A Year in the Making: The Babysitting Collective

We are incredibly proud of how far we’ve come in just one year. The journey has been full of lessons, but we feel we have laid strong foundations, not just in how we operate but in the spirit of the business itself. We lead with integrity and have developed a genuine care for our clients and the experiences they have with us, more than we ever anticipated. Naturally, it hasn’t always been straightforward. Balancing a growing number of clients, managing tasks like vetting and marketing, and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with everyone has been challenging - but it has also been profoundly rewarding.

Our Trusted Babysitters

We are delighted to share that we now have over 100 babysitters on our books, all of whom we trust wholeheartedly and engage with regularly. As our business evolves, so too do the lives of our sitters, who range from students to young professionals, gap-year students, and full-time workers. Our aim has always been to create not just a platform of opportunities, but a supportive community they can rely on.

We strive to be understanding when our sitters are busy or stressed, and equally attentive when they share their experiences with us. Above all, we want their journey with us to be as positive and rewarding as the experiences of our clients. When sitters approach us needing work, we listen - and do everything we can to support them.

The Families We Support Across London

Over the past year, nearly 100 clients have entrusted us with their families, and over 80% are return customers! There’s nothing we love more than a Saturday morning message from a client: “Whoops, my partner and I are desperate for an evening out - any chance you could find a last-minute sitter?” Our answer is always a resounding yes.

Parents deserve a break, a moment to breathe, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to connect sitters with families, providing reassurance and peace of mind. We encourage clients to share their daily challenges and concerns so we can respond meaningfully.

Are the children glued to screens? One of our sitters who coaches football will take them to the park, get them moving, and return them home with rosy cheeks, happily ready for bed. Is homework proving tricky? Our exceptional student sitters are ready to help children focus and excel. We take pride in creating matches that enrich children’s lives and, in line with our bespoke approach, cater to each child’s unique needs. Listening closely to our clients is at the heart of everything we do.

Spreading the Word

Promoting our business was not without its hurdles. Like many start-ups, we began with leaflets and street-level outreach. However, our greatest asset has been word of mouth - nothing speaks more convincingly than a recommendation from a friend, and we are profoundly grateful for the support of clients who have helped amplify our reach.

Over the last six months, our marketing has taken a more strategic turn, particularly through Instagram (please follow @thebabysittingcollective), where we share babysitter tips, spotlights, and client testimonials. While marketing initially felt daunting, it has become an aspect of our work that we genuinely enjoy - crafting posts, sharing ideas, and engaging with our audience. Even more recently, we have launched this blog, which has been a joy to write. It provides a platform to document our journey and celebrate our remarkable sitters. We hope readers have enjoyed it as much as we have enjoyed creating it.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, this year has been an extraordinary learning experience. The babysitting landscape is ever-changing - both clients’ needs and our sitters’ lives evolve constantly. We aim to grow alongside them, whether it’s a sitter heading off to university or a client visiting from abroad for a brief period. Our goal is always to make a meaningful, lasting impression.

We have learned that kindness and integrity go a long way, and we hope our sitters and clients feel the same. Most importantly, we want to thank everyone who has been part of our journey. We look forward to expanding our business further, supporting more families, and enriching more lives across London in the coming year.

All the best,

Maddie, Ella & Liliana