Best in Hood
Menu

5 Best Babysitting Services in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Fenris Morrow
By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Leaving a child with a stranger in New York is a decision most parents don't want to make twice. Between them these babysitting services have logged over 500 Google reviews, and the review counts run from 59 up to 148, so track record varies more than quality does here.

Short answer: Smart Sitting leads on review volume with a 4.8 rating across 148 reviews, built on years of vetted nanny placements. For hotel and travel childcare specifically, Family Care Options holds a 5.0 rating across 100 reviews and has operated since 2002.
Jump to a business

New York's babysitting agencies, side by side

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Smart Sitting 4.8 148 On-demand and backup childcare View ›
2 Family Care Options 5.0 100 Hotel and travel babysitting View ›
3 Nannies by Noa 4.6 139 Nanny placement, newborn care specialists View ›
4 A Nanny Match 4.9 59 Rigorous vetting, personalized matching View ›
5 Manhattan Nannies 4.7 64 Household staff alongside nannies View ›
5 Best Babysitting Services in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Smart Sitting logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Smart Sitting

4.8148 Google reviews

Smart Sitting is a nanny and babysitting agency offering full-time nannies, part-time nannies, on-demand babysitting for emergencies, and traveling nannies for families on the move. The agency runs background checks, safety screenings, and reference checks on every caregiver before placement, and also coordinates on-site childcare for corporate events.

What people praise

  • Rigorous vetting: background checks, references, screenings
  • Reliable for last-minute or emergency coverage
  • Corporate event childcare coordination praised
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume148 · 97th
Confidencemoderate
Recencyabout a year ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The largest review base on this page at 148 reviews, and its emergency on-demand option covers gaps other agencies don't.

Family Care Options logo
#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Family Care Options

5.0100 Google reviews

Family Care Options has served New York families and travelers since 2002, offering in-home and hotel babysitting, adult care, and backup care alongside pet sitting and stroller rentals. The agency positions itself specifically for visitors, with reviewers describing sitters meeting families at hotels for the duration of a trip.

What people praise

  • Every one of 100 reviews is 5 stars but one
  • Specializes in serving visitors and hotel guests
  • Sitters described as warm and reliable with young toddlers
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating5 / 5
Review volume100 · 85th
Confidencemoderate
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown99% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A near-perfect rating and two decades of operation make this the pick for anyone visiting New York and needing a trustworthy sitter fast.

430 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

Nannies by Noa logo
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Nannies by Noa

4.6139 Google reviews

Nannies by Noa is a boutique nanny and newborn care placement agency serving New York City and the Tri-State area, matching qualified caregivers with families through interviews, reference checks, and trial periods. The agency represents both career nannies and Newborn Care Specialists, and reviewers describe a multi-step matching process designed to reduce mismatches.

What people praise

  • Thorough, multi-step matching process
  • Represents Newborn Care Specialists, not just general sitters
  • Caregivers describe feeling genuinely supported through interviews

Worth knowing

  • A handful of 1-star reviews sit alongside the mostly-5-star pattern
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume139 · 91th
Confidencemoderate
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: With 139 reviews at 4.6 stars, this is best for families looking for a longer-term nanny match rather than a one-off sitter.

1345 6th Ave 2nd FL, New York, NY 10105

A Nanny Match logo
#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

A Nanny Match

4.959 Google reviews

A Nanny Match is a New York nanny agency run by Cindy and Kristen, pairing families with nannies and family assistants through what reviewers describe as an unusually personal, detail-oriented matching process. The agency conducts reference and background checks and takes time upfront to understand each family's specific needs before presenting candidates.

What people praise

  • Candidates described as well-matched to family needs
  • Advocates for both nannies and families through the process
  • Responsive even outside standard vetting timelines
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume59 · 68th
Confidenceearly
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The smallest review count here at 59, but a 4.9 rating and consistently detailed praise for the matching process itself.

26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Manhattan Nannies logo
#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Manhattan Nannies

4.764 Google reviews

Manhattan Nannies connects families with nannies and household staff across New York City, starting by learning each family's home routine and the personalities of the children before recommending candidates. The agency, run in part by Florence and Brooke, also places household staff beyond childcare.

What people praise

  • Learns family routines before recommending candidates
  • Handles household staff placement, not just nannies
  • Candidates describe supportive, patient interview process

Worth knowing

  • A few reviews cite a slower placement pace
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume64 · 74th
Confidenceearly
Recency7 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown92% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.7 rating across 64 reviews, with the broadest staffing scope of anyone on this page.

244 Madison Ave Ste 286, New York, NY 10016

6

Your business here

Get listed on this page, in front of local customers already searching for you.

Claim this spot ›

How we score

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume measures how many customers have rated an agency, ranked against others in the same search. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a perfect score built on a handful of reviews scores lower than one built on hundreds. Recency checks how many reviews have come in lately. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does babysitting cost in New York? (2026)

None of these agencies publish a fixed hourly rate in their site text, and pricing depends on whether you’re booking a one-off sitter, a placement agency fee for a full-time nanny, or backup care. Ask each agency directly for current rates.

Serving all of New York

These agencies cover Manhattan and the wider Tri-State area, with several specifically serving hotel guests and out-of-town visitors. If you’re searching for a babysitter near me, most agencies can arrange same-day or next-day coverage for urgent needs.

What to ask before you hire a babysitting service

  • What background checks and screenings do your sitters go through?
  • Can you provide emergency or same-day coverage?
  • Is there a placement fee, or is it billed hourly?
  • Do sitters have experience with my child’s specific age group?
  • What happens if the assigned sitter cancels last minute?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these babysitting services?

We pulled every childcare agency with a real Google Business Profile in New York, then ranked them by rating, review volume, and recency.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in August 2026 and gets refreshed periodically.

Are these agencies good for tourists visiting New York?

Family Care Options specifically markets to hotel guests and travelers, with sitters who can meet you at your hotel.

What’s the difference between a babysitting service and a nanny placement agency?

Babysitting services like Family Care Options handle one-off or short-term bookings, while agencies like Nannies by Noa and A Nanny Match focus on longer-term nanny placements.

The bottom line

Smart Sitting’s vetting process and emergency coverage make it the safe default for most New York families. If you’re traveling with kids, Family Care Options’ near-perfect record and hotel-focused service are worth the call instead.

Own one of these businesses, or want to be here?

Claim your spot on this page: Basic listing $50 or Premium $100 for the top spot, held a full year. Both include a permanent link to your site.