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Find a last-minute babysitter in San Mateo, CA

Need a sitter on short notice? San Mateo families find trusted, background checked babysitters on UrbanSitter.

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110 available last-minute babysitters in San Mateo, CA

Families in San Mateo use UrbanSitter for last-minute date nights, schedule changes, backup care, and same-day babysitter needs.
104 available today | Avg hourly rate: $31.23/hr

All babysitters shown here are background checked every year. Learn more.

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Paula
Booked by 71 repeat families
96 reviews
$28 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 140 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello families! ¡Hola, Familias! I am Paula (or Pau). I was born and raised in Colombia; I moved to the US in 2014 as an Au Pair (live-in nanny). I worked with two families in two different cities and have remained a nanny ever since. Some of the things I love are music, spending time outdoors, animals, hiking, dancing, swimming, and reading. My experience with kids began when I was 10. I come from a huge family, so I've been around kids my whole life. I am very energetic and creative so I like to come up with different activities age-convenient outside and inside the house, I have worked with kids of all ages including twins, newborns and toddlers; I love to spend time with kids, I like to play with them and teach them new things (like Spanish) and I think that security is the key to proper development for the kids so my primary goal is to make kids feel safe to play and learn and have fun of course! If you have any questions/or you don't see availability in my calendar, please feel free to message me. Hablo español porque soy de Colombia. Si tiene dudas, preguntas o peticiones, por favor no dude en enviarme un mensaje, con mucho gusto le atiendo. Thank you for your interest. ****SITTER POLICY*** - By scheduling a booking with me, you're acknowledging that you've read and will abide by this policy. -PAYMENT: Cash only, please. -AVAILABILITY: Occasional and temporary part-time care. Pet and house sitting. -RATES: My rates are the same whether the child is awake or asleep and the rate per hour depends on the amount of chores and responsibilities I’ll be in charge of. I charge double time for the following holidays: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Day after Christmas. CANCELATIONS: I understand that plans change. However, I do recommend a 48-hour notice so I can try to fulfill my calendar with a new booking. BOOKINGS: I charge for the full time I was booked for , regardless if I get dismissed earlier than expected because I plan my time and my budget around my bookings. So please, give me a 48h notice if you need to cancel. Also, if you plan on arriving later than expected, please let me know at least 1 hour before the booking is supposed to end. I'm usually flexible with late arrivals, but sometimes I have more than one booking on the same day, and your late arrival can negatively affect the rest of my day. Thanks for reading! :)

“Paula was great! Very calm and a natural caregiver. Our kids want to know when she's coming back....”

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Ava
Booked by 6 repeat families
5 reviews
$25 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 6 families in San Mateo, CA

Greetings! My name is Ava Alexandra (She/They) and I have been babysitting since 2019. I am a San Francisco native, multimedia artist, and community advocate who is going back to university to finish my Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Asian American Studies. I currently attend SFSU and my hobbies include painting, enjoying live music, playing dress up, and advocating for my community! In my spare time I enjoy cooking, baking, writing poetry, and singing karaoke. I have experience caring for children ages 1-12, picking them up from school, walking them home, or bringing them to the park for a few hours to play. I am well versed in "mother's helper" tasks such as dishwashing, cooking, laundry, light housework, and organizing. I am familiar with bedtime and bath time routines for children, ensuring they are well taken care of and happy. I enjoy working with children and providing them with the tools they need to be creative, grow strong, and be healthy! I enjoy art, fashion, and all elements of design. I love to design clothing and sew. Some of my interests include painting, watching anime, and playing Nintendo Switch games. Please book me at least 24 hours in advance. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Hope to be in touch soon. :)

“Ava has been extremely sweet with my daughter, getting her ready and taking her to school in the morning while I'm in Zoom meetings and then helping me with some mommy's helper stuff around the house. She's making my life a lot easier! 🙏🥰”

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Alena
Booked by 30 repeat families
43 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 64 families in San Mateo, CA

I have been working with children for about 25 years. I have experience working with multiple children at a time and children different ages, including infants. Working with children has always been my passion. I am very energetic and love taking kids for walks, to the park, library, enjoy doing art projects, read books and just love watching kids grow and watch them learn new things. I also speak German and Bosnia . I am a mother of two school aged children. My son is 17 and daughter is 15 years old. I have worked with many families and therefore have many references. I am available for occasional evening and weekend babysitting.

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Marilyn
Booked by 3 repeat families
9 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 16 families in San Mateo, CA

Hi families! I’m Marilyn! I'm CPR and First Aid certified and have experience caring for kids from toddlers to teens (ages 2–13). I love keeping things fun with outings to the park, library story times, or helping with ballet, swimming, and after-school activities. I’m currently working with a few local families and am happy to help with light errands, dog walks (I’m a big animal lover!), and keeping things tidy around the house. I’m reliable, warm, and always happy to plan ahead especially for date nights or evening babysitting. Looking forward to meeting your family!

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Jessica
Booked by 19 repeat families
30 reviews
$50 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 51 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello Parents! My name is Jessica, and I’m an experienced, caring, and reliable nanny with 7 years of experience working with children of all ages. Legally authorized to work .I specialize in creating a fun, safe, and nurturing environment while supporting children’s development through engaging activities and structured routines. My journey began in 2019 in Connecticut, where I worked with two wonderful families. I cared for three children—two boys (ages 4 and 7) and a girl (8 years old)—for six months, and then transitioned to a second family with four kids, including 3-year-old twins, a 9-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old girl. After moving to California, I spent 1 year and 6 months caring for two lovely girls, aged 4 and 7. And after that I had the opportunity to care for a baby girl, starting when she was 11 months old until she was 1 year and 7 months and with the same family I worked caring for their second daughter from 4 months to 2 years old. ✔️ My skills :Time management , Creative Planning, Emergency response, Excellent Communication skills, Problem Solving, Proactive,Patient . Services I offer : ✅ Last minute nanny service ( save my contact for future work) ✅ Overnight, house sitting and weekends . ( if you need help in a party too) ✅ Errand running & household organization ✅ House assistant services (Google suite experience,schedule appointments , and others ) I’m passionate about helping children grow, learn, and thrive, and I’d love to bring my experience to your family. Looking forward to connecting! Thank you!

“Jessica was great with our 10 month old! She was on time and followed his schedule perfectly. I would definitely hire her again for future baby-sitting. ”

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How much does a last-minute babysitter cost in San Mateo, CA?

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $31.23
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $37.10
  • Typical job length: 4.8 hours
  • Most requested times: Morning

As of October 2026

Recent babysitter activity in San Mateo, CA

Trust matters, especially on short notice

Babysitters on UrbanSitter are background checked every year, with every profile individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team.

2,378 sitters background checked in San Mateo, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 28,371 reviews in San Mateo, CA

photo of quoted parent Marie

"Amina came and helped us out when our babysitter canceled last minute. She was great with our kids. Even our 11 month old son who has stranger anxiety warmed up to her."

Marie C., parent

photo of quoted parent Jenny

"She was so flexible and came last minute to help out. The house was really neat when I got home and both kids were asleep. Two thumbs up!"

Jenny S., parent

photo of quoted parent Jesse

"Thrisa was amazing! Came over last minute and took amazing care of our 11 month old - including bedtime - she's coming back tomorrow :)"

Jesse D., parent

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Find a last-minute babysitter in San Mateo

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Why San Mateo families choose UrbanSitter for last-minute child care

Quick responses when plans change

In most cities, average response time for last-minute requests is under two minutes.

Recommended by San Mateo families

See which babysitters have been hired by parents at your child's school, preschool, or neighborhood in San Mateo.

Background checked, every year

Every babysitter clears an annual background check, offering peace of mind even on short notice.

Read reviews, then decide

See parent reviews, repeat families, and average response times to find the right fit fast.

Frequently asked questions about finding a last-minute babysitter in San Mateo

How do I find a last-minute babysitter in San Mateo?

Sign up on UrbanSitter, enter your zip code, and submit a request with your timing and care needs. Babysitters near San Mateo who are available can respond to your request. Before choosing, you can view profiles, parent reviews, and shared connections.

How much does a last-minute babysitter cost in San Mateo?

As of October 2026, the average babysitting rate in San Mateo is $31.23 per hour for one child. Rates vary by experience, number of children, and time of day. See babysitting rates in San Mateo.

Are babysitters on UrbanSitter background checked?

Yes. Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check. You can also read reviews from San Mateo families and see shared connections before you book. See what's included in the background check.

Can I find a same-day babysitter in San Mateo?

Same-day requests are common on UrbanSitter. Submit a request with your timing and care needs, and available sitters in San Mateo can respond. In most cities, the average response time for urgent requests is under two minutes.

Should I pay more for a last-minute babysitter?

Some parents offer a slightly higher rate for last-minute or same-day requests, but it is not required. On UrbanSitter, rates are set by individual babysitters. You can see each babysitter's hourly rate on their profile before you book.

What if I need a babysitter last minute today?

To find a last-minute babysitter today, share your timing and care needs on UrbanSitter. Available babysitters in San Mateo can respond, and you can review profiles before choosing.

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