How to Get More Out of Your Babysitting Swap

In How Parents Can Get More Time to Themselves at Zero Cost at Buttoned Up this week, I write a short-and-sweet list of how to get started trading babysitting time with a friend.

Read the full article.

You may have already seen my post here at Frugal Mama about babysitting swaps. Since I wrote that post, my friend Elizabeth and I (the original swappers) have added three more days to our schedule and three more parents. We have a lot more time to get things accomplished, our children are having fun while learning to separate and get along with other kids, and we are making new friends. And, of course, it’s all free.

Here’s how it began.

Start Small

Elizabeth and I took turns watching our toddler sons on Wednesday mornings in our building’s playroom. (Of course, you could do this in each other’s houses too, or in public play spaces.) The swap started after we dropped off our older kids at elementary school and lasted for 2 hours (from 8:45 to 10:45). We always brought our own snacks, drinks and diaper bags.

Gradually Expand: Days and Kids

Once we saw that the kids were comfortable with the routine and we felt we could handle another child, we asked a third parent to join the swap. So that meant each mom was on duty only 1/3 of the time, instead of 1/2.

Since we were really enjoying the free time to get things done, and the kids loved playing together, we gradually added more days, and eventually, for each of those days, another family.

Now we have 4 mornings a week occupied with a 3-way babysitting swap. I am usually on duty one time a week, depending on how the various rotating schedules pan out, so I still get time with my son (as well as time to gab with other moms and nannies in the playroom).

Speaking of socializing, adding new moms has been great for creating a solid network of friends. We all often stop and chat after the swap, so the arrangement has also filled a need for connection and friendship.

What If Someone Wants to Bring More Than One Kid?

This happened to us recently when we asked a mom with a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old to join our Monday swap. We gave her the option of (a) just dropping off her 1-year-old (her 4-year-old could stay of course when she was on duty), or (b) dropping off both children and taking on a extra turn.

We modeled this arrangement on a co-operative playgroup I directed where turns were calculated per child (not per parent). So if a parent happened to have two children (usually twins) in a class, she would be on duty twice as much.

Since each child brings a level of responsibility and care, this seemed like the most fair arrangement for us. (Our friend chose to drop off both children and was fine about taking on two turns versus our one.) But of course, you can organize your swap however you and your friends see fit.

To see a step-by-step outline on how to get started, see my post at Buttoned Up this week.

Note: A large side-benefit of our babysitting swap is that I have time to pursue interests that are fulfilling to me (my writing, for example). I also eliminate the need to fill the (sometimes lonely) mornings with my toddler by going on more shopping errands than necessary (which inevitably leads to buying more than I need).

What would you do with your free time?

You also might like: