West Oakland Babysitting Coop?
I'm super jealous of all the buzz about babysitting co-ops in other neighborhoods and would love to find or maybe create one in West Oakland. We're a queer couple with a 2yr old, hoping to have a second babe soonish, living on the Lower Bottoms for 15yrs, and I'm totally over paying $20+/hr for someone to sit on our couch while our baby sleeps. Pls, I love the idea of making some new parent friends in our hood.
Any parents out there know of any existing groups in West Oakland, or a surrounding area (Emeryville, Downtown or Uptown Oakland, etc.)? I've scoured this site, seen some great suggestions for other neighborhoods, books to read, etc. and have taken notes but am really hoping there is something near us. Or, if others want to start it, please reach out! I would also love to talk directly with some folks who have done this - a co-op mentor perhaps? I can pay you back in coffee, baked goods or some other trade. I work full-time and am a little freaked out about doing on my own but we really need this resource; our friends have been amazing, but with no family around, we do not get out together nearly enough.
Thank you!
Parent Replies
I started a babysitting coop and am happy to provide some tips if you want to PM me. I think it is super important to find people who are close by (we moved two miles away from the center of our coop and even that feels far enough to make it harder for us to use it) and who you like (because one thing that makes it work well is hanging out enough that the kids all get to know the families so they'll be comfortable with whoever is babysitting them). I'm happy to share info about our point system and rules, etc,.