Connect with families looking for trusted childcare.
Set your own schedule, accept the bookings that work for you, and receive payment by direct deposit. The Sitter Connection is a DMV childcare booking platform built to make it easier for families and sitters to connect clearly, professionally, and respectfully.
Why Sit With The Sitter Connection
The Sitter Connection was built by people who understand what makes childcare bookings work well — and what can make them frustrating. We created the platform to support clearer expectations, easier scheduling, and a better experience for both families and sitters.
Families complete an onboarding process.
Families complete an onboarding process before they are able to book through The Sitter Connection. This helps create a more intentional booking experience than an open marketplace and gives both families and sitters a clearer starting point.
You choose when and how often you work.
There are no quotas, minimum booking requirements, or penalties for declining a job. You set your availability and accept the bookings that fit your schedule, whether you want occasional evening work, weekend bookings, or something closer to full-time.
Families book you directly.
Families choose sitters based on who feels like the right fit for their household. You are not randomly assigned by an algorithm. They can review your profile, see your experience, and book you directly.
Your pay is clear.
The hourly rate for each booking is shown through the platform, and payment is made by direct deposit. No cash, Venmo, or rate negotiation is required at the booking.
You have support from our team.
Our team is available by phone, email, and chat if questions come up before, during, or after a booking. Whether there is a schedule change, a communication question, or something you are unsure how to handle, you have a team to contact.
What You Earn
Pay is based on the number of children in a single booking.
Sitters also receive time-and-a-half on major holidays, including New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Late cancellations are covered.
If a family cancels within 24 hours of a confirmed booking, you receive a 2-hour minimum payment. If they cancel within 4 hours of the booking or do not show, you receive the full scheduled booking amount.
Payment is made by direct deposit.
Payments are processed through the platform and issued by direct deposit. Tips added by families through the app are included in your direct deposit payment.
How to Apply
Our application process helps us learn more about your childcare experience, availability, and approach to working with families.
- 1
Step 1 — Submit your application
Tell us about your childcare experience, availability, and the types of bookings you are interested in. You will also share three professional references, such as previous families, employers, instructors, or supervisors, and upload a current photo ID for background check verification.
- 2
Step 2 — Complete background check and CPR verification
We run a third-party background check and verify your Pediatric CPR & First Aid certification. If you are not currently certified, you can still apply. We will ask that you complete certification within 30 days through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or another approved provider.
- 3
Step 3 — Interview with our team
You will meet with a member of our team so we can learn more about your experience, talk through common childcare scenarios, and answer questions about sitting with The Sitter Connection.
- 4
Step 4 — Complete Smart Sitter training
Approved sitters complete a paid training focused on safety, communication, platform expectations, and the small details that help each booking go smoothly.
- 5
Step 5 — Start accepting bookings
Once approved, you can set your availability in the app and begin appearing in family searches. Families can book you directly through the platform.
Who We're Looking For
We are selective because families rely on The Sitter Connection to connect with experienced, reliable caregivers. The qualities we look for are the same ones strong sitters bring to their work every day: warmth, good judgment, reliability, and clear communication.
Requirements
- ✓18 or older
- ✓At least 2 years of consistent childcare experience
- ✓Pediatric CPR & First Aid certification, or willingness to certify within 30 days
- ✓Three professional references
- ✓Clear background check
- ✓Reliable transportation
- ✓Smartphone with reliable internet
What matters beyond the checklist
- ★Warm, attentive care for children of any age
- ★Calm judgment in unexpected situations
- ★Clear communication with parents
- ★Reliability and punctuality
- ★Genuine care for the children and families you support