Babysitting Requests: How to Request, Accept & Track Extra Childcare

Date night, a doctor's appointment, a work dinner that runs late — sometimes you need your au pair outside their regular schedule. AuPairSync's babysitting request system keeps this organised: you create a request with the date, time, children involved, and optional compensation, your au pair reviews it, and everyone knows where they stand.

What You'll Learn

In this guide, you'll see how to:

1. Create a babysitting request (host parent)
2. Review and accept or decline requests (au pair)
3. Track pending, upcoming, and completed requests
4. Make up extra hours the right way

Where to Find Babysitting

Babysitting requests live in two places:

• Dashboard — A "Babysitting Requests" section appears whenever there's a pending request, with Accept and Decline buttons right there.
• Tasks Tab → Babysitting — The full list of all requests (pending, upcoming, declined, and completed).

Pending requests surface directly on the au pair's dashboard so they can respond without navigating anywhere else.

Step 1: Creating a Request (Host Parent)

When you need extra childcare, open Tasks → Babysitting and tap the + button in the top right.

If your family has two or more au pairs, the form first asks who should babysit. Pick one au pair by name, or pick Any au pair: every au pair gets the request, and whoever accepts first takes it.

The request form then walks you through four things:

Date and Time

Pick the date from the calendar, then set a start and end time. Times are in 5-minute intervals, so you can be precise — "Saturday, 18:45 to 21:45" is much clearer than "Saturday evening."

Children

Select which children need care. Each child in your family profile appears with their avatar — tap to select. This is especially helpful when you have multiple children and only need care for some of them.

Details

Add a description of what you need. Be specific: "We're going to a dinner. Please give the kids their dinner (leftovers in the fridge), bath time at 19:30, and bedtime at 20:00" gives your au pair everything they need to prepare.

Compensation (Optional)

Toggle on compensation if you want to put an amount on the request, for example to cover out-of-pocket costs like a taxi home. Enter the amount in euros. It shows on the request card so it's clear from the start what it's for.

Tip: The amount is not overtime pay. In Germany the pocket money is €280 a month whatever the hours, and going past 30 hours a week needs advance agreement. Those extra hours are made up with time off, not money (Federal Employment Agency au pair sheet, April 2023).

Once you tap Send Request, your au pair receives a notification immediately. With Any au pair, all of them do.

Step 2: Reviewing a Request (Au Pair)

When a request comes in, au pairs see it in two places:

On the Dashboard

The Babysitting Requests section shows the request card with all the details — who requested it, which children, date and time, description, and compensation. Two buttons appear at the bottom:

• Accept (blue) — confirm you're available
• Decline (red) — let the family know you can't make it. You don't have to give a reason; a short note is optional

In the Babysitting List

Tap into Tasks → Babysitting to see the full list, organised into sections:

• Pending Requests — waiting for your response
• Upcoming — accepted requests coming up
• Declined — requests you've turned down
• Completed — past babysitting sessions

Step 3: What Happens After

Accepted Requests

Once accepted, the request moves to the Upcoming section. Both the parent and au pair can see the confirmed date and time. The request card shows all details at a glance — date, time, children, description, and compensation.

Declined Requests

If the au pair declines, the request moves to the Declined section. The parent can then make other arrangements or create a new request for a different time.

A request sent to Any au pair works differently. When one au pair declines, it leaves her list only and stays open for the others, and the parent sees who can't make it. The request closes only once every au pair has declined.

Key point: Respond to requests promptly. The family may need to arrange alternative childcare if you're unavailable, and last-minute notice makes that much harder.

Managing Requests

Editing a Request

Parents can edit pending requests — change the date, time, children, description, or compensation. If you make significant changes to an accepted request, your au pair will need to reapprove it.

Deleting a Request

Parents can delete requests by tapping the options menu. Use this for duplicate or cancelled plans.

Optional Amount

If you've added an amount, it appears on the request card with a money bag icon, so both of you can see what was agreed.

Best Practices

• Request early — Give your au pair as much notice as possible. "Can you babysit this Saturday?" on Wednesday is much better than on Saturday morning.
• Be specific with details — Include bedtime routines, meal plans, and any special instructions. Your au pair will feel more confident and the kids will have a better time.
• Select the right children — If only one child needs care (the other is at a sleepover, for example), select just that child so your au pair knows exactly who they're responsible for.
• Agree on time back upfront — Settle how babysitting hours count and when your au pair gets the time back. Clarity prevents misunderstandings.
• Respect "no" — If your au pair declines, don't pressure them. They may have plans, be tired from the week, or simply need personal time. A good relationship means respecting boundaries.

Related Guides

• Coordinating Schedules with the Shared Calendar
• Time Off Requests

Learn More

• Au Pair vs. Babysitter vs. Nanny — Understanding the differences between childcare options
• The Ultimate Au Pair Schedule — Plan working hours, days off, and routines

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Need a babysitter for date night? Download AuPairSync and handle babysitting requests and scheduling in one place.