Frequently asked questions
Common questions parents and sitters ask before signing up.
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- babysitter.net is operated by Babysitters Network LLC. You can reach our team at hello@babysitter.net or call 571-500-3443 for immediate assistance.
Who operates babysitter.net?
babysitter.net is operated by Babysitters Network LLC. You can reach our team at hello@babysitter.net or call 571-500-3443 for immediate assistance.
Do I have to pay babysitter.net every time I book a sitter?
No. babysitter.net only charges for contact — a one-time $29 fee to unlock one specific sitter, or a flat monthly subscription to message everyone. You pay your sitter directly in cash, Zelle, or Venmo for their hourly wage. We never take a cut of their pay.
Is posting a job free?
Yes. Parents can post unlimited jobs at no cost so sitters in your area can apply.
Are the sitters background checked?
Look for the green Verified badge on a sitter's profile. Verified sitters have submitted a police clearance or background check that our team reviewed and approved. Sitters without the badge have not been verified yet.
Do I have to verify my phone number?
It's optional, but recommended. Verifying your number unlocks three things: (1) the Verified Parent badge after you complete a payment, which makes sitters far more likely to reply; (2) SMS alerts when a sitter responds to your message or applies to a job you posted, so you don't miss good candidates; and (3) a recovery path if you ever lose access to your email. We never publish your number or share it with sitters until you choose to.
Can I message a sitter before paying?
No. Messaging is locked until you unlock a sitter for $29 or subscribe. This keeps the inbox clean for sitters and ensures everyone messaging them is a real, payment-verified parent.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to your Billing page and click Manage. You'll be sent to Stripe's secure portal where you can cancel, switch plans, or update your card.
Only recurring (monthly) subscriptions can be canceled. No refund is issued for the current billing period — your Monthly plan stays active through the end of the period and is not prorated. One-time payments — the $29 single-sitter unlock and the 3-month and 6-month plans — are non-refundable.
Only recurring (monthly) subscriptions can be canceled. No refund is issued for the current billing period — your Monthly plan stays active through the end of the period and is not prorated. One-time payments — the $29 single-sitter unlock and the 3-month and 6-month plans — are non-refundable.
Can I write to my sitter in Amharic without an Amharic keyboard?
Yes. Anywhere you can type a message — your inbox, the contact form, sign-up — tap the ሀ Show Amharic keyboard button above the text box. An on-screen Fidel keyboard appears: tap a base letter (e.g. አ) to pick its vowel form, ⌫ to delete, ␣ for space. Tap A · English to switch back. Nothing to install — it works on phones and computers, in any language that uses the Fidel script (Amharic, Tigrinya, and more).
Does babysitter.net take a cut of my hourly pay?
Never. You keep 100% of what you earn. Parents pay you directly. The platform itself is free for sitters.
Will I be notified when a parent messages me or applies to my job?
Yes. We email you immediately when a parent sends you a message or applies to one of your job posts. If you've verified your phone number, you'll also receive an SMS alert. Open the link in the alert to read and reply inside the inbox — replying by email won't work, so the conversation stays on the platform.
What if I don't speak perfect English?
That's why we built this. Many parents specifically search for Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, or Somali speakers for their children. List every language you speak on your profile — it's often the deciding factor for parents.
How do I get the green Verified badge?
Run a background check with one of our approved partners: National Crime Search (NCS) if you live in the United States, or Triton Canada if you live in Canada. Start it from the "Earn Your Verified Green Badge" block on your dashboard. Once the partner clears you, the green badge appears automatically. The badge is valid for 12 months — you must run a renewal check through the same partner every year to keep it active. Verified sitters get significantly more messages.
How do parents pay me?
Directly — cash, Zelle, Venmo, or whatever the two of you agree on. babysitter.net never touches your wages, so you're an independent contractor responsible for your own taxes.
Can I see job postings in my area?
Yes. Open the Job matches tab. We show open jobs in your city, state or province, and ZIP/postal code across the US and Canada that match the languages you speak. You can also translate any English post into Amharic with one tap.
What if a parent asks me to talk outside the app?
Keep the first few messages on babysitter.net. Once you've agreed on the basics, sharing a phone number is fine — but if a parent refuses to chat on-platform at all, that's a red flag. Report them from the conversation.
Can I type in Amharic without installing anything on my phone or computer?
Yes. Anywhere you can type a message — your profile, inbox, applications — tap the ሀ Show Amharic keyboard button above the text box. An on-screen Fidel keyboard appears: tap a base letter (e.g. አ) to choose its vowel form, ⌫ to delete, ␣ for space. Tap A · English to switch back. Nothing to install — works on phones and computers, for any language that uses the Geʽez/Fidel script (Amharic, Tigrinya, and more).