Child-Minding Co-Op Trial

This page has been set up due a request by carers in our area wishing to start a traditional babysitting co-operative. As a trial babysitting co-op. MotHs Inc is providing the opportunity for carers to connect privately and decide if they wish to create their own baby-sitting co-op. Further details of how MotHs Inc is involved can be found at the bottom of this page.

Suggested way for this it work?

MotHs Inc is helping carers to connect. Decisions around how their group will be coordinate, the rules and processes will be decided by each individual group. Here is a suggest method to organise a group from the Frugal Mama website.

  • Each member earns points or tokens when they babysit, and spends points/tokens when they have their children babysat.

  • Due to the use of points or tokens, there is no need for reciprocal arrangements between families. So for example Mary babysits John’s children but John may never care for Mary’s children as long as he babysits for somebody in the group.

  • Some groups allow members to buy extra points/tokens in some circumstances

  • If tokens are used, parents can give these to each other as appropriate; if a point system is used, there will need to be a record kept for the club to see how many points each family has

  • A value system needs to be determined. For example, it will cost one point or token per child per half hour babysitting, or one token per family per hour. As long as the rules are the same for everyone, it doesn’t really matter what the points are valued at.

  • Members usually arrange babysitting between themselves. This can be at either home as suits the circumstances, and be a regular booking or a one-off.

Other Questions to Consider

  • While this isn’t a group run by MotHs , we strongly advise on Working With Children checks for members.

    Other questions that need answering:

    ☻ Will new members have to be referred by existing members only? Or interviewed by a set number of current members?

    ☻ How many members are allowed? And how few members will cause the group to close down?

  • If using tokens, administration will be limited to membership forms and lists.

    ☻ If a point system is used, someone will have to record points earned and spent. This can be done by a group secretary and will probably require an administrative fee for members (to cover paper, postage etc) OR this duty could be rotated amongst the members each month to share the load.

    ☻ Will each family organize the babysitting, or will it need to be arranged centrally, through the secretary?

  • Will one point or token equal half an hour or one hour or one night? Will be it per child or per family?

    ☻ If points/tokens are set per child, will subsequent children be at a reduced rate or the standard rate? (eg 1 child is 4 tokens for the session, will the sibling be another 4 tokens or only 2?)

    ☻ Will the system change for overnight or weekend stays?

    ☻ What will we use for tokens? It needs to be something distinctive so members don’t confuse tokens with everyday items in the house! Coloured clothes pegs used to be a common token, but now days many houses use these on the clothes line so the tokens are not distinctive enough.

    ☻ Will we name our points/tokens something? What?

  • ☻ Will new members be given a certain amount of points/tokens to start with? How many?

    ☻ Being a barter system, rather than real money, families can actually go into negative babysitting time. Will the club allow this?

    If yes,

    ☻Will a family with a negative balance be able to book a babysitter?

    ☻ Will a family with a low balance be able to use a greater amount of babysitting? That is, they have points for part of the time they need, but still have a babysitter for the whole time needed?

    ☻ What is the maximum negative balance allowed?

    ☻ How will negatives be accepted in a token system?

    ** Note, if negative balances are not allowed, each member must be given a starting balance or the system won’t work. The starting balance should thus be enough for at least two sits to get things going. **

  • ☻ Will the group have guidelines, or will it be entirely up to the parents to specify any rules regarding their own children?

    ☻It may be worth having a form for each family to leave with the babysitter. The form can include details of children’s names, birth dates and medical information, parent contact details, address & phone details of the house (useful in an emergency) and maybe other contacts (eg poisons info, local doctor & hospital, neighbours’ number

  • ☻ Can tokens be given as gifts to members?

    ☻ Who will be the member? The family, the parents or one parent only?

    ☻ Can other family members babysit? Must a parent carry out the babysitting, or are older siblings allowed to babysit?

    ☻ Will you have a waiting list? Will its size be limited?

    ☻Do members have to use the group regularly to remain a member? If so, how regularly? This will be of importance if a waiting list develops

Interested in being part of the trial babysitting co-ops? Please fill out this info below and we will be in touch shortly.

Sign Up Here

*While MotHs is helping carers to connect to create their own co-op child-minding groups, these child-minding co-op groups are not run by Mums of the Hills Inc (MotHs Inc.). The decision on whether to approve or decline requests to join group and whether a group commences or folds is at the discretion of the child-minding group coordinators and child-minding group members. Should a group start, MotHs Inc is not responsible for the success or failure of the group or the decisions or actions by the group. MotHs Inc. will not be liable for any situations or outcomes that may occur. We strongly recommend every individual involved to have a working with childrens check as per our child safety policy.