We use a girl (well she's a lady really) who was my eldest day care carer 8 years ago. She has since become a primary school teacher and is fantastic with kids.

Babysitters are expensive and charge in excess of $20 per hour these days - which I realise isn't a huge hourly rate but when you add 4 or so hours of babysitter fees to the cost of a night out it gets expensive.

Family are a great option if you have them close by.

I am very lucky and have amazing neighbours who have an 18yo daughter who is great with kids. She has babysat for us a few times since she was 17. For over night stays we drive the hour south to drop her off at her grandparents.

I know that if i ever get in a pickle though that i can ask next door and they'll do everything possible to help out.

I worked at a child care centre. I got quite close to a junior there, she was 15 when my son was born and mature beyond her years. At 1st I had no dramas leaving my DS with her for a few hours, for appointments or 4 sleep. Now she is so close my son calls her Aunty and my OH refers to her as another little sister. She is now 16 and my DS is 18 months and she has him over night and I know I don't need to worry, she does live with her grandparents if she needs help but she is very capable. I would say go more on the maturity and vibe u get then a number age!

I did exactly what erinandflynn said. I was a childcare worker and did babysitting on the side for families at the centre. I probably wouldn't use a teenager under the age of 17 but if I knew them and had seen them with kids then yes. You can try a babysitting/nannying agency

I haven't but I know a people who use their child's day care teachers. Sometimes they are after a bit of extra cash so baby sit on the side which is handy because they already no the child and are fully qualified etc. or there are professional baby sitting services.