FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q:  WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?

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A. We provide babysitting services in Toronto and have a small (but growing!) hub of sitters in New York City and will be launching our NYC sitter company very soon! 

 

Q: WHAT IF I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN CORE? CAN I STILL GET A SITTER?

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A: Maybe! If you and your family are located outside the downtown core of T.O./N.Y.C., we may be able to help, but the process may take a little bit longer OR may require additional fees to help get our team there. Most of our sitters rely on public transit, so availability may be limited—especially for last-minute bookings in areas far from a subway line. If you're in a harder-to-reach location, offering an Uber (to and/or from your home) can often help secure a sitter , or offering to pay for travel time for the team member, especially for last minute requests.  Our travel sitters work with client families all over the world, so whether you're planning a weekend away or an international trip, we're happy to help.

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Q:  HOW DOES THE BOOKING PROCESS WORK?

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A:  You can start by filling out our Request a Service form on our website.  Once your client file is set up and we’ve confirmed the details of your request, we’ll send it out to our team. Based on availability and fit, we’ll select a sitter and send you a booking confirmation with their sitter profile  for you to review. If you'd prefer to review a few options, we’ll do our best to provide 2–3 profiles—depending on availability. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process!

 

Q:  CAN I MEET A SITTER FIRST, BEFORE I BOOK A SITTING SHIFT?

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A:  We recommend waiting until a booking is confirmed with a specific sitter before scheduling a meet-and-greet. Since our sitters have dynamic schedules, we can’t always guarantee someone will be available in advance—and we want to help avoid any disappointment by introducing you to a team member who may or may not have the right availability for your booking.

 

Q:  CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR TEAM OF SITTERS?

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A: Absolutely! Our sitters are truly the heart of Summerhill Club. Many are referred through word-of-mouth, which adds an extra level of trust and familiarity across our team. In order to be on our roster, all sitters must:

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• Have a successful interview with our administrative manager

• Provide clear criminal record check

• Provide two references

• Complete and maintain Level-C First Aid/CPR certification

• Sign our comprehensive sitter manual

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Our team includes individuals with diverse backgrounds—some are students, others work full-time in childcare, education, healthcare, or the arts.

 

If there are particular qualities you’d like in a sitter (e.g. someone who speaks French or loves soccer), let us know—we’ll do our best to match your request.

Once a sitter is confirmed, you’ll receive a sitter profile and have the option to arrange:

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• A virtual meet-and-greet ($15/call)

• An in-person meet-and-greet (billed at a 2-hour minimum)

 

Q:  WILL I ALWAYS GET THE SAME SITTER?

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A:  We prioritize continuity of care, but due to changing schedules, we can’t guarantee the same sitter for every booking.

If you know your dates in advance or want to set up a recurring booking, we’ll do our best to accommodate. A regular ongoing schedule is the BEST way to secure the same sitter. For example, if you want a biweekly date night, we can offer that to one team member who will book it into their calendar and stay available for your booking. Otherwise, we suggest being open to meeting 3–4 sitters over time to help build comfort and flexibility. We’re always happy to check with your preferred sitters first before introducing someone new. If your schedule is flexible, we can also try to work around any sitter's availability.

 

Q: DO YOU ACCEPT LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS? 

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A: Yes! We accept day-of bookings, with an added $30 last-minute fee for requests made less than 6 hours in advance.

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A few things to keep in mind:

• Responses may be slower early mornings or evenings

• Travel time is a factor, as most sitters rely on public transit

• Offering an Uber can help speed things up in an 'in a pinch' situation

The more notice you can give us, the better your chances of securing a sitter!

 

Q: CAN I BOOK A SITTER TO CARE FOR A SICK BABY OR KIDDO? 

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A: Maybe—depending on the illness and sitter availability. We leave it up to each sitter to decide what they’re comfortable with.

Common colds/flu symptoms are often manageable.
More contagious illnesses (e.g. hand, foot & mouth, pink eye) are much harder bookings to fill.

Illness-related booking fees:

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• Less than 24 hours' notice: +$30

• Less than 6 hours' notice: +$40

To increase your chances:

• Reach out the evening before, if possible

• Offer Uber reimbursement, especially for morning requests before the subway is running.

 

Q: CAN MY SITTER HELP WITH HOUSEKEEPING? 

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A: Sitters are expected to clean up after themselves and your children (e.g. dishes, toys used during the booking).

Additional tasks like children’s laundry can typically be done when the children are asleep or at school. The sitter’s focus should always be on engaging with your children while they’re present.

Please note: Sitters are only responsible for child-related tasks, not general household duties.  

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Q: CAN MY SITTER HELP WITH SCHOOL/ACTIVITY  PICKUP OR DROP-OFF?

 

A: Possibly! Most of our sitters use public transit, not everyone has a drivers license—and even fewer have access to a personal vehicle. If driving is essential:

• The sitter may need to borrow your car and we would need to run this by your vehicle insurer

• We’ll explore options but can’t guarantee availability for this type of request

On the bright side, many sitters are comfortable and experienced taking children on the TTC if that’s an option for your family.

Please note:

• We have a 4-hour minimum per visit

• Before and after school care is billed as two separate bookings if you have two visits in one day

 

Q: DO YOU PROVIDE OVERNIGHT SERVICES? 

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A:  Yes! We regularly provide overnight, cottage, and travel sitting. Whether it’s just one night, a weekend away, or a longer trip, we’re happy to help.

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Rates are customized based on:

• Your children’s ages

• Length of stay

• Time of request

• Specific needs of the booking

 

Q: HOW DO I PAY? 

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A: We accept Visa, Mastercard, and e-Transfer.

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After each booking:

• Your sitter confirms the hours worked with our team

• We issue an invoice accordingly via our booking platform which you can always access after for receipts or to track expenses

We have a 4-hour minimum per booking and charge in 15-minute increments beyond that.

 

Q: WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY? 

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A: Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice are subject to the 4-hour minimum fee.

We understand that kids get sick or plans change, but this policy ensures our sitters—many of whom rely on this work as their main income—have financial stability.

It helps us retain an amazing team by giving them peace of mind that they won’t lose income due to last-minute cancellations.

 

Q: DO YOU PROVIDE PAYROLL SERVICES FOR NANNIES? 

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A: No. Our sitters work as independent subcontractors, not employees. This allows them to choose their own hours and work as much or as little as they like.

They are responsible for:

• Reporting their income

• Paying taxes

• Managing their own deductible expenses

 

Q: CAN I SETUP A CALL TO GO THROUGH MORE QUESTIONS AND CHAT ABOUT MY CHILDCARE NEEDS?

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A: Absolutely! If you have questions or would like to speak with someone from our team, just email us at babysitting@summerhillclub.com to set up a call. We're happy to help!