FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are a small business that knows each and every one of our sitters. Therefore, we can match your needs with the perfect sitter to ensure your child will have a great experience. All of our sitters are thoroughly vetted and are experienced in childcare. We do not charge extra for last minute bookings, so if you decide on the spur of the moment to go on a date, call us! We aim to provide the same sitter for multiple days/ nights, as we believe consistency for children is important. All our sitters will come to look after your children with age appropriate ideas for fun games and activities. You have the opportunity to know all about your sitter with the sitter information card and you will be contacted by the sitter prior to the appointment, for peace of mind.

All of our sitters are interviewed by the owner of the company. They must show enthusiasm and commitment to want to work with children. They must have prior babysitting experience and must provide at least 2 child care references, which are checked. They need to provide us with photo ID and a copy of their current CPR. The final stage of the hiring process is that they must pass a criminal background check. Once this has been completed we accept them as part of The Sitter Agency family!

The more you tell us about your children (i.e. what activities they like to do, their personalities etc.) and the more you tell us about what qualities you are looking for in a sitter, the better we can match you with a sitter that will be a perfect fit for you and your family. We have sitters that enjoy looking after infants and have lots of experience in this. On the flip side, we have lots of sitters who prefer to look after older children. We are a small company and know each of our sitters individually. We take pride in personally selecting the right sitter for you.

Yes. We can also provide pet sitting services upon request and childcare for groups, such as weddings and corporate events.

Yes. Once we have confirmed the booking with you, we will provide you with an information card that will include a photo and details about your allocated sitter. You will also be contacted by your sitter before to the appointment to confirm some of the finer details, such as directions and parking.

For children under the age of 2 years, the ratio is 1 sitter to 2 children. The maximum number of children per sitter for all other ages is 4.

When you make the booking, we take your credit card details to reserve your sitter. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Payment is due upon completion of the babysitting appointment and your credit card will be charged for the amount due. If you would like to add a gratuity for your sitter, it is preferable to pay their tip directly to them in cash or most sitters will also accept Venmo or Zelle.

No, if you need a sitter at the last minute just give us a call and we will do our best to find you a great sitter at short notice. We will not charge extra for this.

Yes, if we have a sitter that is available for all of the days you request. It is important in this situation that you try to book as far in advance as possible, particularly during the busy times of the season. Call us and we will try our utmost to accommodate your needs.

Tips are very much appreciated by the sitters. The standard would be to tip 15-20% of the appointment total. This is preferred to be paid directly to the sitter in cash or most of our sitters will accept Venmo or Zelle also.

Each sitter will arrive for the appointment with age appropriate ideas for games and activities. They may hang out at your residence and play games or watch movies (if you request). If you wish the sitter to take the children out and about, there are many options for activities that the kids will love. Some examples are ice skating, taking them out for pizza, hiking, swimming, local parks, rec. centers, sledding. There are many other suggestions we have, you just have to ask us. The only restrictions are that the sitters are not allowed to drive the children in their own private vehicles (although they can take them on public transport) and they are not allowed to take the children skiing on the mountain.

The Sitter Agency is dedicated to do our part to try to protect the health of our caregivers and the families that we care for. Our enhanced protocols align with CDC guidelines, as well as state and local requirements. Most of our sitters are COVID vaccinated, although we do not require it. If you request a vaccinated sitter, we will only match you with a sitter that is fully vaccinated.