Booking a babysitter for the first time: the complete checklist

The first time you leave your children with someone outside the family is rarely a question of price, it is a question of trust. This checklist walks through exactly what to prepare, ask and write down before the sitter walks through the door.

Worked through properly it takes about thirty minutes once, and every booking after that becomes a five-minute decision.

1. Write a clear request

Include the number of children and their ages, the date, start and end times, your address or neighbourhood, and any special needs such as allergies, medication or language. Mention pets too, it genuinely affects who can take the job.

A request with those details usually gets replies from several sitters within a few hours. A vague one ("need a sitter this weekend") gets fewer and weaker responses.

2. Read the profile, not just the price

Look at completed bookings, reviews from other families, how long the person has been active, and whether the profile mentions paediatric CPR, toddler experience or an education background.

The cheapest quote is rarely the best deal in childcare. The gap between 180 and 210 SEK per hour is roughly 60 SEK across an evening, that is not the variable worth optimising.

3. Book a short meet-and-greet

Thirty minutes at your home before the first real session is the single best investment you can make. The children meet the sitter while you are still there, and you get to see how the contact works in practice.

Many sitters offer this free or at half the hourly rate. Just ask in the chat.

4. Questions to ask before booking

How many families have you worked with and at what ages? Do you have paediatric CPR training? What do you do when a child refuses to go to bed? Do you drive or travel by public transport, and how do you get home after a late session? What happens if you fall ill on the day?

The answers say more about judgement and experience than any CV. Listen for concrete examples rather than general reassurance.

5. Leave a written house note

One page on the kitchen table with your mobile numbers, a backup contact, the address written out in full, allergies and medication, the dinner and bedtime routine, where the first aid kit is, and your rules on screen time and sweets.

Write down what to do in an emergency as well: call 112 first, then call you. It sounds obvious, which is exactly why it needs to be on paper.

6. Price and the RUT deduction

Expect 180–230 SEK per hour before RUT in the metro regions, somewhat lower in smaller towns. In-home babysitting is RUT-eligible, so you pay 50% of the labour cost and Skatteverket settles the rest with the invoicing company.

Check that the booking is invoiced properly. Cash between private individuals gives you no deduction and no insurance cover.

7. After the session

Ask the sitter how it went, and ask the children the next day. Leave a review, it helps both the sitter and the next family. If it worked, book a recurring slot straight away, continuity is what makes childcare easy over time.