Family with caregiver

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.

Looking for jobs? Apply here.

255 available babysitters in Berkeley, CA

Families in Berkeley turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.
244 available today | Avg hourly rate: $30.98/hr

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

Profile photo
Isabelle
Booked by 26 repeat families
44 reviews
$28 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 69 families in Berkeley, CA

Hey there! My name is Isabelle. I’m a Bay Area native and I’ve been babysitting for 10+ years, including several stints as a long term nanny. I have experience with all ages, but really love the magic of pre-k/early elementary ages. I graduated from Cal Poly SLO a few years ago and recently returned to the Bay Area- I’m currently looking for weekend or date night bookings. I previously attended San Domenico school in San Anselmo where I raced mountain bikes before returning to coach their mountain biking team part-time. I'm WFA, CPR, and AED certified and have coached multiple mountain bike camps in Marin county, which gave me a lot of experience with tweens and teens. During my time in SLO I worked in nanny shares and for a family with twin preschoolers, so I also have extensive experience juggling multiple toddlers at once :) I love art and cooking, and am more than happy to do creative projects with your kiddos, bake healthy treats with them, or get them outside on a hike or bike ride!

“Isabelle was fantastic with our 5 and 7 year old girls - very engaging with them and played lots of games. Would hire her again in a heartbeat!”

Profile photo
Raphaella
Booked by 75 repeat families
70 reviews
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 143 families in Berkeley, CA

I have been working with children for almost fourteen years, and was a Preschool Teacher for over five years. I have a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Development from SF State University. Prior to the covid-19 shutdown I worked as a teacher at Rockridge Little School in Piedmont for two years, where I worked with all ages groups (2-5 years) I also worked as a teacher at Claremont Day Nurseries Preschool in Kensington. I was a two year old teacher for one year, and then became a floater teacher for all the age groups (ages 2-5). Prior to this I started up an after-care organization with my mother in 2009 until 2012, where we took care of over nine children after-school per day, ages 6-10. On my work days I would spend the day playing with the kids, doing arts and crafts, providing homework help and overall enjoying the company of the children until the parents would come back from work. I love to do drawing/arts and crafts projects with the kids I take care of if possible, and really enjoy the creativity it brings out in each child. I have found my experiences with children to be both educational and heart-warming, and for those reasons have helped me develop as a person and I feel make me qualified to join the urban-sitter community.

Profile photo
Karlie
Booked by 6 repeat families
6 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 8 families in Berkeley, CA

Hi there! I have 16 years experience working with kiddos as a babysitter, piano teacher, K-5 substitute arts teacher, kindergarten teaching assistant, tutor, and performing musician! I am looking for a one-time or occasional babysitting job. I have a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (focusing on music therapy for kids) and a Masters in Social Work. I have experience with—and am committed to—creating safe spaces for neuro-diverse, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks, across the lifespan. My love for babysitting was kindled by my mother, a certified Montessori Teacher, whom I had the opportunity to shadow throughout my own lifespan. Ultimately, my goal in life is to listen deeply and empower others. 💖

“Karlie is such a wonderful babysitter! She was so sweet, thoughtful, and attentive with our kiddos. She did crafts and played instruments for them and they immediately wanted us to go on another date so she could come back!”

Profile photo
Ginette
Booked by 7 repeat families
12 reviews
$27 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 15 families in Berkeley, CA

Hi! I'm Gigi :) I’m a reliable, punctual, creative, and empathetic caregiver offering childcare for babies (+6 months), toddlers and kids until 10 yrs old ✅️ ​+4yrs and +5,000 hrs of exp working as a volunteer teacher, and caregiver ✅️ CPR and First Aid certified. My responsibilities have included playtime (indoor and outdoor), crafts and art projects, bedtime routines, diapering, bottle and playing cognitive games! I love bringing with me some materials and games, so your kiddos will have a special time with me ​🐶 Pet-friendly 🚭 Non-smoker 🌈 Languages: Spanish and English

“Gigi was the best! My 2 high energy boys had a great time and wanted to know when she could come back! She was on time, cleaned up afterwards and had a great energy. We highly recommend Gigi”

Profile photo
Thali
Booked by 52 repeat families
50 reviews
$35 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 81 families in Berkeley, CA

Hi - My name is Thalissa but you can call me Thali! I’ve been working with kids since I was 16, but my first experience came with my little sister’s birth almost 20 years ago. I started by taking care of her and then began babysitting for my neighbors back in Brazil. I’ve been working with different families in America since I got here 9 years ago. I am in the Berkeley area but also have worked in Oakland, Piedmont, Orinda, Moraga, Kensington, Albany, El Cerrito, and Alameda. I just had a baby girl mid April last year and took a break to enjoy motherhood! I am now back looking for new families! Please let me know if you think we could work well together and we can talk more about it. I have plenty of experience with infants, toddlers and older kids. I can also help with light housework and meal prepping. Last minute/same day requests: I will always try to accommodate as best as I can for same-day and last-minute requests, but please do keep in mind that I also have to find care for my child unless you are comfortable with me bringing her along. Cancelation policy: Please note that a 24 hour notice is expected for cancelations. If you happen to cancel a job and not allowed for a 24 hour notice, I expect to be paid for 50% of the agreed upon hours. If you cancel a job less than 12 hours before start time, I expect to be paid for all of the agreed upon hours. Emergencies do occur, but please take into account that this is my only source of income. Additionally, I always expect to be paid for all of the hours booked, even if you come home earlier or if the booking hours are changed less than a week before the job booked. This policy helps me structure and commit to my schedule, and allows for a mutual and transparent agreement. Work policy: I do not charge for cleaning after the kids and of course myself, and light housekeeping, but if it is expected housework and not agreed to beforehand I am not responsible for fulfilling it. I also charge 1.5x my rate for big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thank you. Thali

“Thali was punctual, respectful, and great with the kids. They seem to feel comfortable in her presence even though we usually only have family watching them. Highly recommend!”

Live near a college or university? View babysitters by college

Children playing together

How much does an emergency babysitter cost in Berkeley, CA?

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $30.98
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $36.85
  • Typical job length: 4.7 hours
  • Most requested times: Morning

As of October 2026

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.

2,518 sitters background checked in Berkeley, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 30,114 reviews in Berkeley, CA

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

Share your needs and hear from available sitters.

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?

As of October 2026, babysitting rates in Berkeley average $30.98 per hour for one child, and 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.

As seen on