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Find an emergency babysitter in Berkeley, CA

Berkeley families count on UrbanSitter for same-day emergency child care. In most areas, average response time for urgent needs is under two minutes.

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263 available babysitters in Berkeley, CA

Families in Berkeley turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.

Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check, and every profile is individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. Learn more.

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Sarah
Booked by 3 repeat families
4 reviews
$35 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 5 families in Berkeley, CA

Hello! I’m a kind, calm, reliable, and punctual teacher with a true passion for working with children. I have extensive experience caring for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, and I bring both warmth and professionalism to every family I support. I’m also regularly booked through BPN, where I have ongoing relationships with many families. Select BPN Testimonials: 1. “Hello BPN Community - I would like to recommend Sarah who is available as an evening / weekend babysitter! We’ve had a wonderful experience with Sarah. She is incredibly engaging with our 3 year old, always coming prepared with age-appropriate activities, books, and creative ways to keep her interested. She also moves comfortably between caring for our preschooler and infant daughters, handling the transitions with ease. Her calm, steady presence makes our whole household feel more relaxed when Sarah is around. She communicates clearly with us, while she's at home with us and in between sessions if there are any logistics to align on. Most importantly, she’s been very reliable—showing up on time and ready to jump in every single visit. We’re grateful to have her support and would highly recommend her to any family looking for a thoughtful, capable, and trustworthy babysitter during evenings and weekends.” 2. “We'd love to recommend our babysitter Sarah. What we appreciate most is that Sarah is an experienced educator. She brings games and thoughtful, educational activities that keep our child engaged, learning, and having fun.” Education & Experience I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development with a concentration in Early Childhood Development. With years of hands-on experience, I understand the importance of nurturing the whole child—emotionally, socially, and intellectually. I pour my heart into helping each child grow into a confident, compassionate human being ready to thrive in the world. Certifications First Aid & CPR Certified Full Background Check Clearance A Little More About Me In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my three incredible daughters, as well as photography, concerts, trying new cuisines, and spoiling my sweet cat. Let’s Connect! I would love the opportunity to support your family and provide a safe, loving, and enriching environment for your child. I look forward to connecting with you soon! I look forward to working with you! – Sarah Scope of Care Bookings focus on childcare

Sarah is clearly a teacher - she brought a full bag of tricks (books, puzzles) and my toddler listened to her (dinner, bedtime routine) in a way that he never does with us! She was professional and kind and cared enough to debrief with us when the night ended.

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Claudia
Booked by 1 repeat family
1 review
$45 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 1 family in Berkeley, CA

Hi! I’m Claudia, a caring and dependable childcare professional with 10+ years of experience working with children and families. I have a BA in Psychology and a background in education, teaching, literacy intervention, behavioral support, and long term nannying. I’ve worked with children from newborns through their teenage years and have experience with homework, reading, school routines, activities, transportation, and everyday care. I’ve also worked as a family assistant, helping with the day to day needs of busy families. I’m organized, patient, responsible, and genuinely enjoy working with children. I love creating a balance of structure and fun through reading, games, outdoor activities, crafts, and learning. I especially enjoy getting to know each child’s personality and finding activities they are excited about. I also speak English and Spanish fluently and have knowledge of Portuguese. I’m currently looking for occasional and weekend childcare opportunities and would love to be a dependable extra set of hands for your family!

very capable and kind. prompt and helpful.

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Toshaleza
Booked by 2 repeat families
4 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 2 families in Berkeley, CA

Hi, my name is Toshaleza (pronounced TOE-SHUH-LAY-ZUH) and most people call me Tosha. I was born and raised in California into a huge extended family and having always had a way with babies and small children, I was the kid that happily babysat my younger cousins and family friends for free (until my mom insisted I start charging for my services😄). Professionally, I have worked with children for 28 years (8 as a Montessori preschool teacher and 20 as a nanny). As a nanny I have had the pleasure of working with 4 great families caring for 9 amazing children and 1 really cool dog. I was with the first family for 7 years (the children were 11 y/o, 6 y/o, and 4 1/2 m/o when I started), the second family for 9 months (the children were 2 1/2 y/o and 3 w/o when I started), the third family for 2 years (the child was 2 y/o when I started), and the fourth family for 10 years (the children were 4 y/o, 1 y/o, in utero, and their dog was 6 y/o when I started). I just completed a 3 month temporary engagement as a Mother’s helper with a wonderful family (supporting the mom with their premature newborn twins). So, I am open to short term or long term positions and have worked with children from newborn to teens. I am kind, conscientious, loving, patient, respectful, organized, reliable, observant, communicative, encouraging, consistent, direct, engaging, and playful. I am looking for a part-time (20 - 36 hours per week) nanny position and will be available to start immediately.

Tosha has been fantastic with our daughter. She brings a balance of real educational background and genuine warmness.

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Scout 1 review
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 1 family in Berkeley, CA

Hi there! I’m Scout. I’m a reliable, friendly, and creative caregiver with experience working with kids from toddler age through high school. In addition to my day job as a swim instructor in San Francisco, I’ve taught after-school programs, professionally run Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for children ages 9-16 (and casually for family and friends of all ages), and spent most of last year as a live-in caregiver for two children under 10 before the family moved out of town. I bring patience, empathy, and a love of hands-on learning to every job. Always happy to help with homework, organize crafts and games, or help keep things calm and structured during busy moments. Kids tend to feel comfortable and confident around me, and I take pride in creating a fun, supportive environment for them to learn and grow. I love how so often the littlest humans are the most authentic (and, at times, brutally and hilariously honest) of us all. I’m also a life-long cat lover (I grew up with some incredibly beloved kitties back home in NYC, and I currently have a sweet boy who loves spending his evenings switching between my roommates and my rooms for snuggles), and am always happy to help out with kitties. I’m also happy to help out with chores around the house or running errands, as I get that having a few extra tasks off your plate can make a day far less overwhelming. When I’m not working with kids or giving swimming lessons, you can find me planning my next big hike (I recently completed the Appalachian Trail), reading, spending time with my family, or working on a new D&D campaign.

We absolutely love having Scout care for our kids. They are incredibly energetic, playful, and fully engaged. As a swim instructor, they confidently swim with the kids and actively teach them, which has been amazing for building both skills and confidence. They also jump right into imaginative play—Barbies, LEGOs, and creative games—and love getting outside for hikes and adventures. Our kids adore them, and we always felt they were safe, happy, and having so much fun. We would highly recommend Scout to any family looking for someone active, trustworthy, and genuinely great with kids.

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Nataliya
Booked by 1 repeat family
1 review
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 1 family in Berkeley, CA

I really enjoy spending time with kids and keeping them busy with fun, creative activities. I like playing games, doing arts and crafts, and painting. I speak Ukrainian and Russian fluently, and I also speak intermediate English.

I highly recommend Nataliya! She spent quality time painting and doing puzzles with our child, took them to the library, and made sure they were well-fed and engaged throughout the day. Nataliya was warm, attentive, and caring, and we would happily have her babysit for us again.

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Recent babysitter activity in Berkeley, CA

When it's urgent, trust comes first

All UrbanSitter babysitters are background checked every year. Profiles are individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team.

photo of quoted parent Hillary

"We were incredibly grateful that Maya was able to help us out with a last-minute childcare emergency. She matched our 9-year-old's energy with arts & crafts, some quiet reading, and a walk around the neighborhood. We'd have Maya back in a heartbeat!"

Hillary S., parent

photo of quoted parent Theresa

"We used Tania for a last minute emergency. She responded very quickly. My daughter seemed to enjoy herself. My son napped most of the time. I enjoyed how she kept me updated by text."

Theresa M., parent

photo of quoted parent Lauren

"Hannah was awesome. Went above & beyond to help me with a last minute emergency. She was really sweet & great with my 16mo old. Highly recommend!!"

Lauren D., parent

Family with caregiver

Find emergency care in Berkeley

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Why families trust UrbanSitter for emergency babysitting

Trusted by Berkeley families

See which babysitters have been hired by parents in your Berkeley neighborhood, school, or parenting group.

Fast responses for urgent needs

Average response times for last-minute requests are under two minutes in most areas.

Background checked, every year

Every babysitter completes an annual background check, offering peace of mind when you need it most.

Reviews from local parents

Read reviews from local families, see repeat family counts, and compare profiles before you choose.

Frequently asked questions about emergency babysitters in Berkeley

How do I find an emergency babysitter in Berkeley?

Sign up for an UrbanSitter account, then share the date, time, and number of children who need care. Available sitters in Berkeley can respond, and you can review full profiles before booking.

How much does an emergency babysitter cost in Berkeley?

Babysitting rates in Berkeley vary by experience, number of children, and job length. For same-day care, offering a higher rate can help attract interest and a faster response. See average babysitting rates in your area.

Are babysitters in Berkeley on UrbanSitter background checked?

Yes. Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check, including those in Berkeley, and each profile is individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. See what's included in the background check.

Can I find a babysitter in Berkeley for today or tonight?

Yes. Same-day and tonight requests are common on UrbanSitter. Share your care needs and available sitters can respond. You can read reviews, watch profile videos, and choose the right fit.

What's the best way to find a babysitter in Berkeley on short notice?

On UrbanSitter, when an urgent need comes up, share your timing, location, and care needs so available sitters can respond. See tips for finding last-minute child care for additional ways to find support.

What do I do if my babysitter cancels in Berkeley?

Sign into UrbanSitter and submit a new urgent request with your timing, location, and care needs. Available sitters can respond, and you can compare reviews, profile videos, and response times before choosing.

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