Babysitting and evening childcare

You look after children in their own home, usually in the evening while parents are out, though some bookings are daytime cover during school holidays or one-off events.

Most work comes from a small, repeat group of local families rather than constant new customers, since parents strongly prefer using a babysitter they already trust.

Bookings are typically arranged directly by phone or message, or through a babysitting app that handles matching and sometimes basic vetting.

Lowest-cost way to test demand: Start by babysitting for family, friends and neighbours you already know while you complete your DBS check and first aid course, then widen out once both are in place.

Most babysitters earn from a small, repeat group of two to five regular families rather than constant new bookings.

Two or three evening bookings a week at £10 an hour for four hours is roughly £240 a month, rising in school holidays with daytime cover.

Rates and reliability matter more than volume — a trusted babysitter with a full contacts list can often turn down more bookings than they accept.

What changes your earnings most

• Local demand and typical hourly rates in your area
• Number of children and any additional responsibilities such as homework or bedtime routines
• Whether you offer late-night, weekend or overnight availability
• How many repeat families you build up over time

A DBS check typically takes one to four weeks to come back, so this is usually the first thing to arrange.

Many people find their first booking within a week or two through family, friends or neighbours while waiting for checks to complete.

Building a wider base of regular families beyond your immediate network can take a few months as trust and word of mouth develop.

• Family, friends and neighbours

  Start with people who already know you, since trust is the biggest barrier to a first booking.

• Babysitting and childcare apps

  List your DBS check, first aid certificate and references clearly, as these are the details parents check first.

• Local parenting Facebook groups

  Introduce yourself with your experience, checks and availability, following the group's rules on advertising.

• School and nursery noticeboards

  With permission, a simple card with your name, experience and contact details can reach many local parents at once.

Objections you will hear, and how to answer them

• "I don't know you" — offer a free introductory meeting with the children present before any paid booking.
• "Do you have a DBS check?" — have your certificate number ready to share, and consider joining the DBS Update Service so it stays current.
• "What if there's an emergency?" — reassure with your first aid training and agree a clear plan with parents for contacting them and emergency services.

Why customers might not buy: Demand for trustworthy babysitters is constant, but parents are naturally cautious, so a DBS check, references and a calm first meeting matter more than any sales pitch.

• Arrange a DBS check — an Enhanced check is strongly recommended for regular, unsupervised childcare, even though private arrangements between a babysitter and a family are not always legally required to have one.
• If you regularly care for children under eight for reward for more than two hours a day, you may need to register with Ofsted on the Childcare Register — check the current thresholds and exemptions, as informal or occasional babysitting is usually exempt.
• Complete a paediatric first aid course; while not always compulsory for private babysitting, most parents expect it and it materially reduces risk.
• Register as self-employed with HMRC once your trading income exceeds the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year.
• Consider public liability insurance in case of an accident or injury while a child is in your care.
• Agree clearly with parents in advance what you are and are not responsible for, including any medical conditions, allergies or emergency contacts.

This is general guidance rather than legal, tax or insurance advice. Requirements may vary, so check current official guidance or speak to a suitable professional.

A week of low-cost steps to test whether real customers want this before you spend serious money.

1. Day 1: Arrange your checks

   • Apply for a DBS check, either independently or through a babysitting app that arranges one.
   • Book a paediatric first aid course.

   Outcome: DBS application submitted and first aid course booked.

2. Day 2: Set your rates and availability

   • Research typical local babysitting rates.
   • Decide your evening and weekend availability and hourly rate.

   Outcome: A written rate card and availability.

3. Day 3: Prepare your introduction

   • Write a short profile covering your experience, checks in progress and references.
   • Ask two people who know you well to act as references.

   Outcome: A ready profile and two references.

4. Day 4: Reach out to your immediate network

   • Tell family, friends and neighbours you are available for babysitting.
   • Offer a free introductory visit for any interested family.

   Outcome: At least one introductory meeting arranged.

5. Day 5: List yourself more widely

   • Register on a reputable babysitting app if useful in your area.
   • Post in a local parenting Facebook group if allowed.

   Outcome: Wider visibility to local families.

6. Day 6: Hold introductory meetings

   • Meet interested families and their children before any paid booking.
   • Agree ground rules: bedtime routine, emergency contacts, allergies.

   Outcome: Clear agreements with prospective families.

7. Day 7: Review and confirm first booking

   • Confirm your first paid booking or set a date to follow up on interest.
   • Note any feedback from introductory meetings.

   Outcome: A go, adjust or stop decision.

• DBS check applied for or completed
• Paediatric first aid course booked or completed
• Hourly rate and availability decided
• References gathered from people who know you well
• Ofsted registration requirement checked if caring for under-eights regularly
• Public liability insurance considered
• Registered as self-employed with HMRC if trading above the allowance
• Clear process agreed with parents for emergencies, allergies and routines
• Safe, reliable transport arranged for evening bookings

Consider this if

Patient, reliable people who enjoy children and want flexible evening or weekend income.

Avoid this if

Anyone unwilling to complete a DBS check or take safeguarding responsibilities seriously.

Biggest opportunity

Becoming the trusted regular sitter for several local families, which provides fairly steady repeat bookings.

Biggest risk

The responsibility of sole charge of children, and the reputational impact if an incident occurs.

First milestone to aim for

Complete your DBS check, first aid course and first three bookings with regular families before expanding your availability.

Is babysitting a good side hustle in the UK?

It can be, for the right person. It is worth considering for patient, reliable people who enjoy children and want flexible evening or weekend income, and a poor fit for anyone unwilling to complete a DBS check or take safeguarding responsibilities seriously. The biggest opportunity is becoming the trusted regular sitter for several local families, which provides fairly steady repeat bookings, while the biggest risk is the responsibility of sole charge of children, and the reputational impact if an incident occurs.

How much does it cost to start babysitting in the UK?

Budget £0–£150 as an indicative range. The main essentials are basic or Enhanced DBS check (£18–£40), paediatric first aid course (£25–£70). Start by babysitting for family, friends and neighbours you already know while you complete your DBS check and first aid course, then widen out once both are in place.

How much could a beginner realistically earn from babysitting?

An indicative initial range is £60–£500 a month, with the top of that range reached only with a steady flow of paid work and repeat customers. Most babysitters earn from a small, repeat group of two to five regular families rather than constant new bookings. These are estimates rather than guarantees and depend on local demand and typical hourly rates in your area, number of children and any additional responsibilities such as homework or bedtime routines, whether you offer late-night, weekend or overnight availability.

How long does it take to get the first paying customer?

Typically 1–3 weeks. A DBS check typically takes one to four weeks to come back, so this is usually the first thing to arrange.

What should you charge for babysitting?

Common pricing in the UK: standard evening rate at £8–£12 an hour for one or two children, higher in London and the South East; late-night or weekend rate at £10–£15 an hour after midnight or on weekend nights; overnight booking at £60–£120 flat rate for an overnight stay. Check what comparable UK providers actually charge before setting your own prices — rates vary considerably by area and experience.

How do you find customers for babysitting?

Family, friends and neighbours: start with people who already know you, since trust is the biggest barrier to a first booking. Babysitting and childcare apps: list your DBS check, first aid certificate and references clearly, as these are the details parents check first. Local parenting Facebook groups: introduce yourself with your experience, checks and availability, following the group's rules on advertising.

What do you need to check legally before starting?

Arrange a DBS check — an Enhanced check is strongly recommended for regular, unsupervised childcare, even though private arrangements between a babysitter and a family are not always legally required to have one. If you regularly care for children under eight for reward for more than two hours a day, you may need to register with Ofsted on the Childcare Register — check the current thresholds and exemptions, as informal or occasional babysitting is usually exempt. Complete a paediatric first aid course; while not always compulsory for private babysitting, most parents expect it and it materially reduces risk. This is general guidance rather than legal or tax advice — check the current official guidance linked at the end of this guide before you start trading.

Pricing unit used

Figures assume pricing standard evening rate at £8–£12 an hour for one or two children, higher in London and the South East.

Weekly capacity assumed

Income ranges assume 2–12 hours a week of actual working time, not including travel, admin or quoting.

Startup cost basis

The £0–£150 range covers the essential items listed above at typical UK retail prices. The lower end assumes you already own some equipment or buy second-hand; the upper end assumes buying everything new.

Direct costs deducted

Income figures are shown before tax and before ongoing costs such as travel to and from bookings (£5–£15 per booking), DBS renewal or update service (£13 a year). Treat them as gross of tax and net of nothing.

Time to first paying customer

The 1–3 weeks estimate assumes you actively approach potential customers from day one rather than waiting to be found.

Status of these figures

All figures on this page are indicative working assumptions built from publicly available UK pricing and typical operating patterns. They are estimates rather than forecasts, and your own results will differ by location, pricing, demand and how much time you put in.

The full method behind these costs, income ranges and match scores is set out on the methodology page.

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