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You Need To Book A V-Day Babysitter, Like, Now

by Yvette Manes

If there is one thing that most parents desperately need, it's a romantic night out. It doesn't matter if you have a newborn baby or a high school freshman, kids of all ages keep their parents constantly on-the-go. Trying to get out of the house for a date night can feel as complicated as planning a month-long European vacation. Planning a date night on the most "romantic" night of the year can seem next to impossible, especially when holiday babysitters are notoriously hard to come by. So, when should you book a babysitter for Valentine's Day?

The answer is simple, yesterday.

OK, you don't own a time machine and you and your partner really, really need this night out. The Fiscal Times reported that Valentine's Day is the most popular holiday to look for a sitter with New Year's Eve coming in at a close second. Not only are you competing with other parents, your sitter might be looking to have her own romantic night out. According to Very Well, it's never too early to book a sitter for a major holiday, so you should reach out to your regular sitter as soon as possible and expect to pay more than you would on a typical night out.

If another family beat you to the punch, consider sharing a babysitter with friends who have already lined up their childcare. Of course, both families have to agree and then run it by the sitter, but if there aren't too many kids, it shouldn't be a problem. Especially if you offer the sitter a higher rate. School-age kids tend to keep each other occupied with movies and board games which may even make your sitter's job easier.

If you find that it's already too late to line up a sitter, consider celebrating a a few days before or after Feb. 14. Valentine's Day can be celebrated on any day. Not only will reservations be easier to come by, you won't have to search high and low for childcare.