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CluckCluck: Why Arranging Babysitting Is About to Be Forever Changed (for the Better!)

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Special thanks to my friends at CluckCluck for partnering with me on this post. And an even more special thanks to them for making something so unbelievably awesome. I can’t wait to get started and I’m honored to help spread the word! 

So this morning I watched a YouTube video and I cried. That’s probably not a very surprising thing to hear because our Facebook feeds are full to the brim with content that evokes strong emotions. But in this case, I was watching a 1 minute video about an app for simplifying babysitting. Important, but not exactly “get you in the feels” stuff. But I really did cry, and I think it’s because in that 1 minute I realized how much easier taking care of all the aspects of child care is about to get. Trust me, this is 1 minute of your time well-spent.

CluckCluck Demo – 1 minute from CluckCluck – Mobile App on Vimeo.

Why I Love CluckCluck

Scheduling

cluckcluck new event

I have two babysitters that I have used regularly over the past year. They are both delightful people, and I’m equally comfortable hiring them. So I’m never sure who to reach out to first when I have an upcoming babysitting need. Is this scenario familiar to you: you reach out to one sitter (perhaps she is your #1 pick) in the hopes that she is available, and by the time you hear back from her (and she ISN’T available) your #2 pick is no longer available, either. With CluckCluck, you notify them at the same time of the babysitting opportunity and the first person to take the job gets it. Simple as that! Or if they both decline, you know sooner, rather than later.

Paying

cluckcluck payment

I know that my sitters much prefer to receive cash. College students don’t find themselves at the bank a lot, and depositing a check is just one more thing for them to do, or one more thing for them to lose. But I rarely have cash, and when I do have cash, I rarely have the correct amount. So scrounging up the payment is always a pain in the rear. With Cluck, Cluck you just pay them via Paypal. This is GLORIOUS!!!!

Important Info

cluckcluck profile

All the important info you want to make sure your sitter has is right there on the app. Emergency contact numbers, special instructions for the evening (such as homework or if there’s been a change in the bedtime routine). Everything is accessible via smartphone, and you are kidding yourself if you think your sitter isn’t going to be on her smartphone at any point in time while babysitting. This app is a great tool because it’s on a platform that the sitters already know, love and use.

The Cost

CluckCluck is just .99. It is worth so much more than that, but I’ll gladly pay it! My plan is to also give my sitters the dollar it will cost them to download the app so that they don’t incur an out of pocket expense (tiny though it may be!). Everybody is going to win with this app, friends.

babysitting app

So, are you ready to revolutionize how you book, direct and pay your sitters? 

A Teen Offers Insight on How Parents Should Choose Babysitters

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What Parents of Young Kids  Should Keep In Mind When Hiring a Teen Babysitter

Hannah is a teen writer for Radical Parenting.com, a parenting website written from the kid’s perspective with 82 teen interns! She is a 16-year old from New Jersey. She loves to compete with color guard and marching band, and play piano. She hopes to become a writer one day, and to inspire others to follow their dreams. For more articles by teens please check out RadicalParenting.com.

One of the many hard decisions a parent will make can occur before a child can even walk. Choosing someone to watch and take care of their children is very difficult, especially when most babysitters are teens. Therefore, it is best to have a few guidelines to keep in mind when picking a babysitter for a young child.

  1. Pick someone whose family you already know.

Sometimes, this may not be an option if you are new to a town, or if you have few friends with teens. However, if you are lucky enough to know a teenager, you will already know how they were raised, how they may handle bad situations, and if you can trust them with your child. Furthermore, a teen will probably be a better babysitter for a family they have known for a while.

  1. Choose a qualified teen.

Look for a teenager who has a babysitters’ certification. The Red Cross offers an informative babysitter course, and a qualified teen will be better with your child. The course teaches teens how to care for babies and even older children. Good babysitters do not necessarily have to have a certification, but it can offer you reassurance that the teen knows what they are doing.

  1. Find out about the teen’s life.

Make sure you know the teen’s interests. If your young child likes music, a babysitter that likes music will be more effective than one who prefers sports. Also, find out the teen’s activities. If the teen reports that they participate in various clubs and sports, they may sound responsible. They may also, however, be too busy to have a flexible schedule to watch your child. Also, find out about the teen’s family. If the teen reports having younger siblings, they will be more effective than an only child babysitter.

  1. Meet the teen before hiring them.

Before scheduling a teenager to babysit your children, choose a day to meet with the teenager. This way, you can show them around the house, discuss salaries, and see how the teen interacts with your children. If you just schedule a teen before meeting them, it will not give you any time to change your mind or see what the teen is really like.

Hiring a babysitter may be nerve-wracking, but it should be fun too. Just remember, this is your chance for a break, and many teenagers are capable of watching your child. You just have to find the right one!