How to Find a Babysitter on Vacation: Tips + Services to Try

‍TL;DR:

• Using a babysitter on vacation can be safe when you stick to vetted services, ask the right questions, and trust your instincts.
  
  
• Trusted services like Smart Sitting, Care.com, and hotel-recommended sitters are great starting points for finding reliable childcare.
  
  
• Ask about CPR certification, experience with your child’s age, references, and routines before booking, especially if it’s a new city or country.
  
  
• You deserve a break. A trusted sitter can give you time to rest or reconnect, so you can actually enjoy your vacation too.
  
  

Not gonna lie, the first time I saw a hotel offering babysitting services, I thought, “Yeah right.” I couldn’t imagine paying for a vacation with my kid just to have someone else watch them. But after trying it once, I don’t think I’ll ever vacation the same way again. We used a sitter for just a few hours so we could do something more active that wasn’t baby and toddler-friendly… and it was glorious. Honestly, it gave us a chance to relax, reconnect, and come back to parenting with a full cup. But how does one go about finding a trusted sitter while on vacation? 

Is It Safe to Use a Babysitter While Traveling?

It’s totally normal to feel nervous about leaving your child with someone new, especially on vacation in a place you don’t know well. But with the right prep, hiring a sitter while traveling can be both safe and super helpful. Services like Care.com, Smartsitting.com, or hotel-recommended providers usually vet their sitters carefully. Many require CPR certification and real experience with babies and toddlers.

The most important thing is to trust your instincts. Look for sitters with solid reviews, great communication, and a background you can verify. If you’re going through a hotel, ask how they choose sitters and if they’ve worked with them before. And if it helps, try booking the sitter for a short trial while you’re still around. It gives you a chance to see how things feel before heading out. You can tell a lot about a person based on how they interact with your kids in the first few minutes!

Get the Experts' Experience

Since I’ve only done this a handful of times, I asked a few experts to weigh in. The first was Dara Epstein, CEO of Smart Sitting for some tips. She actually lives in San Sebastián, Spain in the summer (jealous!) and often adds a European stop en route. She recommends arranging childcare about 4 to 6 weeks in advance.

She explained her process: “For Spain, I often use a babysitting app called Sitly, and I typically conduct a search based on proximity to where I'm staying, proficiency in English, and experience with my children's ages. (Other top European apps that have been personally recommended to me are Babysittor for France and Koru Kids for the UK.) Once I connect with a caregiver, I conduct 90% of the same vetting process we do at the babysitting and nanny service, Smart Sitting, that I launched back in 2009 (everything but running background checks). I'll conduct a full interview via Zoom or Facetime ahead of time. I'll verify reference identities of a minimum of three references, and call them or email them (translating reference questions). When meeting in person, I always follow my typical new-caregiver-intro guidelines and set aside time for the whole family to be together with the caregiver before ducking out. I also typically will ask the caregiver what their rate is, and compensate them at their preferred rate.”

The second expert I tapped into was Heidi Schaler, Founder of Allofam, a platform that helps parents find vetted pediatric healthcare providers for children ages 0–5. Her go to move? Doing as the locals do! She explains: "When we travel, I often rely on local Facebook parenting groups or tap into my network to find friends who have a trusted babysitter or nanny recommendation. It’s not always perfect—but sometimes, it’s magic. I’ve also become a go-to resource for friends (and friends of friends) looking for care in cities like San Francisco, Denver, or D.C.—it’s amazing how far a good recommendation can go.”

Services to Try

If you're looking for help while traveling, here are a few vetted babysitting services and platforms to check out:

• Smartsitting – A highly recommended agency that matches families with experienced, thoughtfully screened caregivers. Especially strong in major U.S. cities.
  
  
• Care.com – One of the biggest platforms, with detailed profiles and reviews. Great if you want to browse multiple options and do the vetting yourself.
  
  
• Sitly – A go-to app in parts of Europe for finding local, often bilingual sitters near where you're staying.
  
  
• Babysittor – Popular in France, especially for finding short-term sitters in cities like Paris.
  
  
• Koru Kids – Based in the UK, with a strong reputation for hiring and training part-time nannies and sitters.
  
  
• Hotel concierge or front desk – Many hotels have preferred sitters or agencies they’ve worked with for years. It’s worth asking!

What to Ask Before You Book

A quick phone or video chat before booking can make all the difference. Here are a few good questions to ask:

• Are you certified in infant or child CPR?
  
  
• How much experience do you have with kids this age?
  
  
• Can you share any references or parent reviews?
  
  
• What kinds of things do you usually do with little ones?
  
  
• Are you comfortable handling naps, bottles, diapers, or bedtime routines?

It’s also helpful to share anything specific your child needs to feel safe and happy. That might be a comfort item, a certain snack, or just knowing their favorite bedtime story. A little info upfront goes a long way toward a smooth night for everyone.

Final Thoughts: It’s Okay to Take a Break

We know how hard it can be to let someone else step in with your kid, especially on vacation. But honestly? Those couple hours of adult time made the whole trip feel like a real break. You don’t have to do it all to be a great parent… and sometimes taking a breather is what makes you better. If you’ve been curious about trying a sitter on your next trip, this might be your sign.

Need help picking a place to stay with your baby? Check out our hand-picked family-friendly stays — filtered by baby gear, cribs, and more.

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Main Image Photo Credit: Lina Kivaka

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