Family with caregiver

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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112 available babysitters in San Mateo, CA

Families in San Mateo turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.
103 available today | Avg hourly rate: $31.31/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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Paula
Booked by 8 repeat families
9 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 18 families in San Mateo, CA

My name is Paula. I’m 24 years old. From Colombia, my first language is Spanish but I’m fluent in English. I have experience with newborns, infants, toddlers and multiples at the same time. (Willing to give references) I have 7 years of experience with kids and I love taking care/being around kids. I was an Au Pair. I worked in a preschool with toddlers for two years and currently I’m working with infants. I’m family oriented and care about people around me and how I make them feel. I consider myself open minded, patient, respectful, responsible, flexible, organized, energetic, kind, fun-loving and independent. I love animals, I’m okay with any kind of foods. CPR, first aid, AED certification. Excelente driving record. Non smoker. I’m fully vaccinated, Willing to do light housekeeping and teach Spanish. Thank you

“Paula was great with my 5 yr old son! They played outside a ton and walked to a near by park. He said he had a great day! Will definitely book again! ”

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Rafaella
Booked by 1 repeat family
5 reviews
$38 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 7 families in San Mateo, CA

Hi families! My name is Rafaella, and I’m a career nanny and family assistant with 9+ years of professional experience caring for children from newborns through the teenage years. I’m currently available on weekends only for occasional babysitting, date nights, and one-time childcare opportunities. I have extensive experience with childcare, mother’s helper, and family-assistant responsibilities. I’m comfortable with meal preparation, children’s routines, activities, and keeping little ones engaged through outings, arts and crafts, and age-appropriate play. I’m reliable, nurturing, organized, and genuinely love what I do. I look forward to connecting with families looking for dependable weekend care!

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Darby
Booked by 3 repeat families
2 reviews
$35 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 10 families in San Mateo, CA

Hi families! My name is Darby, and I’m a caring, experienced early childhood educator based in the Bay Area. I hold a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University, with a minor in Special Education, and have worked with children for over 10 years as both a preschool teacher and nanny. Most of my experience is with children ages 1–5, though I also have about three years of experience caring for infants as young as 6 months old. I’m passionate about creating safe, nurturing, and engaging environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive. I take a play-based approach to caregiving and enjoy incorporating creativity, outdoor exploration, and age-appropriate learning into each day. I look forward to partnering with families to provide dependable, personalized care that meets each child’s unique needs.

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Carol
Booked by 5 repeat families
6 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 7 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello parents, I'm Carol and I'm 28 years old. I've been a nanny over 3 years here in the Bay Area with mostly experience with infants and toddlers. Depending on the kid's age I enjoy doing different activities indoors like reading books, doing arts and crafts, painting, etc and outdoors (always following the COVID guidelines). Exploring nature help kids to be away from electronics and let them discover new skills in them selves. I see myself as a punctual, patient, reliable and easygoing person, who is a good listener and follows parent's guidelines.

“We love having Carol watch our son (toddler). When we tell him in the morning that Carol is coming that evening he asks us through the day if she's here yet... and when we say no, he goes "Aww, man" (and squeals in delight when she arrives!). Carol is EXTREMELY attentive to Tristan, very sweet and caring with him. She gets down on his level, asks him questions about what he wants to do and makes sure he has a fun time. She does a "yes, and" when playing with him, and plays how he wants to play (of course keeping him safe). He loves it! And keeps the TV off, which is great. And her positive, infectious energy has us all smiling and laughing. As parents, we appreciate that she is responsible, communicates well, punctual, gets him fed, gets him to bed on time, and even does bath time when needed! We really look forward to being able to go out for dinner while having complete peace of mind. In short, we would highly recommend Carol to any friends of ours who are looking for a babysitter!”

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Lilian
Booked by 211 repeat families
175 reviews
$32 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 384 families in San Mateo, CA

Hi , my name is Liliam and I’m looking for ocasional babysitting. As you can see in my profile I have more than one hundred reviews, and I really enjoy working with kids. I'm so creative , responsible , kind , fun , friendly , so dedicate about my job and an animal lover :) If I had the opportunity to take care of your kids I will do my best to keep them safe and happy. We will have fun together playing card games , pretend games , making puzzles , playing sports , reading books , building legos, doing handcrafts , playing outside and any activity you children like.

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

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $31.31
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $37.19
  • 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.

2,369 sitters background checked in San Mateo, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 28,075 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 $31.31 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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