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Swapping babysitting in London

11 replies

Temple247 · 19/01/2013 20:18

Hello,

I am a single mother of 33 and live in Colliers Wood with my 4 soon to be 5 yr old son.

I have heard about parents setting up mutual babysitting arrangements to help each other out and thought I might as well look into the possibility myself. I work full time and as such am looking into the occasional 'swap' on a Friday evening or over the wkd.

If you are facing a similar challenge to me in that it can be difficult to have some occasional 'me time' either because of lack of childcare availability or simply down to the fact that babysitter charges now a days can be extortionate, please do get in touch.

Of course, I am not looking to hand over my son to people I don't know as I want to make sure he is in safe hands. I would imagine that you would feel the same way too if you would want to look into it and probably would have lots of questions, so feel free to fire away!

Hope to hear back from some nice mums,
Eva.

NB. I'd be happy to talk over the phone, fb, meet up for lunch or coffee etc just to say hello and take it from there. Know it is a bit of a bold move but it might turn out successful... or so I hope.

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FannyBazaar · 19/01/2013 20:51

Great idea, I'm afraid I live the other side of London. Does your DS have friends from school whose parents might be up for a swap?

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Temple247 · 19/01/2013 23:41

Ah what a shame, would have been great if we had been in the same area!

I usually drop off and collect my lo at breakfast or afterschool club, so I hardly see any of the other mums unfortunately. Have started the occasional playdate on a Sat daytime but still looking for other mums who would be interested in swapping full overnight stays on a monthly basis. It's good advice anyways :)

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FannyBazaar · 20/01/2013 23:08

I did start with breakfast and afterschool clubs at school but now we are on afterschool club only as I changed jobs and work closer. It's so hard as most mums seem to be able to drop off and pick up their DCs every day and two parent families seem to spend the weekends doing 'family things'.

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Temple247 · 21/01/2013 22:36

Yes, being a single working mum in the middle of married two kid families makes you stand out a bit for sure. I have coupled up or married friends that are happy to babysit every now and then but as they don't have the need to have the favour returned I feel a bit bad about asking them too often. Had another single mums friend who I used to swap with and that worked fantastic but since her circumstance have changed I'm on the 'hunt' again lol it must be very nice for you to work closer to home now, gives you an opportunity to be part of the school life to some extent. I'd love that.

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feelingsik · 22/01/2013 10:24

Count me in! I am up for swaps. Only issue I find is that it only works if children are able to do sleep overs.
What I found most frustrating is not to be able to do pilates classes, or other little activities like that for which paying a baby sitter would hurt my weekly budget too much

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Temple247 · 22/01/2013 12:26

Sleep overs are what I would be looking for in the long run as well. I think most important for it to work is the parents will have to have more or less the same outlook on child raising and obviously the kids will have to get along as well, so everyone are comfortable and happy. How old are your child and where about do you live? I am in Colliers Wood on the Northern line down south. Be great to hear back from you :)

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feelingsik · 22/01/2013 20:49

Agree. I have met a few lone parent with kids a while ago on-line and with 2/3 we are still meeting up. It is especially important for with only child to develop friendship beside school mate, I feel. We dont live too far. I'll pm my email

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Temple247 · 22/01/2013 22:53

That's great. Will wait for your pm :)

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Temple247 · 09/03/2013 22:52

bump :)

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Temple247 · 09/03/2013 22:52

bump :)

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Temple247 · 08/06/2013 16:23

bump :)

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