For a group of moms in Deerfield, one way to get around the sitter situation is through the Busy Mom`s Babysitting Pool of Northeast Deerfield.
In existence for more than 10 years, the group works on a cooperative basis where points are earned by baby-sitting for members` children. The points can then be traded for sitting time in return.
Current membership includes 15 mothers with children ranging in age from 3 months to 5 years, said chairwoman Sunday Mueller, mom to an infant and a 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-year-old. Each mother takes turns being secretary for the month. When one of the members needs a sitter, she simply calls the secretary, who arranges the sitter based on availability and point needs. The sitter earns 4 points per child (or 6 points for two) per hour.
No one member is allowed to be more than minus 60 points. Mueller said,
”Our pool operates well. The lowest member is about minus 10 and the highest is about a plus 15. You don`t want anyone to be way in the hole. Then they are more reluctant to use the pool and then it`s not working well.”
The situation works out well for everyone because in the kids` minds,
”They`re not going to the sitter but to someone`s house to play.” In return, Mueller said, the moms have peace of mind because they are leaving their kids with someone that they know and at ”a house that has already been child-proofed.”
Mueller said the group evolved because of a ”lack of individual sitters and because hardly anyone lives next door to Mommy anymore.” Although most of the members use the co-op for weekday sitting, some members use it for occasional nights and weekends.
The membership cost is $2 a year for postage. Every two to three months the members take turns hosting play groups because, Mueller said, ”The more you know each other, the more likely you are to use the group.
”The availability of sitters is small, and they`re hard to find.” With a co-op, Mueller said, ”we all kind of know each other and our standards of safety are high.
”It`s a perfect situation for feeling safe and comfortable.”
For information on the group, call 708-940-7431.
