| What is a babysitting co-op? | | | | member's house as possible, attempting to find a sitter |
| A babysitting co-op, sometimes called babysitting club | | | | who owes points. The secretary then calls the |
| or cooperative, is just a group of families in a | | | | member and sets up the sitting arrangement. |
| community who decide to share the task of | | | | After the care has been provided, both member and |
| babysitting by swapping time with each other rather | | | | sitter agree on the number of points and these are |
| than charging money. In that way the members of the | | | | reported to the secretary who records them. Points |
| coop can get access to occasional child care services | | | | are earned by being a sitter and providing care. Points |
| without having to be concerned about the high cost of | | | | are spent by using a sitter to care for your children. |
| or risk of using a paid babysitter. | | | | Starting your coop |
| Benefits | | | | There are two main success factors in starting a new |
| There are many benefits to this approach to childcare. | | | | coop |
| For starters it is easier and less expensive than regular | | | | |
| babysitting. Also, rather than relying on one or two | | | | 1. When starting your coop you need to make sure |
| carers that may or may not be available you have | | | | you have a clear set of rules so that everyone knows |
| access to perhaps as many as 10 or 20 families, | | | | how the process will work. Rules to consider include: |
| which can make it much easier to find someone in a | | | | 2. - How small/large can the co-op can become: a |
| hurry. | | | | minimum of five and maximum of 25 are generally |
| For those without close family nearby, a coop can be | | | | judged to be the best. |
| a very valuable way to get away for a few hours | | | | 3. - How will new members be introduced? |
| without the children to spend with their partner or on a | | | | 4. - Starting points for each family. |
| "date night" without the added cost of child care. | | | | 5. - How many hours is each point worth? |
| Lastly, with the cost of day care spiraling up, some | | | | 6. - Minimum points below which a family is not allowed |
| people are using babysitting coops to provide regular | | | | to request a sit. |
| day care for a day or two a week. Getting a child into | | | | 7. - How will the booking process operate? You will |
| day care for just a day a week or for occasional | | | | probably also want to have medical authorization |
| days can be very difficult but sharing the task | | | | forms available so that families can formally authorize |
| amongst several families can make it much easier. | | | | the sitting family to undertake emergency medical |
| Drawbacks | | | | treatment if required. |
| There are very few drawbacks to babysitting coops | | | | 8. Make sure that you have regular (perhaps quarterly |
| and perhaps the only one is the task of managing the | | | | or six monthly) meetings so that everyone can |
| process. For instance the role of the secretary can be | | | | introduce themselves and get to know each other. |
| quite demanding. There are however some new ways | | | | Normally these are held at one member's house or in a |
| round this issue, see below for more information. | | | | park so that the children can come along. |
| Approaches | | | | Finding members |
| There are two basic approaches to running a co-op. | | | | When looking for members of your co-op it is best to |
| The first uses paper based "babysitting money." Each | | | | find other families that have similar parenting practices |
| unit equates to a fixed unit of time. Families then | | | | and life values to yourself. There a lots of places to |
| contact each other directly to arrange and pay for the | | | | look including your local playgroup, school/pre-school, |
| sit. | | | | child care center, parents and citizens clubs, church, |
| The second types swaps points, say 4 points for each | | | | neighbors, and the child's sporting or activities clubs. |
| hour of sitting. A secretary books the sits and keeps | | | | Closing thoughts |
| track of the point transactions. Both systems can | | | | One last thing to consider when setting up your co-op |
| function well but most groups opt for the points | | | | is the idea of using it for swapping more than just |
| approach. | | | | babysitting. Perhaps you can also use it for car pooling |
| Co-ops often elect a rotating secretary. If a member | | | | to children's activities or looking after your pets when |
| requires babysitting, the secretary is phoned requesting | | | | you go away. Once you've got the people and |
| a sitter for a certain time and date. The secretary calls | | | | process together there are lots of other time and |
| members and locates a sitter as close to the | | | | money saving uses for your coop. |