babysitter, you can conveniently schedule jobs and interviews on-demand. Be aware that as a family, you too will have to undergo an identity verification before you can book a babysitter.

Subscription required to continue

After you've been contacted by or selected a babysitter, which can sometimes happen within as little as two minutes (making this an excellent option for those last-minute "oh no” moments), you'll need to subscribe to continue your conversations and make bookings. For month-to-month access to UrbanSitter, the cost is $34.95. If you anticipate needing to use the service longer-term, you can choose a quarterly plan at $64.95 or an annual plan for $124.95. Memberships renew automatically and can be canceled at any time, but you should be aware that some families have reported issues with the cancellation process, citing recurring charges even after attempting to end their membership.

Pay online or in person, your choice

The UrbanSitter platform provides you with reminders and contact information for the babysitters you've chosen to book. Finally, when the job is completed, you'll receive a notification detailing the hours, rate, and total amount due, allowing you to make a secure payment directly with your credit card if you decide not to pay your sitter directly/in person.

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Babysitters take home 100%

In addition to the fees associated with using the website, you'll need to consider the cost of hiring individual babysitters. Rates typically range from $15 to $20 per hour for one child, and babysitters and nannies receive 100% of their earnings when they work for you.

Major improvements in recent years

UrbanSitter's reputation has improved by leaps and bounds since our previous reputation, demonstrated by its meteoric rise from an "F” to an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On the app stores, UrbanSitter comes in with a 4.8 average across more than 13,000 ratings (from both caregivers and clients); users reporting in via the Google Play store are slightly less enthusiastic but still positive overall, with a 3.4-star average spanning 1,800+ votes. Any complaints tend to center around automatic billing (which you can easily avoid by setting a reminder in your own calendar to go in and cancel when you want) or sitters who canceled last-minute (which you can also try to prevent by choosing UrbanSitter caregivers with the "low cancellation rate” badge).

Definitely worth checking out

If you need childcare in one of the 60+ areas that UrbanSitter serves, give them a try. Whether you need a regular babysitter for nights out or you're going to Disney and would like a break for an adults-only experience in the parks, UrbanSitter has become a babysitting agency we can recommend.

Where is the Best Place to Find a Babysitter for Your Children?

Finding a trustworthy babysitter can be a daunting task, especially if you're a parent with a busy schedule, or you're in a new town where you don't know who to ask for a recommendation. Fortunately, the digital age has made it easier than ever to connect with reliable caregivers through babysitting agency websites.

Online babysitter platforms offer a range of features and benefits that can simplify your search for the perfect babysitter. These websites provide a convenient way to find childcare services at your fingertips. You can browse profiles and contact potential babysitters from the comfort of your home. This eliminates the need for time-consuming interviews, begging for referrals in community Facebook groups, or searching through classified ads, making the process far more efficient.

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Babysitter Agency FAQ

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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Continued from above...

Additionally, babysitting agency websites prioritize safety and reliability. They often vet their babysitters through background checks and interviews, giving you access to trusted caregivers. This extra layer of security can bring peace of mind to parents, knowing that their children are in the hands of experienced and thoroughly screened individuals.

Moreover, these websites provide a wide selection of potential babysitters. You'll have access to a diverse pool of caregivers, allowing you to find someone who matches your family's specific needs and preferences. Whether you require a babysitter for a one-time event or regular childcare, agency websites can accommodate your unique requirements. This flexibility is particularly valuable for parents with varying schedules and childcare needs.

When choosing a babysitting agency, it's not always easy to know which ones will best suit your situation. Here are some key comparison points that can help you narrow it down:

  • Availability. First, you'll need to verify that the website operates in your area and can connect you with babysitters in your locality. Then, check if the platform offers babysitters who are available when you need them, whether it's for date nights, weekends, or weekdays. Finally, some websites may offer additional services, such as tutors or pet-sitters, so choose one that aligns with your family's unique needs.
  • Reputation. Look for websites with a strong reputation for connecting families with reliable babysitters. Check online reviews and ask for recommendations from other parents. And, of course, look at the ratings and feedback on each individual sitter, regardless of the babysitting agency you're using. The best babysitting agencies conduct thorough background checks on babysitters to guarantee the safety of your children.
  • Fees. Compare the fee structures of different platforms. Some charge you a membership or sitting fee, while others take a percentage of the babysitter's earnings.
  • Scheduling and communication. Evaluate the platform's scheduling tools and messaging systems to determine how easy it is to coordinate with babysitters.
  • Customer support. Consider the level of customer support provided. Responsive support can be invaluable when you have questions or encounter issues. If your babysitter doesn't show up (or worse, you have a bad experience), you want to know that the agency will have your back.

To help you find the perfect babysitter for your kids, Top Consumer Reviews has checked out and ranked various babysitting agencies. We hope this info boosts your confidence as you search for someone to look after your little ones when you're not around!

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