Discussing the Takoma Park Babysitting Co-op

Brittany Starr is President of the Takoma Park Babysitting Co-op, which she has been a member of for over seven years. Starr has lived in Takoma Park, Maryland since 2014 with her husband James, and their children Emme (7) and Lucas (3).

This interview has been edited lightly.

Would you give us a quick summary of the Takoma Park Babysitting Co-op?

The Takoma Park Babysitting Co-op is a group of about 20 to 25 families in the Takoma Park surroundings (Takoma Park, Takoma DC, and Silver Spring) that agrees to exchange babysitting services for points rather than cash. Because sits are “paid” with points, a family can receive a sit from a given family, but not need to sit for that family specifically in return (unlike a swap with a neighbor).

In order for families to feel comfortable with each other, the co-op membership meets as a group once a month. This meeting is either a business meeting, a family social (at a playground, park, a member’s backyard, etc.) or an adult-only social (at a restaurant, bar, co-op member’s house, etc.)

How does the co-op operate?

Families that are interested in joining the co-op must attend either a business meeting or a social to meet the other members before applying for membership. A home visit and a “gut check”…