Family with caregiver

Find an emergency babysitter in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz 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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65 available babysitters in Santa Cruz, CA

Families in Santa Cruz turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.
11 available today | Avg hourly rate: $29.96/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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Courtney
Booked by 10 repeat families
18 reviews
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 26 families in Santa Cruz, CA

Hello, My name is Courtney and I am currently looking for occasional jobs only! I am a nursing assistant who is home for the summer. I work with ages 0-10. I love taking care of the kids and providing a nurturing and safe environment. I offer child care and pet services! I have grown up with my twin sister and oldest sister and have three dogs. In high school, I was captain of my soccer team and was awarded Most Inspiring and Senior of the Year. I love taking care of kids. I have been babysitting since I was 16 and have been using Urban Sitter for 5 years! I work with all ages. Some activities I love to do with kids include playing sports, doing arts and crafts, going on walks, and playing imaginary games. I will always encourage kids to use their imagination and creativity. I try to implement stimulating activities for kids such as memory games, asking them mental math problems, asking them to point to certain colors/numbers etc. I am a very active and adaptable person. Your kids safety and comfortability is my #1 priority. I am CPR and AED certified! As for pets, I have three dogs myself and would love to pet sit! I I am very experienced with taking care of pets. I can sit dogs and cats as well as other animals. At this time, I am only looking for occasional jobs due to my busy schedule with school. Please reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Sonia
Booked by 3 repeat families
3 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 5 families in Santa Cruz, CA

Hi, I’m Soni! Nice to meet you! I want to help your family! I like to spend time with kids because they teach me a lot and, of course, I teach them new fun adventures and games. I used to babysit for a family in SF (~2 years). I have taken just occasional jobs, but I have been working during all my time in the USA as a babysitter (~4 years) plus some occasional in Colombia (~7 years). I’m studying to become a chiropractor, so I can’t take full-time jobs, but I do take part time or occasional jobs! I would love to help your family also during my breaks ( usually 1 to 3 weeks), so don’t hesitate to reach out!

“Sonia was great with our twin boys, keeping up with their energy and playing non stop! We will invite Sonia back again!”

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Donay
Booked by 15 repeat families
13 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 25 families in Santa Cruz, CA

Hi families! I've been working as a full time nanny for 6 years, and babysitting in my free time. I stayed with two families before as a live in nanny, it was a great experience!! I love working with children. I've worked with infants and older kids ages between 3 months to 13 years old. I strive to help children reach their milestones by doing age appropriate activities. For instance, with infants tummy time, helping them sit by themselves, introducing soiled food or new foods, training them to walk, potty training, reading books to them and playing with them in a stimulus way. With toddlers and older kids we’ll be doing crafts such as drawing, painting, playing active games and being creative in an educational ways. I am a registered behavioral technician, I worked as a RBT working with children on the autism spectrum and children with behavioral development. A little about me: I am considered to be friendly, trustworthy, responsible and respectful. I am a good communicator, talk openly, follow instructions and take lead where need be. In my free time I love exploring the outdoors going on hikes or bike rides, I also love reading books or binging movies and I have a passion for videography and photography. *Qualifications* CPR and First Aid College Degree Able to provide references

“My son had amazing time with Donay ”

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Camila
Booked by 2 repeat families
6 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 6 families in Santa Cruz, CA

My name is Camila, I am 31 years old. I am from Brazil. I’m an energetic and affectionate person, responsible, kind, and respectful. I love spending time outdoors, but I can also make any day indoors fun and joyful. I have experience caring for multiples, infants, toddlers, and children of all ages. In addition to my experience as a nanny, I worked for 9 years as a dance teacher in a daycare/preschool, spent 5 years as a summer camp leader, and also entertained children at birthday parties. I am fully vaccinated and CPR/First Aid certified. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, a degree in Educational Psychology, and have experience as a teacher’s assistant with a strong background in child development. I’m also an actress and ballerina with a passion for the arts, and I hold a valid California driver’s license.

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Nia
Booked by 1 repeat family
3 reviews
$24 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 4 families in Santa Cruz, CA

Hi! I love helping families with babysitting and light household tasks like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I’ve spent ten years working in education, have experience with kids from K–12, and hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I enjoy doing arts and crafts and simple cooking activities with kids and love creating a fun, calm environment. I’m looking to work with children ages 2 and up, and I’m comfortable around small dogs and cats.

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How much does an emergency babysitter cost in Santa Cruz, CA?

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $29.96
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $36.27
  • Typical job length: 5.9 hours
  • Most requested times: Morning

As of October 2026

Recent babysitter activity in Santa Cruz, 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.

202 sitters background checked in Santa Cruz, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 1,155 reviews in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz

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Why families trust UrbanSitter for emergency babysitting

Trusted by Santa Cruz families

See which babysitters have been hired by parents in your Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz

How do I find an emergency babysitter in Santa Cruz?

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

How much does an emergency babysitter cost in Santa Cruz?

As of October 2026, babysitting rates in Santa Cruz average $29.96 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 Santa Cruz on UrbanSitter background checked?

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

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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