Frequently Asked Questions
A: We take training seriously. When we couldn’t find a program that met our standards, we created our own. Smart Sitter training covers everything a parent would want their sitter to know—from proper communication guidelines to infant care and everything in between. We update it annually to ensure it stays comprehensive. If there’s a topic you’d like us to include, feel free to reach out! Contact: Morgan@stlsitter.com
For Members scheduling in Casual Care, there is a three hour minimum requirement. You do not have to keep your sitter for the entire three hours, but you are required to pay them for the full three hours. Exceptions to this can made when scheduling in Consistent Care, and for before and after school care arrangements. Talk to our team for specifics!
A: Nanny (Full-time Care): Provides consistent, full-time care.
It's their career, so they’re deeply involved in your child's daily routine.
Often live-in or work long hours.
Helps with school runs, meals, homework, and more.
Babysitter (Casual Care): Offers flexible, short-term care.
Perfect for date nights or occasional outings.
Engages kids with fun activities and light supervision.
Usually hired on an as-needed basis.
Mother's Helper (Support While Parents are Home): Assists with childcare while parents are present.
Great for busy households needing an extra hand.
Helps with light chores and entertaining the kids.
Ideal for new parents adjusting to a routine STL Sitter provides Casual Care, and Consistent Care, which is our alternative to a nanny! Families looking for a mothers helper, should disclose this expectation up front!
A: Absolutely! Our Consistent Care feature is designed for moms like you in mind. It allows you to pre-schedule and meet your sitter in advance, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident in your choice. This feature is a fantastic alternative to hiring a nanny and is our most popular scheduling option. It’s all about giving you peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying + managing your time.
A: Your feedback is important to us! When you share feedback about your sitter, it goes directly to our platform managers. They use this information to support our sitters and ensure professional performance. (Another perk of membership!) We love passing along positive feedback to celebrate the great work our sitters do! If there’s ever negative or constructive feedback, we address it directly with the sitter to help them improve and ensure you have the best possible experience. Your input helps us keep our standards high and our sitters at their best!
A: Yes, our members have the flexibility to select a sitter for a specific appointment. When clicking "Book an Appointment," choose "Casual Care," and specify the date and time you need coverage, a list of available sitters will be presented.
You'll be able to view the name, photo, and profile of each available sitter, allowing you to choose someone who aligns well with your family's needs. It's important to note that while you may have a preferred sitter, their availability to confirm isn't guaranteed. In such cases, our team will promptly match you with the next available and suitable sitter!
A: In the event your preferred sitter is unavailable, our team of dedicated Moms will promptly secure an alternative sitter for you. You'll receive an email confirmation as soon as the replacement sitter is confirmed, and you can view their profile directly from your member account. (Another perk of membership!) Please note that sitters have the option to decline appointments they may not feel suited for. We know it's frustrating, but please don't take it personally!
A: While we appreciate the importance of communication, our sitters adhere to communication boundaries outlined in our LEGAL AGREEMENTS!
They cannot manage extensive communication with multiple families due to the nature of their responsibilities. However, we are Mom's, and we understand that there are specific situations requiring your sitter's attention prior to arrival.
Here's what you can do:
If you have information pertinent to the ARRIVAL, you can conveniently share it directly from the Member dashboard. To do this, locate the appointment details, and select "CHANGE DETAILS." Use the text box to relay the new details. This information will be sent directly to the confirmed sitter.
For more intricate details, you can contact your sitter directly. The sitter's phone number becomes visible in your member account ONE HOUR before the confirmed start time. This provides an appropriate window to TEXT your sitter or request a call upon arrival.
Important Note: Per our Terms and Conditions, communication between Members & Providers outside of a scheduled sit is strictly prohibited. This policy respects each user's privacy & time.
A: We ask our Sitters to respond to each appointment request by 10pm on the day it's received. We make exceptions for appointments scheduled at the last minute, or appointments scheduled for two plus weeks in advance.
In the event you don't receive a response, our team is alerted, and works diligently behind the scenes on your request. While we can't guarantee a specific timeline, rest assured our team always operates with a sense of urgency.
Once your request is submitted, no further action is required, unless a team member reaches out to you directly.
A: If sitters are not listed as available when scheduling your requested time, it is likely that we are currently sold out. You may then complete scheduling + payment without selecting a provider, our office will be alerted and assign a sitter as soon as they become available.
If you would prefer to remove your request, you are able to cancel the appointment at any time, in your online account.
If your timing is at all flexible or there is a portion of the request that is more crucial to be covered, please let us know and we can update the request accordingly.
If our team is unable to secure coverage within 48 hours or less of the requested start time, you may choose to cancel the request, without penalty, and we will issue the scheduling fee as a credit to your account, to be towards future appointments.
Our staff works to fill these requests in the order they are received, and will notify you as soon as there is an update.
A: Absolutely! Our sitters enjoy returning to families they know and will do their best to accommodate your requests, provided their schedules allow.
If you don't see your preferred sitter's availability on the platform, you can bypass selecting a sitter altogether by choosing "Next." On the following page, you can enter the name(s) of your preferred sitter(s). Our team will then check with your requested sitter first before making a match.
Please note: Our sitters have the flexibility to create their own schedules, so their availability may be limited unless they receive a specific request.
A: STL Sitters are happy to transport your children, wherever they need to go!
All STLSITTER's have; clean driving records, and they drive their own insured vehicles. (#STLSitterTip- Sitter's profiles also include the make of the vehicle and the number of car seats available!)
Be sure to provide detailed instructions within your appointment notes, regarding any transportation needs, and car seat / booster seat installation.
+Sitters are owed a Mileage Fee when transporting kiddos during the time of the sit, in their own vehicle. It is also recommended that providers drive their own vehicle, due to their Independent Contractor status.
A: YES! Time change requests can be submitted for confirmed appointments, via your member account. These requests go directly to your sitter, to either confirm or decline, based on their availability.
If your sitter declines your time change request, the original appointment time & sitter will remain confirmed.
If your sitter is not able to accommodate your request, and you would like us to work on securing another provider for the new times, please contact our office for alternative solutions. Additional scheduling fees may apply.
A: STL Sitter cannot dispatch a sitter to a home if your child has been positively diagnosed with any of the following:
Strep
Pink eye
Hand Foot and Mouth
The Flu
*Covid-19
If your child has any other conditions (ear infection, low-grade fever, virus, teething, etc.) your sitter can still arrive as scheduled- however, please provide advanced notice to our office, in case additional accommodations are needed.
SITTER RATE FOR SICK CHILDREN: Sitters charge $25/hour for sick children.
Please Note: If you are required to cancel the appointment due to one of the illnesses listed above, normal cancellation rates apply.
A: We prioritize transparent communication with our sitters AND request that Sitters notify our platform managers, in the case of personal emergencies, before reaching out to you, the parent. Our team will then make every effort to assign a replacement sitter or communicate alternative options, so that you are not stressed! (Another perk of membership!)
A: Sitters are paid for childcare services only. Sitters are expected to clean up all childcare-related messes made during the appointment, but are not able to accommodate any additional cleaning, vacuuming, laundry etc. We outsource these services to our friends at Lose the List!
A: To ensure the safety of our community, sitters on our platform who claim vaccination status must provide proof to us, and our team keeps this information on file. Similar to our policies on background checks, CPR certification, and driving records, we handle the verification process, so members do not need to request proof upon the sitter's arrival.
A: No, we do not facilitate nanny placements! Our sitters, primarily composed of undergrad and grad students, as well as young professionals, have busy schedules that may not accommodate full-time commitments. However, we provide an innovative alternative, that we call Consistent Care. This method allows members to request a schedule in advance, paying only for the specific days and times that are needed., This is a flexible solution that combines the benefits of both a nanny and a babysitter. Read more here! Consistent Care
A: Each STLSITTER completes a thorough process, starting with a face-to-face interview and the provision of personal references. Our team conducts background and driving record checks, CPR certification. Once on-boarded, Sitters engage in a complimentary and continuous training and monitoring from platform managers.
A: Yes! Congruent with State Guidelines, STL Sitter recommends 1-Sitter for every 4-Children (1:4) present at an appointment. In addition to this, we encourage a maximum of 3-Children '2 Years Old or Younger', per Sitter.
*Please note, if requesting group child care for the first time on our platform (i.e. care for 5 or more children and/or for an event / organization / etc.), please contact our office directly so we may ensure coverage is properly secured. This helps our sitters feel comfortable & confident when confirming your appointment!
**Providers' hourly rate subject to increase for group care, based on the # of children present and/or expectations of the appointment. As requested, please contact our office for requests of this nature, and a manager will confirm the hourly rate that is owed.
A: STLSITTER provides babysitting services across a wide area in and around St. Louis, Missouri.
Our primary service area includes most of St. Louis and parts of St. Charles County, highlighted in green on our service map, with no additional fees for sitters commuting within this zone.
For appointments in our extended service area, marked in yellow, a flat fee for gas compensation is owed to the provider per appointment. This fee typically starts at $10 and is subject to change.
View the full map of our service areas and search your home address to verify if it is located within the normal or extended service areas.
**We may accommodate locations slightly outside this area, depending on sitter availability and travel considerations. For detailed service coverage, please visit stlsitter.com/service-area or contact our team for additional support.
Yes, we do offer overnight services! These bookings typically require oversight from a manager, and the rates are structured differently to accommodate the extended hours. To arrange an overnight sitter, simply email us with your preferred schedule and any specific requirements, and we’ll handle the rest!