I am writing this review of the babysitter point of you. I am nanny, I enjoy doing evening babysittings for families and doing it regularly through an agency or private.

Advanteges for the babysitter:
~easy money, babysitting usually starts when kids are already in bed,so all you have to do is to check on them every half an hour

~you are in a warm and safe place, families either provide taxi for you to get back home or you have your own transport

~there is plenty of tea/coffee available

~you can watch girlish movies if you want to-there is no one there to say don't

~you can build up your clients and they will call you first if they need a babysitter

Disadvantages:
~you have to be punctual-mustn't be late as parents usually have something booked up

~it's a very responsible job- you do need to safeguard children at all the time

~children can wake up during the night and if they don't know you, they can freak out and scream for hours (or minutes but it seems like hours)

~can be a bit awkward accepting money from a drunk parent (if it happens)

I have a proper liability insurance and have current paediatric first aid certificate so if anything happens, I know what to do, who to contact.

I always make sure I have at least 2 contact numbers of the parents and they know my contact details as well, always have emergency details at hand. You have to be very mature and concentrate on what you are doing.

I charge 8 pounds an hour for a minimum of 4 hours booking in South-West London, but do babysittings for less through Sitters agency. I have my own transport,so families don't need to worry about how i get back home. I always wash up teacups/spoons as well after myself and have change at hand if parents only have paper money.