Getting a Break without Breaking the Bank

Babysitting Co-ops for Busy Parents

By Tracey Carish

As prices continue to go up at the gas pump and the grocery store, forking over that $10-15 an hour every time we want to leave the kids at home becomes harder to justify.

In the span of a single generation the economics of babysitting have changed dramatically. I began babysitting when I was 13 for the going rate of $2 an hour. Today when my husband and I go out for an evening, we usually pay as much for the sitter as we do for dinner, movie tickets and the overpriced concession snacks combined. While Chattanooga certainly offers many family-friendly events and entertainment options, sometimes parents just need a little time away. Getting out without the kids is an important part of maintaining healthy relationships with spouses, partners or close friends.

The dilemma, of course, is the high cost of childcare. As prices continue to go up at the gas pump and the grocery store, forking over that $10-15 an hour every time we want to leave the kids at home becomes harder to justify. Some churches and businesses offer “Parents Night Out” programs periodically, charging a more moderate price for childcare on specific weekend nights. However, if such a program isn’t close to your home or conflicts with other obligations, you’re left to break the bank on sitter fees, take the kids with you, or just scrap it and stay home.

This is where a babysitting cooperative can become a valuable resource for your family. For anyone who hasn’t heard the term, a babysitting co-op is simply an organized group of parents who care for each other’s kids. Babysitting co-ops require a little time and effort to be successful, but the benefits can improve life for all of the families involved.

Fundamentals of a Babysitting Co-op

Babysitting co-ops traditionally use a point or money system to account for babysitting hours. When you put in time watching other members’ children, you earn points that you cash in to get free babysitting services. For convenience, a co-op is typically setup within a defined geographic area. Seasoned co-op organizers suggest a membership consisting of 12 to 20 families. They also suggest a member meeting at least once a quarter to socialize, address issues and make improvements.

Traditional Babysitting Co-ops

Formally structured babysitting cooperatives function like businesses. They follow sets of bylaws to govern key processes, such as managing membership and accounting for member points. These types of co-ops typically charge a nominal annual fee, usually less than $20, to cover organizational costs. A number of web sites ease the administration of these co-ops. Babysitter Exchange and Helping Hero are just two of the web-based applications designed to manage babysitting requests, create schedules and calculate point totals.

Simplified Versions

If a formalized babysitting co-op seems like overkill for your needs, you can always consider starting a simplified version of one. While traditional co-ops allow members to submit requests for specific dates and times, a more simplified format would offer regularly scheduled “playgroups.” A weekly schedule would list the days, times and locations for these various babysitting sessions, and members would make reservations for their children ahead of time. Additional parent sitters could be added as the number of registered children increases.

An even simpler babysitting co-op format would be a rotating “date night”.  Each weekend one or two households within the co-op are designated as that week’s Date Night Hosts. Any parents wanting to go out for the evening would have a place to drop the kids for a few hours.

How to Get Started

After gathering a group of prospective co-op members at a preliminary meeting, you should guide the discussion to cover a few important topics.

• Babysitting needs among the group members
• Commitment toward managing and contributing to a co-op
• The co-op’s format: a traditional system or a more simple version
• If and how new members would be added to the co-op
• Officer roles needed to handle administrative tasks

Once your group decides to establish itself as a babysitting co-op, members must commit to helping out with the initial tasks involved in organizing it. Decisions must be made on the structure of the point system and whether or not a software application will be used to support administrative tasks. Members will also need to create important documents such as contact lists, the member agreement, and medical release forms. Many downloadable resources are available to assist with the set-up of a babysitting co-op.

In our busy world, it really does “take a village to raise a child.” Free childcare from other trusted parents could provide flexibility, peace of mind and a little extra cash in your pocket. The next time you need a night out or maybe just an afternoon to run errands, consider taking the initiative to start your own babysitting co-op. With a little effort, you and your friends can build a support system that will serve your families for years to come.

Web Links:

Helping Hero: www.helpinghero.com

Babysitter Exchange: www.babysitterexchange.com

Smart Moms Babysitting Co-op: www.babysittingcoop.com

Other links:            http://www.ehow.com/how_2065343_start-babysitting-coop.html

http://www.helpinghero.com/content/Articles/babysitting-coop-rules.aspx

Kid’s Park!

Check out another alternative at Kid’s Park, a Chattanooga business offering childcare services with fun and educational activities at a reasonable price and at flexible times.  Visit them online at www.kidspark.com/center/Chattanooga/welcome/.  They can be contacted or visited at 2020 Gunbarrel Road #166, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or call

(423) 305-1796.