The 5 Best Babysitting Services in Ottawa
Taking care of a child can be a difficult task, especially if you have other responsibilities to think about. Luckily, there are babysitting and child care services in the city that can help make everything easier.
We listed down the best babysitting and child care services in the Ottawa area so you can decide for yourself which one’s most suited for your needs.
How much do babysitting services charge in Ottawa?
Babysitting services usually cost around $17 per hour. The table below gives a more specific breakdown of the costs:
The Best Babysitting Services in Ottawa
Our goal is to find you the best babysitting and child care options in the city. There are many choices, but we reduced them using the following criteria:
1. Nannies on Call
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Experience | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Nannies on Call was founded by Michelle Kelsey who also has two kids. She thought it would be a good idea to have a network of trustworthy people that parents could hire to take care of their children while they’re away at work.
Nannies on Call is a really good option for your child care and babysitting needs, especially if you’re in a rush or have an emergency where you have to leave immediately. Like it says on its name, its nannies are on call and can quickly help you out.
The company is also a member of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies, which is a well-known organization of similar providers in the city. This agency has high standards, so being a member means Nannies on Call passed the quality testing.
What we like about Nannies on Call is that it hires educated nannies. Your baby or child will not only be watched over and taken care of but they can also learn new things, such as shapes, languages, and more.
It also does a very thorough background check on its nannies. This includes checking for criminal records, looking at their experience as babysitters, and gauging their personalities when it comes to taking care of children.
One of the provider’s most unique services is sick child care where they get nannies with medical experience to take care of sick kids.
Overall, Nannies on Call is definitely a solid babysitting company. Its prices are a bit high, but we think it’s arguably worth every penny because of the services it offers.
Pros
- Lots of nannies to choose from
- Good background check
Cons
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Great experience
“Nannies on Call has been great to work with. It has enabled me to remain at home with my son, work around my husband’s military schedule and allows me flexible hours, because life gets busy! Alison was a dream through the hiring process and has continued to be a great support to the Ottawa nannies! I couldn’t have asked for a better part time “job” (because really, can you call it work when your job is so much fun?) – Ashley Cabral
Amazing
“Alison in Ottawa is absolutely amazing!!! She has the most caring attitude and is always offering to help out in the community. She is so reliable and will always find the best for the families she is working with. She’s a gem!!!” – Kim D.
2. Reliable Nannies
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location & Facilities | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
If you’re looking for a company that can provide child care services to your home, Reliable Nannies is a great choice. It is a small company started by Filipino women who moved to Canada for work.
The owner, Abby Mariano, is a B.S. psychology graduate and has over 10 years of experience in a nanny agency. Her company looks for nannies all over Canada who have the right experience and personality to take care of your kids.
The provider screens nannies carefully, checking for any criminal records and assessing each one’s experience with kids. If required by the client, it also has a pool of nannies with CPR and First Aid training, as well as their own driver’s license.
We really appreciate the effort it takes to find nannies who can handle emergency situations. It’s understandable that parents will be worried about their kids, but with Reliable Nannies’ emergency knowledge, there is one less thing to think about.
The company also offers free registration and no upfront costs until the job is done.
We think its services are especially favorable for new parents who are still unsure of how to leave their children and who to leave them with.
Overall, Reliable Nannies is definitely one of the best choices on this list. The only downside is the constant influx of clients, which hampers its ability to take more bookings.
You may have to look elsewhere if you’re in need of babysitting services immediately. But if you’re planning in advance, you can call early or register at Reliable Nannies’ website.
Pros
- Open everyday
- Good background check
Cons
- Influx of clients can make booking difficult
Customer Reviews
Second time and still great
“This is our second time using Reliable Nannies – and if we continue to have children, we’ll keep going back! As an employee for an American company, I needed to return to work from “maternity leave” at 12 weeks postpartum. A local search led me to Reliable Nannies where I completed a form detailing what my childcare needs were. Both times, I was contacted by Reliable Nannies within hours of completing the form to set me up to interview nannies that met my criteria. Within days we secured a nanny to care for our children.” – Jessie R.
Good price
“I signed up for Reliable Nannies after a referral from a colleague. Contract terms were fair and the price was very reasonable. Abby found me a nanny within 5 hours of me signing up for the service. We hired the her immediately and are incredibly happy that Reliable Nannies did the work to search for and vet the successful candidate. I recommend this service to any busy parent looking for a reliable nanny.” – Jenny Dao
3. Wee Watch
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Location & Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Background | ★★★★(4/5) |
Weewatch is another solid choice for your babysitting and child care needs. It has been around since 1984 as a non-profit organization that focuses on child care.
Over the years, it eventually became more than a non-profit by offering child care services and even schooling. Licensed by the Ministry of Education, its caretakers are able to teach your kids basic academic knowledge.
For younger kids, the company also has babysitting services that focus more on just taking care of the kid and making sure they’re safe.
You have the choice of whether to leave your child at the daycare center or invite a nanny to take care of them in your own house. This is an important aspect of convenience that we highly appreciate.
Other than child care services, the provider also offers child development programs that are more educational. These are best for kids ages 3 yrs and up.
We’re really big fans of the numerous service options that it offers, which admittedly is one of the reasons we added them to this list.
While we think its prices are a bit high, we believe the benefits outweigh that one downside. And if it means the proper care for your kids, we’re certain the price is the least of your worries.
Pros
- Registered babysitting providers
- Has many locations
Cons
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Great experience
“Wee Watch has made going back to work after maternity leave so much easier. The advisors at head office have been so helpful and quick to respond to any of my questions. I don’t think I’ll have enough space to write everything I want to say about our provider, Tina. – Christina Sherrit
Beyond my expectations
“I came across WeeWatch and interviewed three providers. As soon as we met the third, Seema, we knew instantly that she was the one. She started looking after our first daughter in 2013 and the second in 2018 and we had an excellent experience both times. You can see that Seema genuinely loves the children in her care. She went above and beyond my expectations.” – Sonia Akibo-Betts
4. Andrew Fleck Children’s Services – George Street
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Location & Facilities | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Andrew Fleck Children’s Services or the AFCS is another non-profit organization that focuses on child care and babysitting. It has been around since 1911 but moved to the George Street location when it was donated to them in 1932.
Now, the provider is one of the most well-known child care services in Ottawa. Its specialty is making kids feel like part of the nanny’s family, and while that may seem weird to some parents, it also means that the nanny focuses on treating your child as if it’s their own.
The AFCS is known for offering high-quality and affordable babysitting services. It takes pride in being accessible to even ordinary families with a meager income.
Its babysitters are screened well for any background anomalies. They are also trained to not just take care of kids but also teach them physical, emotional, and social cues so they are more aware of the world around them.
We’re really into the family-centered approach, which is one of the main reasons the provider is on this list. Its background checks are also impressive, making sure that your kids are safe and well-taken care of in the hands of trusted nannies.
There is a downside, however, particularly with its large clientele. Because it’s very well-known in Ottawa, it may be hard to book a sitter unless you call early in the week.
Overall, the AFCS is a solid choice for your child care and babysitting needs. With how it trains its nannies and babysitters, you can be confident that your kids are in the right hands.
Pros
- Experienced, used to working with children
- Good environment
- Quality background screening
Cons
- Large clientele makes it difficult to book a sitter
Customer Reviews:
Fun and safe
“This place is fun enough for your kids and safe enough for the parents. On top of that they will do almost anything to keep the parents up to date and informed and of course keep the kids happy healthy and safe. From what I heard since I have been there is that this daycare is one of the best in Ottawa” – Robert Cerone
Better than our other experiences
“What can I say about AFCCS-George Street? My experience has been positive since my child’s first day approximately 1.5 years ago. Unlike the transition to the first daycare, which was very difficult for us, the transition to AFCCS was seamless. “ – Roxane Prevost
5. Little Love Bugs Daycare
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Experience | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★(3/5) |
| Location & Facilities | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★(5/5) |
For providing good care services and a touch of education, Little Love Bugs Daycare is also a solid choice.
It’s a bit different from the others on this list because it doesn’t offer home service, but its daycare is a good place to leave your child while you’re at work.
The staff members at Little Love Bugs Daycare are all trained to take care of kids. There’s also the benefit of your kid having classmates and learning to interact with others.
While we don’t recommend the daycare for infants due to its lack of services tailored to the age group, we think it’s a good option for toddlers.
We are also big fans of the environment that Little Love Bugs Daycare provides. It’s clean and fun — we also kind of want to play in the play area as well, to be honest.
We also like how it treats children more maturely, recognizing them as human beings who have the potential to learn. Its process is more education-based, especially for older kids.
While its prices are very high and a bit questionable, we cannot deny that its services are good.
Overall, Little Love Bugs Daycare is a really good choice for your childcare needs. But again, if you have an infant, you should go for other babysitting services.
Pros
- Has an educational background
- Good background check
Cons
- Expensive
Customer Reviews:
Good place to study and play
“Terrific teachers, lots of great activities, and because it is in an old school there is lots of room to play inside and out. And our child loves it there! – Bergen Wilde
Our child was well-taken care of
“Great daycare, the teachers really know how to take care of the kids” – Christopher Harrison
FAQs about Babysitting Services in Ottawa
There are numerous babysitting services in the city, and selecting the best one can be challenging. This is why we compiled a list of the best in town so you can find the right providers for your needs.
Are you stressed out after taking care of your new baby? Check out our article on ways to pamper a new mom!