FAQs

Find-A-Sitter is your trusted babysitting friend. We prioritize real relationships and reliable caregivers, bringing a sense of normalcy and comfort to childcare so parents can book with confidence. Unlike generic care marketplaces, our focus is quality, trust, and genuine connections between families and sitters.

We currently serve families in St. Louis, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; Oxford, Mississippi; and Nashville, Tennessee.  

All of our booking happens online, so we can't take requests by email or text. Here's how it works:

1. Sign up and submit your family application at findasitter.net (click "Find a Sitter").

2. Once you're approved, log in on the website or the Find-A-Sitter app.

3. Open your Booking Calendar, pick your date and times, and click Post Job.

4. One of our vetted sitters will pick it up, and you'll get an email with her profile as soon as she's assigned. 😊

Date nights, weekend care, after-school help, summer care, overnights, weddings and events. In some cities we also offer pet sitting, house sitting and cleaning, so check your city's Rates page for what's available near you. Most of our sitters are high school and college students, so evenings, weekends and school breaks are when we shine.

Every sitter applies, interviews with our team, gives references, and passes a background check and a drug test. Every sitter is also CPR and First Aid certified. We only say yes to sitters we'd trust with our own families.

Yes, all sitters provide references from prior childcare or related experience.

• $100 one-time enrollment fee when you first join

• $25 membership fee every three months, renewing on the date you signed up

Both go on the card you use for sitter payments. Membership lets you post as many jobs as you'd like, and it's separate from the hourly rate, which you only pay when you book. If you ever leave and come back, you won't pay the enrollment fee again.

• Babysitting, 1 to 3 kids: $25/hour

• Babysitting, 4 or more kids: $28/hour

• Overnights: $80/night, plus $25/hour for any awake hours

• Booked within 24 hours: $30 rush fee

• A 3% service fee is added to each booking

You'll find the full details for your city on our Rates page.

Yes, Booking Calendar jobs have a 4-hour minimum. If you only need 3 hours, book 4 and add a note that you might send your sitter home a little early. For after-school and other Nanny Jobs, you and your sitter agree on the schedule.

Once your profile is complete and your credit card is securely stored, payments are processed after the sitter clocks out, so there’s no cash exchange. A 3% service fee is added to each booking and is clearly displayed in your booking details.

Good news, that's not an extra fee! It's an estimate of your sitter cost (the hourly rate times the number of hours). If it looks way too high, double check AM vs. PM. That mix-up can turn a 4-hour job into a 16-hour one.

Tips are always appreciated but never required, and 100% of your tip goes to your sitter. Click on the job on your calendar and select "Tip," or use the tip link in the email you get after each job. If she did a lot of driving for you, adding a little extra for gas is so kind.

Log in to your dashboard, scroll down to Membership, and click Cancel Membership. You won't be charged the quarterly fee again. Membership fees aren't refundable, but you can cancel anytime before your next renewal. We don't have a pause option, but you're always welcome back, and returning families never pay the enrollment fee again.

Only if a sitter has already been assigned. If you cancel within 24 hours of the job, there's a $25 cancellation fee. If you cancel within 1 hour of the start time, you're charged for 2 hours of the sit plus the $25 fee. If no one has picked it up yet, you can cancel anytime for free.

We don't send year-end statements, but we're happy to give you our federal tax ID so you can total your childcare costs. Just email us.

Yes! It depends on which tab you use:

• Booking Calendar is for one-time shifts like date nights and single days. Any available sitter can pick these up, so you may see different sitters.

• Nanny Jobs is for one sitter on a regular schedule, like after-school pickup, a few mornings a week or summer care. Sitters apply, and you can meet them before you choose.

Love a sitter? Add her to your Favorites, and your new booking requests go to your favorite sitters first. Most of our sitters are students, so weekday daytime availability can change by semester. Summer nanny jobs are super popular, so post early.

Totally normal, and nothing's wrong with your profile! Your job is live for every vetted sitter in your area. Sitters usually pick up jobs about a week out, once their school and work schedules are set, and you'll get an email as soon as someone's assigned.

A few tips:

• Post as early as you can, especially for weekends.

• Add helpful details, like ages and what the evening looks like.

• Double check AM vs. PM.

If your date is getting close, email us and we'll keep an extra eye on it. We can't guarantee every job fills, so for can't-miss nights, a backup plan never hurts.

The earlier the better! Weekend date nights usually fill about a week out. For weekday daytime care, 4 to 6 weeks ahead gives you the best chance, since many of our sitters are in class during the day.

Life happens, and when it does, we work hard to find you another great sitter. To see who's coming, open your calendar and click the date to view her profile. If you're ever unsure, just email us and we'll confirm.

We'll always try! Jobs booked within 24 hours have a $30 rush fee. Post it in your Booking Calendar right away, then send us a quick email so we can reach out to our sitters. Same-day care isn't guaranteed, so it's smart to have a backup. New families need to be approved first, so apply early.

Yes! It's $80 per night for the hours your sitter is asleep, plus $25/hour for any time she's awake caring for your kids. For example, 10 PM to 6 AM with the baby up for 4 hours total is $80 + (4 × $25) = $180. Our sitters are students, so post overnights early.

We sure do! 🤍

• Just your family (a sitter at the hotel during the wedding): book through your Booking Calendar like normal.

• Group childcare (several families' kids together, with multiple sitters): email us the kids' ages, times and location, and we'll send you pricing.

Pricing for group childcare depends on the event, so we'll put together a quote that fits yours.

Email us before you sign up and tell us your dates. We'll let you know the best option for a one-time visit.

Many of our sitters have experience with a range of needs. Email us your child's age, their needs and the support you're looking for, and we'll let you know which sitters are a great fit. You can add those details to your family profile too.