Babysitting Co-Op: Has it Worked for You?

Several times over the past couple of years, I have almost started a babysitting co-op in my neighborhood moms’ group. The idea behind a babysitting co-op is that mothers take turns watching each others’ children, which is appealing on many levels. First, IT’S FREE, so the only payment involved is, of course, watching someone else’s children for an equal period of time. Second, because mothers are the “babysitters,” moms can generally feel comfortable with the person who will be watching their children. Third, it’s a way to create a social support network among a group of mothers.

The system that I’ve heard of is the “ticket system,” in which tickets (rather than cash) are the currency used. Each ticket is worth half an hour, and all mothers start with 10 tickets (or whatever the group decides). Every time you watch someone else’s children, you receive the appropriate amount of tickets from the mother whose children you were watching. You also use your tickets to “pay” the mother that was watching your children. In theory, there is no obligation to watch someone else’s children – you just do it when it works for you and your family.

There are, of course, a few doubts in my mind, such as: Can I, a mother of three young children, take on someone else’s young children? Can I feel comfortable dropping my own children off at someone else’s home? Would people really be interested? From an organizational point of view, should people get more tickets for watching families with more children, or should the tickets be based only on the amount of time spent babysitting?

So, dear reader, I would love to hear if you’ve had experience with a babysitting co-op of this sort. Please share in the comments section any good or bad experiences, and any advice you may have!

God bless you all this afternoon. St. Anne, patron saint of mothers, pray for us!