Sitters.co.uk review

Considering we have 3 children, we are very fortunate that we actually usually have babysitting fairly readily available to us, as both Adam’s parents and my Mum live locally and are fab and will watch the kids if we want to go out together on an evening. So if I’m being totally honest, the use of a babysitting service like sitters.co.uk for the kids hadn’t been hugely on my radar, although I had said to Adam recently, post-house move and setting up of business, that I could really do with some extra time during the week to get things done, yet didn’t want to put upon our family any more than we already did. 

So when Sitters.co.uk got in touch with me and asked if I’d like to work with them and review their child/babysitting service I thought “why not?!” and that it would be the perfect opportunity to dip our toe into the unknown, as well as give me the chance to crack on with a few house-related things knowing that our little darlings were being supervised and entertained in the comfort of our home. 

I had actually heard of Sitters before, as I know a few mums at the older children’s school use the website to book babysitters when they want a night out, and really liked it and often used the same sitter as a result, but aside from that I didn’t really know how it worked. 

Here would be my opportunity to give it a go!

How did our experience with Sitters.co.uk go?

I decided to book a sitter for a morning when the big two kids were at school, and when Arlo and I didn’t have any plans. I wanted to crack on with decorating our bedroom, and thought that I could get a lot done in 3 hours whilst Arlo could (hopefully) play happily downstairs with his sitter. 

This bedroom wall needed ‘cutting in’ and a couple of coats of paint!

Before finding out more about Sitters.co.uk, I must admit I was a little anxious about the whole process, as it’s quite a big deal letting someone in your home who you don’t know and trusting them with your most precious thing in the world: Your child. 

However, after having a browse online, I was actually really reassured to see that all sitters registered are thoroughly vetted and have references, and all must have a childcare background (i.e. teachers, nannies, childminders). You can also browse sitters in your area and read reviews, and then ‘favourite’ them or add them to your ‘preferred’ sitters.

After creating an account, I added details of the babysitting date and time that I required, plus age of my child, and then waited a couple of days until I received an email and text to say that a sitter called Tracey would be round to look after Arlo. I could read her previous reviews (all good, thankfully!), and the text also included her mobile number so I could call her if I had any queries. I was impressed that a couple of days after signing up that I also got a call from a member of the Sitters.co.uk team, explaining to me how the process worked, how my first booking should go, and what to do if I had any issues.

I was also told that I should receive a call from Tracey either the night before the booking or first thing before it took place, and as promised got a call from her, and as a parent it was really comforting to have a chat before we actually met. 

You are given a price per hour for your sitter, and then a total cost that you pay direct to them once your hours are up. 

On the morning, Tracey arrived a few minutes early and I had a chat with her, showed her where toys, nappies and snacks were (plus told her to help herself to a cup of tea!), and she instantly chatted to Arlo and took him off to play. Tracey has four older children of her own, plus has worked in childcare settings, and I could see how comfortable and calm she was with our little live wire. 

I then headed upstairs to start my decorating, and aside from a few times that I heard “where Mummy gone?” I didn’t hear a peep, so any anxiety that Arlo had about where I was was obviously quickly dispersed by Tracey and he was distracted easily. I then felt I could relax into what I needed to do. 

It was possibly a slightly unusual situation for Tracey as I was upstairs (I suspect most sitters are left to it as the parents go out), but it worked well. She was fab and played with him outside for ages (I was hoping the poor woman liked her football!), they did puzzles, played with his animals and toy kitchen, plus she read him lots of books. 

I couldn’t have been happier with how our first experience went. As well as using Sitters for evening childcare, I think it’s actually a perfect solution if you need to get a few pressing jobs completed, errands ran or some work done over the summer holidays for a few hours, but don’t want to commit to a childminder’s hours or a full-on holiday club. As someone who has set up their own business recently, there might be some weeks where I just need that bit of extra time to complete something, and knowing that I can escape upstairs to the office whilst the kids are having fun elsewhere in the house with a trusted adult is ideal. 

And look what I managed to achieve the morning Tracey was there!

So chuffed, and I think Arlo was pretty chuffed too with his new pal. We had lunch together afterwards and he was chattering away about the toys he showed Tracey, and seemed happy as Larry #winning

We left Tracey a good review, and I would definitely use her again. We’ve got a couple of events coming up in the future, and if family isn’t available (or we just want to give them a break because they do loads for us!) then I know now that I would happily use Sitters.co.uk. The whole process is clear and easy to use, and I felt looked after by the company and had my hand held when I felt a little nervous initially. 

It’s a big thumbs up from us for sitters.co.uk! 

FAQs Sitters.co.uk 

How much does Sitters.co.uk cost? The cost varies depending on which sitter you book, but you’re given a clear price per hour upfront when you make your booking. You then pay the sitter directly in cash at the end of your session, which I found really straightforward. No hidden fees or complicated payment systems – just simple and transparent pricing.

Do I have to use Sitters.co.uk just for evenings out? Absolutely not! This is actually one of the things I loved most about it. Whilst loads of parents use Sitters for date nights and evenings out, I used it during a weekday morning to crack on with some DIY whilst Arlo was entertained downstairs. It’s brilliant for those times when you need to get work done in the school holidays, run errands, or just need a few hours to yourself without booking a full day at a childminder.

Are Sitters.co.uk babysitters actually qualified? Yes! This was a massive reassurance for me. All sitters on the platform have childcare backgrounds – think teachers, nannies, childminders – and they’re all thoroughly vetted with references checked. You can read reviews from other parents too, which really helped ease my nerves before our first booking.

How far in advance do I need to book a sitter? I booked mine a couple of days in advance and had confirmation of my sitter within that timeframe. They recommend booking as early as possible for evening and weekend slots (especially Saturdays!), but there’s flexibility in the system. Your sitter will also give you a call before the booking to have a chat, which I found really comforting.

Can I request the same sitter again if we liked them? Definitely! You can add sitters to your ‘preferred’ list or ‘favourite’ them on the platform, which makes rebooking them for future dates really easy. We absolutely loved Tracey and left her a glowing review, and I’d 100% book her again for next time.

Is Sitters.co.uk available across the UK? Yes, Sitters operates throughout the UK. You search for available sitters in your local area through the website, so you’ll always get someone nearby. Perfect for us here in South East London, but works just as well wherever you are in the country.

Tips for Your First Sitters.co.uk Booking

If you’re thinking about trying Sitters for the first time, here are a few things that really helped make our first experience go smoothly:

Start with a shorter booking if you’re nervous. I went for three hours, which felt like a good middle ground – long enough to actually get something done, but not so long that I’d be anxious the whole time. You can always book for longer next time once you’re comfortable.

Have a list ready of your child’s favourite things. I made sure to point out Arlo’s beloved toy animals, his favourite books, and where the football was (spoiler: she needed to know where that football was!). It just helps the sitter jump straight into fun activities rather than spending ages figuring out what your little one likes.

Do a proper handover. Show them where everything is – snacks, nappies, toys, first aid kit, the works. I also told Tracey to help herself to tea and coffee, which I think helped her feel comfortable too. The more at ease your sitter is, the more at ease your child will be.

Leave your mobile number somewhere visible. Even though your sitter will have it already, I stuck a Post-it note on the fridge with my number and Adam’s, plus our address (in case they needed to give it to anyone in an emergency). Better safe than sorry!

Trust your instincts but also trust the process. I was properly nervous before Tracey arrived, which is completely normal when you’re letting someone new look after your child. But remember, these are professionals who’ve done this hundreds of times before. They know how to settle children in, distract them if they’re upset, and keep them safe and happy. The vetting process is thorough for a reason.

Don’t hover too much! This one’s easier said than done, especially if you’re working from home like I was. But try to let the sitter and your child build their own little rapport. I had to resist the urge to keep popping downstairs to ‘check’ on them – Tracey had it totally under control.

Leave an honest review afterwards. Other parents rely on these reviews just like you did when choosing your sitter, so take two minutes to write about your experience. It helps everyone and means brilliant sitters like Tracey get booked again and again.

And honestly? If you’re on the fence about trying it, just go for it. I was hesitant too, but I’m so glad we gave it a go. Worst case scenario, you don’t love it and you don’t book again. Best case? You find a reliable, trustworthy childcare option that gives you back some precious time. For us, it was definitely the latter!

*Thanks to Sitters.co.uk for working with The Spirited Puddle Jumper, all words and opinions my own – we had a great experience!

See some more of my reviews here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.