Child minders who babysit on occasion are few and far between in Mumbai, most likely because Indians rely on extended family members or nannies instead of babysitters to help with child care.
Expat families usually have full-time domestic help and many of them have nannies to help with the children. Expats can ask their nannies to work a few extra hours for babysitting during evenings or weekends.
There aren’t any reputable babysitting agencies in Mumbai at this time. Some Indian women advertise online that they babysit, but they are not connected to any kind of company, so this might not be the best way to go.
If you don’t have a nanny, or if your nanny cannot work when you need her, first ask your friends if their nannies might be able to babysit for a few hours. This is the most ideal way to find a sitter because you’ll know through your friend’s experience that the nanny can be trusted. You can also ask the maids and nannies of other expats if they know of anyone who can babysit. Word of available work travels quickly, and if you ask a few days in advance, you might find a suitable sitter.
If those methods fail, try posting a note that you’re looking for a sitter on message boards at clubs you belong to or online. A website called Locanto is a messaging board for jobs wanted and needed. You can browse babysitting posts here: http://mumbai.locanto.in/babysitter/104/.
Before hiring a sitter, be sure you have contacted references. If possible, ask the babysitter to come to your home to meet the child or children in your presence before making your final decision.
Babysitting wages for expat families are about Rs 100 per hour, which is very affordable compared to Western rates. If the babysitter is to leave your home late in the evening, she may ask for taxi fare or to be dropped near her home or the train station after her duty.
