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July 1, 2014

UrbanSitter – Use Social Media to Find Trusted Sitters

UrbanSitter is taking the guesswork out of finding a babysitter, using the power of social networking to help parents locate childcare providers who have been recommended by their friends. By leveraging Facebook Connect, parents can see which sitters have already been vetted by their contacts, and they can schedule meetings directly through the web-based platform.

Join UrbanSitter by logging in with your Facebook account and searching for a local sitter who’s available on the dates and times you need. From there, you can filter results based on pay rate, age, and experience level. Profile badges also help you identify sitters with fast response times and plenty of repeat bookings. UrbanSitter differentiates itself from competing babysitting platforms with its recommendations feature, enabling you to read personal reviews written by your own friends and parents in your community. When you find a sitter who seems like a good fit for your family, book the job or schedule an in-person interview through the online platform.

UrbanSitter offers a payment module that parents can use to pay their babysitters online, without worrying about opening up the checkbook or scrounging around for cash. Advanced features include automated reminders, directions to your home, and the ability to post last-minute jobs when you need a sitter in a pinch.
Practical Uses:

  • See which babysitters your friends would recommend
  • Find last-minute childcare
  • Pay your babysitter online
  • Search for a part-time nanny who is CPR certified

Insider Tips:

  • Download the mobile app to book babysitters on-the-go
  • Upload a profile video to stand out from other babysitters looking for work
  • Search for available babysitters by date and time, or post a job
  • UrbanSitter uses the third-party service HireRight to process background checks

What we liked:

  • Babysitters can accept credit card payments through the online system
  • UrbanSitter is free for parents and babysitters
  • Appointment scheduling happens through the web-based platform
  • Parents have an easier time trusting sitters who’ve worked for their friends

What we didn’t like:

  • UrbanSitter still isn’t widely used in many smaller cities around the country

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: September 2011
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California
  • Founded by: Lynn Perkins, Andrea Barrett and Daisy Downs
  • Web site: https://www.urbansitter.com

Costs:

  • Free for parents and sitters
  • Premium packages are available

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