Have You Tried UrbanSitter Yet?

Picture this. Your usual Saturday night babysitter isn't available and you already have plans. The back up babysitter isn't available either. Now what? Don't throw in the towel just yet. There is a convenient new option for parents in the Metrowest area to book a babysitter, UrbanSitter. The process starts online, but can quickly move to a more personal interview in person or over the phone.

I've had the opportunity to work with UrbanSitter on a few occasions. We had a Saturday night scramble and used the service to hire a babysitter who lived in Dedham. I had met the babysitter at a blogging event so I had a familiar face to choose from. My kids loved having someone new to play with and the babysitter jumped right into playing "school."

If you log in via Facebook, you will also be able to see who your friends have used at Urban Sitter. It's a nice way to make the booking experience more personal.

Two big perks come to mind after utilizing the service.

1. You can pay babysitters by credit card. 
2. You can post a job so sitters only get in touch with you if they are available, instead of you chasing them. I used this when I got stuck and needed emergency coverage. 

There are lots of new sitters being added that have their own transportation. Finding sitters that could come to Needham on the weekend, without the train service, proved to be a little difficult.  In the past two months, a larger number of sitters have been added that can service Needham, Dover, Medfield and Newton.

Want to try out UrbanSitter? They are offering a Parent Talk member a “date night” giveaway, which would be a $60 UrbanSitter credit (generally the cost of a $15/hr sitter for a 4-hr night out).

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About the Author

Emily lives in Needham with her husband Jim and two children.  After working in retail for 10 years, she decided to stay home with the kids and bake.  Emily writes the blog Random Recycling, co-manages the Parent Talk Blog, and is a board member of the Needham Farmers Market.  Disclosure: I was provided babysitting credit to test out Urban Sitter's service. This in no way influenced my opinions shared here.