Mother's Day Week -Need a Babysitter? Try Sitter Socials!

We all know that moms are busy people. With Mother's Day approaching, what better gift is there than the gift of time? Today, I'm pleased to welcome Victoria Muschek, founder of Sitter Socials. Sitter Socials is a unique babysitting service, which connects parents to sitters both online with a sitter profile search and off line at their signature speed-meeting events. They are the only company of its kind to offer both online and offline services to busy parents.

For me, finding a babysitter can definitely be a challenge, especially with no family close by. I was eager to learn more about Sitter Socials, and had the opportunity to ask Victoria a few questions:

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

I am a mother of three really great kids! Maddy age 8, Mandy age 5 and little Bobby, 20 months. I am also a teacher at San Diego State University and am a MOMpreneur.

How did Sitter Socials come to be?

I founded the company to meld two desires: provide parents with quality child care who are looking to balance their professional and family lives and provide students with opportunities to earn some income who are looking for a good paying, flexible job.

Balancing home life, family and my work schedule was getting increasingly harder with 3 kids. And I'm not alone - this is a common theme among my friends and family. With so many demands on my time, I knew what I needed to make my life more efficient and balanced - quality babysitters. And not just one, several that I could count on. I had my 'a ha' moment while teaching my class - in front of me were dozens of students who would make great babysitters!

How is Sitter Socials different from other Babysitting services?

Not only are all our sitters over 18 and have gone through a background screening process but Sitter Socials delivers the best of both worlds! We offer parents both online and offline options in finding your ideal sitter. Online, parents have 24/7 access to a database of sitters including sitter profiles & free access to background checks.  Offline, they can attend one or all of our signature face to face events held in the local community where parents ‘speed meet’ a whole group of sitters at a local boutique. We have Social Directors who are in your community to answer any questions and be your host for the event. But best of all, our service is very affordable with memberships starting at just $7.99 a month.

What is a typical speed-meeting event like?

It's great, such a fun vibe! The parents arrive at a cool hip clothing boutique and are handed a “sitter sourcebook” which contains the profiles of all the sitters in attendance. Parents mix, mingle and “speed-meeting” all the sitters in attendance. Afterwards we have fun raffle prizes, shopping discounts and snack and treats. Think speed dating for moms and sitters only!

What tips or advice do you have for choosing the right sitter for your family?

TIPS TO MAKE SURE SITTER IS RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR FAMILY
1. Always Check References: Ask to review their background check and call references 
2. Conduct One on One Interviews: Ask important questions like do they have CPR training, what is their childcare experience, ages of children they've cared for, what is their approach to discipline, how would you handle an emergency, what kinds of activities do you enjoy doing with children, how much do they charge.
3. Interaction with Your Children: Set up a preliminary sitter session where you can observe how the sitter interacts with your children and how your child responds to the sitter.
4. Clear Communication of Rules: Communicate your rules, expectations and forms of discipline. Make sure that the sitter is aligned with you on how you care for your child.
5. Trust Your Parental Instinct: In the end, you are the best person to choose who is the right fit for your family.

How does one sign up to become a member?

Sitter Socials is a revolutionary service connecting parents and babysitters.  Access to qualified babysitters gives moms more options and brings more balance to their lives. Moms take care of their family while taking care of themselves!

Moms receive:
Unlimited access to a database of Sitters
Free entry to “Sitter Social” events where parents meet sitters face to face through exclusive “speed-meet” sessions. Think speed dating for parents!

To register, simply log on to sittersocials.com and click on Parents. Sitter Socials offers 2 membership options; $7.99/month for a yearly membership and $9.99/month for a quarterly membership.  With the quarterly membership there’s a one time $15 membership fee.  For more information, visit Sitter Socials or call 858-271-4667

Thank you, Victoria for spending time with us today!

WANT TO WIN? To celebrate Mother's Day, Sitter Socials is offering the ultimate gift - the gift of time, flexibility and balance. Five winners will receive a free 3 month membership ($44.97 value). While Sitter Socials has programs in multiple areas, this contest is open to San Diego residents only. To enter, check out the website, then come back and tell me why you want to win. Please leave your email address with your comment. Deadline to enter is Thursday, May 7th at Midnight.