When it comes to finding someone to care for your little ones, it’s not as simple as it used to be. Whether you’re looking into nanny services (Hello, Mary Poppins!) or considering an au pair (fancy!), it’s hard to know what type of caregiver is the best option for your kids—and which babysitting rates are affordable for your family.

Gone are the days of calling up that trusted neighbourhood kid—you know, the one who practically walked right out of The BabySitters Club—and grabbing a few fivers out of your wallet to pay them at the end of the night. (Although you could argue that using an app like Datenight to pay your sitter is a whole new level of easy. Forget running out to the bank last minute to grab some cash—now all you have to do is tap a button!)

So how much should I pay a babysitter in Toronto?

Most babysitters in the big city charge anywhere from $14 to $22 an hour. Anything lower than that, and it should give you pause. Seeing that your babysitter is caring for your most prized possessions, cheaper isn’t necessarily better. So how much do babysitters actually charge these days? And how do you know if you’re getting a fair deal?

Here’s a good way to look at it:

$14 ~ $16

You might expect to pay your babysitter a lower fee if she’s just starting out, or if she’s still in school and this is her part-time job—not her future career.

$17 ~ $22

A higher rate is fair for a babysitter with a lot of experience, or one who is completing a post-secondary degree in Early Childhood Education. Remember, that previous experience can be more than simply babysitting. If your babysitter has worn any of the following hats, you’ve hit the jackpot: camp counsellor, swimming instructor, dance teacher, Big Brother or Big Sister.

While babysitting fees today may seem pricey, here’s a good way to put it into perspective: You’d pay a much higher hourly rate for a housecleaner—and they aren’t taking care of the most important little people in the whole wide world.

Ready to find your next great babysitter? Register to browse Datenight’s selection of top rated caregivers in your area.

When you’re looking for a babysitter – would you post a picture of yourself and your family in a public forum online describing your kids, their ages, their likes and dislikes? Would you post the exact times that you are looking for a babysitter for anyone to see?

No? You might think that you wouldn’t – but if you’re using one of a handful of non-supervised babysitting connection sites out there – you might already be doing it. Many babysitting matching sites – the ones that don’t pre-interview babysitters, and can’t guarantee that anyone on the other end is real or even remotely qualified to look after children – grow by posting user listings online. They use your family pictures on Kijiji and Craigslist and Indeed as content, and they email blast out profiles to thousands of unverified email addresses – with the hopes of generating a lead.

Did you know that you consented to this?  We didn’t think so.

Datenight Babysitting doesn’t do that.

Here at Datenight Babysitting – we may be growing more slowly than other companies in the tech for childcare space. But we’re doing it intentionally – because connecting parents with great candidates for babysitting is an important job.

Here’s what we’ve always considered when building our a platform:

Parents should be connected to Real People:

There aren’t tens of thousands of maybe-babysitters on the Datenight Platform. Every babysitter on the Datenight platform is a real person. They provide real references, for real humans. When you meet a babysitter on the platform who has babysat 30 times for 5 different families – they have. It’s verified. When you meet a babysitter who is new to the platform – you know, we’re very clear about it.

Parents want to keep family information Private:

Datenight Babysitting doesn’t know the birthdates of your children. We don’t know their names, either. We have never asked you to sign in with Facebook. Why? Because we looked into it years ago – and being able to download ALL of your facebook post information (which is what you could do at the time!) – seemed wrong. So we didn’t do it.

Babysitters deserve privacy, too

Parents shouldn’t be able to browse a list of young people’s pictures to select someone for a job. At Datenight, parents request an interview based on babysitter experience – and then meet them. This cuts down on a lot of problems that other platforms have about the types of users who register.

We don’t sell your information

Have you ever wondered why there’s a ~$10 monthly membership fee for Datenight Babysitting? It’s because we don’t sell your data. There’s a saying out there – that if you’re not paying for the service – you’re not the customer – you’re the product. We don’t think that way. We want to build an actual business that has value – and we are doing it without betraying our customers – you.

In the 5 years since Datenight Babysitting launched in Toronto – we’ve helped parents book over 50,000 hours of childcare. We’ve helped parents to take courses, launch businesses and care for loved ones when they’re stuck in a pinch. We haven’t raised masses of capital and we haven’t sold out our users – we’re working to build a fair, locally-based, sustainable business – one membership and transaction fee at a time. It’s hard – especially since we don’t sneakily blast out family profiles to unverified users, using their content as mass advertising.  But building technology for families is important work, and we believe that we’re doing it the right way – the way that has the interests of our users at heart.
 
 

Get to know the superwomen in your community in our new series, Interview with a Mamapreneur. We’ll be featuring local entrepreneurs & moms to find out how they run a successful business—and household. This month, meet Tijana…

1. Tell us about your business.

My business is called Daly Dose of Health. I’m a personal trainer specializing in pre and postnatal exercise. My passion is helping mamas look and feel their best, but more importantly, helping them gain the knowledge needed to exercise safely as a postpartum woman. I emphasize building a proper foundation of strength, empowering all women to feel strong!

2. Tell us about your family.

I have a 17-month-old son who keeps me on my toes. My husband and I are both personal trainers. It’s really cool having a partner in the same industry because we can understand each other on that level. A household with two entrepreneurs and a toddler definitely gets crazy!

3. What led you to become a mamapreneur?

Having been a personal trainer for a few years, I decided to branch out on my own after my son was born. Since becoming a mom, I saw the unique needs and challenges we have when it comes to forms of self care, such as exercise. There was definitely a need in the industry to address issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis for all these moms that just want to “get their body back.” After learning more about these common issues through a course called Bellies Inc, I made it my mission to share my knowledge to help my fellow ‘fit mamas’ out.

4. What are your strategies for running a business and a household at the same time?

Being a mamapreneur can be tough. When I factor in my own training, going to school part time, keeping the place neat, cooking… I’m not sure how I’m still standing! I have come to realize maybe there is no such thing as a “perfect balance.” Many working moms surely have a bit of mommy guilt in common when it comes  to prioritizing work. My best strategy is to let go of the guilt by scheduling time for work AND for time with my little one. I typically get the bulk of my work stuff done when he’s napping or asleep for the night, so when I’m with him, I don’t answer my work emails or phone.

5. What do you do to de-stress?

I truly enjoy cooking and making healthy recipes when I’m feeling stressed. That’s my therapy! And definitely getting a massage and a mani/pedi.

6. What are your biggest challenges when it comes to finding time for yourself?

My biggest challenge in finding time is definitely tearing myself away from work. There is always something more to do in terms of business development. I stay up way past my bedtime many nights!

7. What qualities do you look for in a babysitter or caregiver?

Besides excellent references, I am a big believer in “vibes.” If I feel like the babysitter is truly awesome and wants to spend time with my kid, they’re a keeper. And when you know, you know.

8. How often did you and your partner go on “dates” before kids?

My husband and I used to love going out a lot! Our lifestyle has changed so much. We were definitely going out a couple times a week pre-baby.

9. How often do the two of you get out now?

Oh man, nowadays if we have a night to ourselves, we are much more likely to enjoy it having a good night’s sleep! But in terms of actually going out, it’s probably every couple of months.

10. What are your top 3 favourite date nights? (Note: they don’t have to be evening dates.)
    1. Trampolining at Sky Zone.
    2. Having dinner out and maybe some drinks.
    3. Going to an Escape Room

About Tijana Daly

Tijana is a Postpartum Personal Trainer working out of Toronto’s west end as well as online. When she’s not training clients or lifting at the gym, she enjoys making fun new recipes and spending time with her husband and son.

About Daly Dose of Health

Daly Dose of Health is a female-focused personal training business that provides women with the tools and knowledge to gain strength, improve body composition, and feel great about their body’s capabilities.

Special offer for Datenight members: Email Tijana with “50% off” in the subject line to receive 50% off your first month of online coaching.

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.