Babysitting is the practice of temporarily caring for a child on behalf of the child’s parents. Babysitting is commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money, stereotypically, but not necessarily, by girls. Babysitting can be quite lucrative in some countries, but rates vary considerably according to the location.
Babysitters are often employed on Friday and Saturday nights when parents wish to go out. A babysitter is distinguished from a nanny by the term of employment; while some parents may have a regular babysitter they can call on at need, the sitter is normally contracted one night at a time, while a nanny is employed over an extended period of time.
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Babysitters can range in age, tending to be in their teens, ages 13–18, yet it is not uncommon for students in their 20’s to take on a babysitting job as a part time job. The type of work for babysitters also varies, from watching a sleeping child, to playing games, cooking,teaching the child to read, or even driving, depending on the agreed upon terms and determined by parental permission. If you are looking for a sitter at least 18 years or older click Search Sitters, enter your ZIP code and choose a sitter.
The term “baby-sit” (from “baby” plus the agent form of “sit”) first appeared in 1937, and its short-form “sitter” is attested from 1943.[citation needed] The use of the word “sit” to abbreviate “to baby-sit” is recorded from 1800. The term probably originated from the action of the caretaker “sitting on” the baby in one room, while the parents were entertaining or busy in another.
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