Intrusive monitoring and policies that restrict reliable communication with sitters
★☆☆☆☆
I’ve used Bambino many times, but after my most recent experience, I no longer feel comfortable using the platform.
One of my longstanding frustrations with Bambino is that it redacts phone numbers shared through its messaging system. This has made communicating reliably with sitters while I’m away from my child unnecessarily difficult. I understand encouraging communication through the app, but I strongly disagree with preventing a parent and the person caring for their child from exchanging direct contact information.
During my most recent sit, the sitter messaged me beforehand explaining that she did not have reliable cellular data and was concerned she wouldn’t be able to contact me through the app when she arrived. I found a workaround to give her my phone number, and she was then able to call me when she arrived. The sit itself went perfectly well.
When I returned, I asked whether she preferred cash or payment through the app. She chose cash, so I paid her directly. The next morning, she messaged me because she didn’t know how to close the sit in the app after receiving cash.
Bambino then paused both of our accounts.
Initially, the email I received referenced exchanging contact information. When I responded that reliable direct communication between a parent and sitter is important and that not everyone has reliable cellular data, I was told the issue was instead that I had paid the sitter in cash. Bambino then sent me screenshots of our private messages that they had reviewed while determining whether to pause our accounts and told me that we must communicate and pay according to their platform rules if we want to use Bambino again.
I understand Bambino is a business and can require payment through its platform. What I don’t appreciate is framing these restrictions primarily as being for our “safety.”
If someone is caring for my child, I absolutely want their phone number and I want them to have mine. I do not consider forcing our communication to depend on a third-party app, reliable data service, working notifications, and continued access to our accounts to be safer. I’ve experienced the inconvenience of this communication restriction on previous sits, and this time the sitter herself specifically raised the problem because her data service was unreliable.
Parents should also be aware that Bambino is constantly reviewing conversations between you and your sitter. That concerns me for many reasons beyond simply the privacy implications.
I love the sitters I’ve found through Bambino, and I will continue to use them OUTSIDE of Bambino.
I’ve used Bambino many times, but after my most recent experience, I no longer feel comfortable using the platform.
One of my longstanding frustrations with Bambino is that it redacts phone numbers shared through its messaging system. This has made communicating reliably with sitters while I’m away from my child unnecessarily difficult. I understand encouraging communication through the app, but I strongly disagree with preventing a parent and the person caring for their child from exchanging direct contact information.
During my most recent sit, the sitter messaged me beforehand explaining that she did not have reliable cellular data and was concerned she wouldn’t be able to contact me through the app when she arrived. I found a workaround to give her my phone number, and she was then able to call me when she arrived. The sit itself went perfectly well.
When I returned, I asked whether she preferred cash or payment through the app. She chose cash, so I paid her directly. The next morning, she messaged me because she didn’t know how to close the sit in the app after receiving cash.
Bambino then paused both of our accounts.
Initially, the email I received referenced exchanging contact information. When I responded that reliable direct communication between a parent and sitter is important and that not everyone has reliable cellular data, I was told the issue was instead that I had paid the sitter in cash. Bambino then sent me screenshots of our private messages that they had reviewed while determining whether to pause our accounts and told me that we must communicate and pay according to their platform rules if we want to use Bambino again.
I understand Bambino is a business and can require payment through its platform. What I don’t appreciate is framing these restrictions primarily as being for our “safety.”
If someone is caring for my child, I absolutely want their phone number and I want them to have mine. I do not consider forcing our communication to depend on a third-party app, reliable data service, working notifications, and continued access to our accounts to be safer. I’ve experienced the inconvenience of this communication restriction on previous sits, and this time the sitter herself specifically raised the problem because her data service was unreliable.
Parents should also be aware that Bambino is constantly reviewing conversations between you and your sitter. That concerns me for many reasons beyond simply the privacy implications.
I love the sitters I’ve found through Bambino, and I will continue to use them OUTSIDE of Bambino.
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Price is marked up
Bambino marks up what babysitters charge. I’m not talking about service fees. I had a babysitter come who told me directly she charges $20/hour and was surprised to find out her bambino profile is $23/hour. I’ve experienced this with multiple sitters recently. This isn’t disclosed and is misleading.
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Awful for finding/getting bookings
For one, you have no way to find jobs. You have to pray that someone will book with you. For two, a lot of the parents will book and then cancel/find a different sitter. Some of them cancel immediately but I had someone wait until an HOUR before the booking to cancel. Definitely very irritating app if you actually want traction.
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She’s incredible
Considerate, respectful of time and responsibilities, attention to details, took initiative and was able to handle multiple kids lovingly and in an orderly manner. Highly recommend Kaylen and thank you for putting our minds at ease while we were out 🙏🏿
Display sitters availability
It would be helpful if the sitter’s availability was displayed when viewing their profiles. I do not like not having the option to
choose a different sitter because the schedule that I select automatically removes any sitter that cannot do the specified time. I can allow flexibility at times and it would be helpful to see their availability before having to enter my request. Perhaps I may find a better fit if this were an option.
choose a different sitter because the schedule that I select automatically removes any sitter that cannot do the specified time. I can allow flexibility at times and it would be helpful to see their availability before having to enter my request. Perhaps I may find a better fit if this were an option.
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