Welcome to The Babysitting Collective!

A London based childcare concierge.

My name is Maddie Wright, and along with my two co-founders, Ella and Liliana, we founded The Babysitting Collective. But why did we decide to start a babysitting and nannying agency?

Like many young women stepping into adulthood we started out juggling the pressure of career choices, studies, and the unknowns of life after university. Amidst all of that uncertainty, one thing remained constant - the ease and convenience of babysitting and nannying jobs. What started as a means to earn a bit of extra money quickly turned into one of the most steady, rewarding, and surprisingly fun parts of our lives.

For me personally, babysitting began as a reluctant chore. Any time I complained about being bored or unsure how to earn extra money, my mum would say: “We’ve got tons of neighbours and family friends who need a babysitter - go knock on their doors!” Begrudgingly, I followed in my sister’s footsteps and became the unofficial street babysitter.

 Little did I know it would become one of the most consistent and enriching parts of my teenage years. Babysitting and nannying struck the perfect balance. I became a part-time nanny, often working just 3 to 5 hours a day, yet earning more than many of my friends doing long shifts in shops or cafés. The best part? It never really felt like work. I’d take the kids to the park, read stories, play games - it felt natural, meaningful, and, frankly, fun.

 When university term started, nannying faded into the background, until I returned home the following summer and once again felt the financial sting of living in an expensive city. Babysitting came to the rescue once more, offering a flexible and fulfilling way to stay afloat while also imbuing me with a sense of responsibility, independence, and confidence I hadn’t expected.

 After university, many of us were in transition. Some friends moved to London, others stayed local, and all of us were trying to figure out the next steps. For a while, we leaned on a wonderful babysitting agency that allowed young people to book jobs around their schedules - a godsend for anyone not ready to jump into a full-time role. That agency became a safety net for so many of us… until it suddenly shut down.

 When we heard the news, it felt like a real loss. Ella, Liliana and I - now co-founders of The Babysitting Collective - had often spoken about how much we admired the women behind that agency. Ella had met a wonderful family through them (her “London family,” as she affectionately calls them), and the idea of recreating something similar began to take root. Liliana, too, had formed a close relationship with a family she regularly nannied with - one that has since become a loyal and cherished client of ours.

On a bit of a whim, the three of us decided to explore the possibility of starting our own ‘Babysitting Collective’’. We wanted to create a space where people could find flexible work, on their own terms, with the support they needed to succeed. At the same time, we saw the enormous value in offering a reliable, trusted childcare network that families could turn to especially in those stressful moments when plans change last minute or childcare falls through.

What happened next?

Now, what began as a side hustle has turned into a growing, rewarding business. The most meaningful part? Creating a safety net - not just for us, but for families, for kids, and for our wonderful network of sitters and nannies. We’ve learned that when the kids are happy, everything else falls into place. Our job is to keep communication open, relationships honest, and to support both parents and sitters with care and enthusiasm. We’ve truly grown to love helping our clients - and just as importantly, supporting our lovely sitters and nannies, many of whom we speak to daily and have built great relationships with. It’s a business model that works - one that respects the needs of both families, babysitters, nannies, and one that we are truly proud of.

 This is just the beginning, and we hope this blog becomes a space to document the journey of building The Babysitting Collective from the ground up - a kind of digital diary where we share our progress, reflect on what we’re learning, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and joys along the way.

 We also hope it serves as a helpful guide: for parents seeking honest advice about childcare options, nannying and babysitting tips, for students learning how to supervise and mentor children with care, and for anyone starting a business especially those navigating the early stages and challenges of building a startup!

More to come!

With love, Maddie, Liliana & Ella