Monday, May 9, 2022

How to find reliable babysitters and nannies in Oklahoma

  

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  How many times have you found yourself without childcare when Oklahoma schools are closed for weather...or your current sitter cannot show up. Have you ever found yourself in a bind because your little one is sick but you cannot call off from work? We have you covered!

    Finding experienced, reliable, and local babysitting options no longer has to be so difficult. I have found some awesome resources for parents in Oklahoma who are on the hunt for both babysitting and nanny services. Besides; living in Oklahoma...weather can be so unpredictable! Not only that; we welcome so many military families to our wonderful state. With that being said; so many of those families do not have relatives and friends yet close by to help them out when they need time for for themselves or have career obligations.

    It is important to take time out for yourself as a parent or just for a casual date night with your partner. When I leave the home for a few hours to have brunch with my girlfriends is so refreshing at times. I feel it makes me a better mother overall because I get to have some adult conversation, laugh, and not have to be the expert sandwich maker for a couple of hours. I will admit...sometimes it is hard to get out of leggings and favorite sweatshirts, find a sitter, and stick to my social commitments. But it is now part of my self-care routine. 

   I used to feel terrible leaving my baby with a sitter just to go to work. These days my mom guilt has eased up a lot. Besides; my little one has a much busier social life than my own by far. I had to really learn to not get so hard on myself for scheduling one night a month for just my alone time. Even if it is just going to get my nails done and doing errands...alone. 

    One mom-hack that really helped me a lot was joining a local fitness center that offered wonderful babysitting services. Out of the various ones I tried; I found Lifetime Fitness to be my absolute favorite...and my childs'! Their babysitting area was not just some toys and coloring pages in a room. The staff was phenomenal teaching classes with the children such as yoga and Spanish lessons. The children's area is complete with an indoor play ground. And that was not even the best part for me... 

   Being able to just take a shower in peace was incredible to me. I found joining a fitness center cheaper than daycare when I needed to get work from home done as well. You can not leave fitness center facilities with their babysitting; however you can bring your laptop and work in the lobby or café area for a couple hours while your children get to have a fun playing. What's not to love? There are time options for these centers but if you go throughout the week; I find it totally worthwhile.

    Some other affordable fitness center options in the Oklahoma City metro area with baby-sitting options include Vasa Fitness and the YMCA. I like being able to drop my child off to play while I work a couple hours on my laptop or walk on the treadmill. It was cheaper than hiring an actual nanny for ten hours per week and  I got out the house more. Double win!

  As far as searching for babysitters in the area; they are  plentiful! Some of my favorite include Bambino, Care, and Sitter City. For all of my pet parents out there...I have you covered as well. There are actually companies out that offer pet-sitting and house-sitting such as Wag!, Rover, and Trusted Housesitters. This works perfectly for when you need to head out of town for a family vacation this Summer. 

    I babysat on the popular app Bambino and had a fantastic experience. I found the app easy and safe to use. You can always schedule a phone and in-person interview with someone that seems to be a good fit for your family. 

    My son loves visiting Spontaneity and it's location is convenient to the Turner Turnpike which is a plus! Sometimes they offer special events such as Parents' Night Out. We absolutely love being a member of theirs. The best part? My little one absolutely loves it and constantly asks to go back. As a mom that makes me feel really good! So many times we worry ourselves trying new childcare options. Another option is Playstreet in Moore, Oklahoma. I love being a member there as well!

    Now that you know of some great options for your babysitting search; go ahead and start planning some outings with your family, friends...and of course; some much-needed alone time. You deserve it! 


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