Babysitting on Holidays: How To Ensure Your Kids Are Covered

The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone. Between traveling and preparations, people have a lot going on during this time of year. This includes your babysitter. It is likely that you will still need a babysitter during the holidays, so it is important to plan ahead to make sure you have babysitting coverage.

Plan ahead

Before the holidays, consider what commitments you need to account for. You will likely already know that you need a babysitter while your kids are off school. However, it is important to keep in mind that you may also be attending holiday parties and running errands. You may also opt to save up vacation time or other paid time off to stay home and spend time with your kids. Thinking about this ahead of time allows you to plan ahead and accumulate time off to be able to use it. You will likely have to request this time off, so it is important to plan in advance to give enough notice.

Planning ahead also allows you a chance to talk with your babysitter about their schedule for the holidays. They may be traveling or spending to spend time with family. Booking in advance locks you into their schedule and allows you to make alternative plans if your usual sitter is not available during the holidays. It also allows your sitter to make arrangements on their end if they need to schedule certain things or know when you need them.

Coordinate schedules

If you have a regular babysitter that you typically use, see what their availability is like during the holidays. When you know their schedule, including days they are unable to babysit, plan ahead and try to coordinate your schedule so you will have babysitter coverage when they are available. For times your babysitter is unable to work, arrange for meetings to be done virtually over Zoom or a similar platform and arrange to work from home. This way, you are still able to do what you need to do and still have babysitting coverage for your child.

You may also want to coordinate your schedule with your partner. One of you may be able to arrange a way to watch the kids while the other is out. This way, the work is not falling all on one person and you can take turns spending time with the kids. You may even want to arrange it so you are both off to have family time with your kids and do fun things you otherwise do not have time for.

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Ask family members

If your babysitter is not available to work certain days during the holidays, try seeing if you can get a family member to watch them. While this should not be the first line if you need someone to watch your kids, there are benefits. You will likely be able to pay family members less, if they even accept payment at all. They already know your kids and your kids know them, so each party will be comfortable. However, the family member may not have the same certifications as your regular sitter and may not engage with your kids as much. Be sure to not rely on family members too much as they may grow resentful.

Sharing is caring

Your friends or neighbors may have babysitters they know and trust. See if it would be okay if the babysitter watched your kids at the same time they are watching your friend’s kids. Sharing a babysitter is especially convenient if you have plans with that particular friend or you work together. As usual, you will want to make sure the babysitter is compatible with you and your kids and make sure they are certified. Be sure you and the family you are sharing with know the boundaries your sitter has in place and that you set boundaries with the sitter. Communicate effectively and make sure you pay the sitter for watching your kids. Respect the privacy and space of the family you are sharing a babysitter with. As with any babysitting arrangement, be flexible and have a backup plan.

Find alternative care

Look in your community for any additional childcare resources. Some museums may offer holiday camps where you can drop your kid off for the week they are on break and they will explore themes and exhibits of the museum. See if your gym or community center offers childcare services that allow you to work out or get other things done while your kids are being cared for. Ask friends, family members, and others in your community to see if there is anything they recommend. Get creative in your search. Your kids will enjoy a new experience while you can breathe easy, knowing your children are being cared for.

The holidays are a stressful time, but having childcare plans will help take some stress off your plate.