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Find an emergency babysitter in San Mateo, CA

San Mateo 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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109 available babysitters in San Mateo, CA

Families in San Mateo turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.
102 available today | Avg hourly rate: $31.33/hr

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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Marisol
Booked by 3 repeat families
4 reviews
$28 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 10 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello! My name is Marisol and I am currently a full-time Community Health Outreach Worker in SFUSD. I have a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley along with a minor in Gender and Women’s studies. I hope to one day become a social worker and continue working within SFUSD, serving the communities I love! Due to my daytime job, I am only seeking occasional jobs during evenings or on weekends. I have about 10 years of experience working with children in different settings. I began by caring for my own family members while in high school, and with time, branched out to other families within the Bay Area. Over summers, I work as a kindergarten teacher at a day camp where I lesson plan daily for a group of about 15 6-7 year olds. I really enjoy doing arts & crafts, academic support, and assisting youth in exploring their interests. Some of my past responsibilities as a babysitter/nanny have included pick-up/drop-off, going out to local activities, bedtime routines, and light tidying. I am also open to helping run errands! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to connect!

“Marisol was attentive and patient with my 19 month old! Would recommend. She even folded clothes and tidied while our little one was napping. ”

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Tracey
Booked by 2 repeat families
3 reviews
$45 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 2 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello!! Thank you for reading my information!! About me...I have two children son 33, daughter 27 I have loved caring for children and have been babysitting since I was 10. When I was 22 I opened a large family day care. That daycare consisted of 14 children from newborn through school age. I did this for 14 years. I loved every minute. We took those children on many adventures, most children stayed with us longterm and could read before kindergarten. During the last few years that I had my daycare I was also going to school to be an ASL interpreter. Taught the children in my care some ASL. Unfortunately had to close the daycare in 2002, sadly the house we were renting was sold. I then went on to work as a nanny with four of the children from two families, one was a newborn, they had attended my daycare, I was their nanny for four years. I decided it was time to go back to school. While attending college I worked in the child nutrition department for an elementary School District. When I realized that college was not my path, I went on to work in upper management with Starbucks, and Whole Foods. For the past 7 years I have been the food service lead for a high school food service department. During that time I babysat in the evenings with multiple families. I was fortunate that when I created my Urbansitter account I was chosen to work with a family of four In Belmont. Caregiving and mother's/father's helper. A Wonderful family with two children. I have been with them now into our 5th year. They're are moving so it is time to share my love with another family. I am comfortable working with children of all ages. I am a very loving, playful and easy going, I am confident in my caregiving and can adapt easily to any situation that may arise. There has not been a child that I cannot work with. My personality...laid back, funny, hard worker, I do not frustrate easy. I love the challenges that come with children. I communicate well and I am very easy to communicate with. My thought has always been "what would I expect for my children" I am an artist and very creative. I have owned and operated MANY businesses, last one being a License Plate art business. I am very excited to finally have re-opened an Urbansiiter account.I hope that between my video and this very long "about" I will have an opportunity to work with your precious family! Cheers!! Tracey

“We feel incredibly fortunate to have found Tracey. She is consistently warm, dependable, and exceptionally engaged with our children. Rather than simply supervising them, she actively participates in whatever they're interested in, making them feel heard, valued, and excited to spend time with her. She has a remarkable ability to connect with children with very different personalities and interests. Whether she's taking them on walks, visiting museums, doing crafts, or simply having long conversations about the topics they love, she brings genuine enthusiasm and patience to everything she does. She is also always on time, and is happy to help with other household chores when time permits. The biggest endorsement I can give is that our kids are so genuinely excited when she arrives. As a parent, there's nothing more reassuring than knowing your children are happy, engaged, and cared for by someone who truly enjoys being with them.”

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Vanessa
Booked by 4 repeat families
7 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 9 families in San Mateo, CA

Message me if you may have any questions or one-time jobs. Hello! My name is Vanessa. I am born and raised in the Bay Area. I currently have a dog of my own and grew up with two dogs. My first job was as an assistant teacher at preschools and elementary schools, while I was going to community college. Eventually, I graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelors's in Communications and a Theatre minor. I love performing and am seeking a job that can give me some of the flexibility for that (mostly for the evenings). I also have a drivers license and have my COVID vaccines. Hope to talk soon!

“Vanessa arrived on time and had great communication during her afternoon with my son. He said he had so much fun playing and we would love to book Vanessa again! Thanks Vanessa!”

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Jahaira
Booked by 5 repeat families
6 reviews
$40 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 9 families in San Mateo, CA

Hi, my name is Jahaira. I am currently a preschool teacher in Palo Alto. I have been teaching there for over 9 years. I love working with children. I also enjoy helping around the house and be an extra set of hands in your household. I have worked with multiple families in the past, long and short term as a household assistant. I am looking for some weekends or weekday nights hours to help with taking care of your babies or helping around the house. I am very flexible and reliable.

“Jahaira was punctual and our kids loved her. ”

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Kelly
Booked by 8 repeat families
14 reviews
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 17 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello families! My name is Kelly and I'm so excited to meet you. I recently graduated from the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU with a Master's of Medical Science, and I am available for light part-time or occasional jobs. I graduated with a BA in English in 2015, and worked for several years in teaching: high school music and dance programs, summer camp operations, and most recently in administration for a nonprofit preschool. In addition, I spent a year at a local Children's Hospital, planning age-appropriate activities for children of all ability levels. I enjoy primarily working with infants and young children. My favorite activities to do with kids include playing in the park, reading, arts & crafts, and music. I'm proficient in basic Spanish and love to practice with little ones! I am Infant & Child CPR/First Aid certified, and enjoy creating safe and fun spaces for children to play.

“Punctual, professional and fantastic with the kids. Would definitely hire again. ”

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How much does an emergency babysitter cost in San Mateo, CA?

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $31.33
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $37.20
  • Typical job length: 4.9 hours
  • Most requested times: Morning

As of October 2026

Recent babysitter activity in San Mateo, 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.

2,358 sitters background checked in San Mateo, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 27,893 reviews in San Mateo, 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 San Mateo

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Why families trust UrbanSitter for emergency babysitting

Trusted by San Mateo families

See which babysitters have been hired by parents in your San Mateo 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 San Mateo

How do I find an emergency babysitter in San Mateo?

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

How much does an emergency babysitter cost in San Mateo?

As of October 2026, babysitting rates in San Mateo average $31.33 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 San Mateo on UrbanSitter background checked?

Yes. Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check, including those in San Mateo, 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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo?

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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