FAQs
How did Kids First Sitting Service get started?
We are Shelly and Mike Hyslop, owners of the daycare and preschool Kids First Academy in Cincinnati. The parents of the children at our daycare center, who trust us with their children on weekdays, have asked us to provide babysitters for evening and weekend care. As parents of two young boys ourselves, we understand the need for trusted, professional care on an as-needed basis. The teachers at the daycare also voiced interest in providing evening and weekend care to the kids at the center and other kids I the community. Therefore, Kids First Sitting Service was born!
How do you find your babysitters?
We have a perfect pool of babysitters from the teachers at our daycare. They are all trained in CPR, First Aid, Communicable Diseases and Child Abuse. They have also passed background checks from the state of Ohio and the FBI. They also have experience providing fun and enriching activities to children day after day. We also accept babysitters from outside our daycare. These babysitters go through a through screening interview, where we ask questions that provide real-world examples of the sitter’s skills and experiences. We ensure that these sitters understand our philosophy to provide hands-on, enriching, quality care. To this end, we offer the use of the nationally renowned curriculum that is utilized at our daycare center. We also perform full background checks on these sitters. Our babysitters are not the typical variety! Many are moms themselves and have experience with all ages and abilities. We invite you to call us so we can learn more about your child(ren) and tell you about our sitters. Please call Shelly at 513-827-1923.
How do I request a babysitter?
The first step is to register with Kids First Sitting Service. To register, please call Shelly at 513-827-1923 or send an email to info@kids1stacademy.com. Registration consists of completing the family questionnaire, signing the contract and authorizing the use of your credit card for the service fees. Once the registration process is complete, you may use the service at any time. When you need a sitter, please call Shelly at 513-827-1923 or send an email to info@kids1stacademy.com. When booking a sitter, please provide your name, the date you needed, the start and finish time, and number where you can be reached. As soon as we can set up a sitter, we will call and provide the name of the sitter and any pertinent details.
How soon should I call to request a sitter and how long does it take to confirm a sitter?
We like to request 24-48 hours advance notice for sitter requests. The sooner you call us, the more time we have to get the perfect sitter for you, so we’d like to respectfully remind you that advance notice is always appreciated! It is our goal to fill your requests within the 24-48 hour timeframe. We will keep you updated on our progress to find you a sitter, so you can rest assured that we are working quickly to find the best sitter for you. As soon we have filled your request, we will notify you via phone. If you have any questions during the booking process or at any time, please do not hesitate to call.
What if I have to cancel?
We are parents, too, so we understand that kids get sick and things come up at the drop of a hat. Once a babysitter has been confirmed for you, she has also committed her time, and may have turned down other opportunities to be able to assist you and your family. Therefore, if you need to cancel before a babysitter is confirmed, there will not be a charge. If a cancellation occurs after the babysitter has been confirmed and it is less than 24 hours prior to the engagement, the placement fee will still apply. Should you cancel too late for us to reach the sitter and she arrives at your home, please provide to the sitter a $25 cancellation fee, which is designed to compensate her for her time and travel costs. Canceling an overnight request (for single or multiple days) less than 48 hours before the beginning of the appointment will result in the full placement fee and the $25 sitter fee. Occasionally, sitters become ill or need to cancel for family emergencies. On these rare occasions, we do our best to refill their assignment. However, a replacement is not always available. If a sitting engagement is cancelled by us for these reasons, the family will receive a refund on the placement fee and the family will receive a credit on the placement fee for the next engagement.
Can I request the same sitter every time?
We understand the benefit to having a sitter with whom your child(ren) are comfortable. To that end, we do our best to get the sitter you request, provided she is available. If for any reason she is not available, we will find the best fit for you and your family.
If I return home earlier than I had planned, am I required to pay for the scheduled time?
We require a four-hour minimum on all appointments. After the four-hour mark, the appointment moves into 30 minute time slots. Therefore, if you arrive in the fifth or subsequent hour before the 30-minute mark, you would pay the sitter half of the hourly fee for that hour.
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