Babysits Community Standards

At Babysits, we believe that by connecting trusted caregivers with families, we can help every parent feel confident and supported in their childcare journey.

Why our Community Standards are essential

When it comes to children, trust and safety come first. That’s why every member of our community is expected to uphold the highest standards of care, respect, and honesty in all interactions.

These standards outline what it means to be part of Babysits. Because children’s well-being is our top priority, we have a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior that compromises safety or trust. Babysits isn’t for everyone, and that’s what keeps our community strong.

Thank you for helping us create a space where families and caregivers can connect with confidence. Together, we make childcare more reliable, caring, and safe. Welcome to the Babysits Family!

Core community standards

Safety first.

Put children's well-being and safety first in every decision you make.

Communicate openly and honestly.

Share information honestly and early. Ask questions when you need help. Ensure all relevant information is communicated.

Be kind and respectful.

Treat everyone with kindness and understanding. Recognize that every family and every caregiver is different. Respect all backgrounds, respect boundaries, and always treat each other with care.

Treat each other like family.

When caring for children, provide loving attention and respect family routines. When welcoming caregivers into your home, treat them as family, communicate clearly, and show appreciation. This creates a community where everyone feels valued and supported.

Caregiver standards

Caring for children is a serious responsibility. Families trust you to provide safe, reliable, and respectful care in their absence. Embrace that every family is different. This is what makes caring both challenging and rewarding. No matter the family’s routines or expectations, always put children’s well-being first, respect their home, and communicate openly with parents.

1. Talk openly and come prepared.

   • Confirm arrival times, contact details, and children's specific needs with parents in advance.
   • Honor agreed terms and pricing once booking is confirmed.
   • Arrive on time and let parents know as early as possible if arriving late.
   • Give 24 hours notice if canceling unexpectedly.
   • Be honest about who you are, keep communication within the Babysits platform and protect personal information.

2. Keep things safe and professional.

   • Take reasonable precautions for safety, such as meeting families beforehand in a public place, sharing job details with someone trusted, and checking family reviews on the platform.
   • Dress appropriately and avoid clothing with offensive language or imagery.
   • Ask parents upon arrival about any expectations beyond childcare (e.g. light cleaning, cooking, phone calls).
   • Never consume alcohol, take drugs, or engage in harmful behavior while providing care.
   • Do not invite friends over or open doors to strangers without parental permission.
   • Be friendly and caring while respecting family rules and expectations.
   • Be prepared to show valid identification upon request.

3. Follow family routines and respect their home.

   • Always follow parents' instructions and respect family routines such as bedtimes, house rules, and traditions.
   • Be flexible and adapt style to what works best for each family.
   • Leave the house in the same condition as when arriving and never take anything that isn't yours.

4. Handle problems with care and honesty.

   • Take full responsibility for the children during the job.
   • Contact parents when unsure about situations.
   • Never use physical or verbal punishment.
   • Contact parents immediately when problems arise that cannot be handled. For serious safety emergencies, call emergency services (such as police or ambulance) first, then inform parents.
   • Always put children's safety and well-being first, and show care and kindness.

5. Communicate openly after each job.

   • Honestly report how children behaved and any issues that occurred.
   • Expect fair payment and address concerns within a reasonable time.
   • Report inappropriate behavior to Babysits and leave helpful reviews for other caregivers.

Family standards

Welcoming a caregiver into your home is a significant responsibility. As a family, you set the tone for a safe, respectful, and positive childcare experience. Embrace that every caregiver brings their own strengths and experience. This is what makes childcare both unique and rewarding. To build trust and ensure the best care for your child, communicate expectations clearly, respect the caregiver’s role, and provide the information they need to succeed.

1. Communicate clearly and set expectations.

   • Provide contact details (phone numbers, emergency contacts) and share sleeping schedules, routines, and any necessary medication instructions.
   • Clearly communicate instructions and expectations.
   • Agree on payment, tasks, and schedule before the job begins.
   • If expecting help outside childcare (e.g. cleaning, cooking), tell the caregiver beforehand.

2. Maintain professional standards and safety.

   • Give 24 hours notice if canceling unexpectedly.
   • Be honest about who you are, keep communication within the Babysits platform and protect personal information.
   • Maintain respectful working relationships while being warm and caring.
   • Ask to see identification to verify their identity matches their profile if needed.

3. Support caregivers during care.

   • Try to be reachable during the job, or provide an alternative contact.
   • Treat caregivers with respect and appreciation for the important care they provide and make sure they feel comfortable and supported.
   • Respect the caregiver’s best judgment in emergency situations.
   • Update the caregiver if returning late.

4. Handle payment and feedback fairly.

   • You can cancel your booking before it starts or within the first 60 minutes. After that, you'll pay for the full agreed time, even if the booking ends early.
   • Address any concerns about job performance within a reasonable time.
   • Report inappropriate caregiver behavior to Babysits.
   • Leave a review for the caregiver to help other parents.

Violations

We know everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Our community is built on trust, learning, and second chances. However, when our standards aren't followed, it affects the safety and trust that make Babysits a great platform. Here's how we handle different situations:

1. Small Oversights

   These are unintentional mistakes that can happen to anyone:

   Examples

   • Arriving late without giving notice
   • Forgetting to follow a house rule
   • Minor miscommunication about expectations
   • Not responding to messages within a reasonable time

   What happens

   We'll reach out to understand what happened and help prevent it next time. We'll add a note to your account and provide guidance. Everyone deserves a chance to learn and improve. Multiple Small Oversights may be treated as Trust Violations.

2. Trust Violations

   These behaviors break the trust our community depends on:

   Examples

   • Not being honest about qualifications or needs
   • Inappropriate behavior with children or families
   • Discrimination or disrespectful communication based on personal characteristics or background
   • Bringing unauthorized guests or leaving children unsupervised
   • Sharing personal information outside the platform
   • Not disclosing accidents or problems
   • Changing agreed-upon rates, schedule, or job terms after booking without mutual consent
   • Abusive or disrespectful behavior toward Babysits support team members

   What happens

   We'll suspend your account during our investigation. If we confirm a violation, your account will be permanently closed. You will not be able to sign up again.

3. Safety Concerns

   These put children, families, or community members at risk:

   Examples

   • Any form of harm, threats, or unsafe behavior
   • Using alcohol or substances while caretaking
   • Leaving children in dangerous situations
   • Theft or intentional damage
   • Sharing photos or details about families/caregivers on social media

   What happens

   We'll immediately suspend your account and prioritize our investigation. If we confirm a violation, your account will be permanently closed. You will not be able to sign up again.

Our review process

When someone reports a concern, we investigate fairly and thoroughly. We contact everyone involved to understand what happened. Our goal is always to support our community while keeping everyone safe.

If you're ever worried about a situation, please contact us right away. We're here to help, not to judge.

Customer support

Disclaimer

Babysits provides safety tools to support you, but you're always in control of who you work with. We encourage you to review profiles, check references, and meet in person before your first appointment. We address issues that affect platform safety, both on and off the platform. When necessary, we may restrict or remove members and will work with law enforcement to keep our community safe.

Trust & Safety