For parents
Childcare that works with real life
tend helps families book vetted sitters with real availability. No subscriptions, no job board-style posts, and no waiting for replies.
You see who is available, review their experience, and book directly through the platform.
Care, arranged calmly.
Browse available sittersEvery sitter is vetted, including a Vulnerable Sector Police Check, First Aid and CPR certification, and references. Read more on Safety and trust.
How tend works for parents
1
Start with your care details
Enter the date, time, and location of care, along with the number and ages of your children and any practical needs.
tend uses this information to narrow results before you see any sitters.
2
See who is truly available
tend only shows sitters who have already marked themselves available for your requested time and location, including whether they offer same-day care.
If a sitter appears in your results, they are prepared to take the booking.
3
Review, then book directly
Review sitter profiles at your own pace, including experience, care preferences, and feedback from real families.
When you are ready, you book through the platform. Payment is handled automatically using the sitter’s listed rate.
Not in Oakville or surrounding areas? Join the waitlist to be notified when tend opens near you.
What care costs
Clear pricing, before you book
You pay the sitter’s hourly rate
Sitters set their own rates. Most sitters on tend charge between $20 and $30 per hour, shown on every profile.
No subscriptions, no booking fees
tend is free for parents to use. There is nothing to sign up for and no fee added at checkout.
Same-day care carries a $25 premium
When care is booked on the same day, a clearly displayed premium applies to reflect the added flexibility. You see it before you confirm.
Every completed booking earns points toward future care, quietly, in the background. About tend rewards
Safety and trust
The tend standard
Every sitter on tend is over 18 and has completed each of the following before their first booking:
- Identity verification
- A Vulnerable Sector Police Check
- First Aid and CPR certification
- Reference checks
- A personal conversation with our team
We accept a small number of sitters, intentionally. The goal is trust, not scale.
Read more on Safety and trust
From recent bookings
What parents say after care
“Victoria was fantastic! Warm, kind, and extremely caring. She was on time, professional, and put us completely at ease. She gave us updates via text, which was a nice way to keep us updated on our baby’s activities. Highly recommend!”
“Arianna was excellent with my little one and punctual. She was able to keep my little one engaged by letting them help prepare a grilled cheese, taking them to the park twice throughout the day, and creating an art project that was given to me as I arrived home. Arianna was responsive to my texts and kept me up to date on my little one. Arianna has a calm presence. I highly recommend her and would have her provide childcare again.”
“Chloe was punctual and very attentive with our three children. We have three children under 5 and she managed the bedtime routine, which is no easy task. Her calmness was greatly appreciated as it helped the kids feel calm as well. Would recommend for sure!”
Every sitter’s profile shows their full review history before you book.
Parent FAQs
Practical questions, answered plainly.
How do I know a sitter is actually available?
Sitters set their availability in advance. tend only shows sitters who have marked themselves as available for the specific time and location you search.
If a sitter appears in your results, that time is open and ready to be booked.
Can I meet a sitter before booking?
Every sitter profile includes their experience, qualifications, certifications, and reviews from previous families so you can make an informed decision before booking.
If you'd like to connect first, you can request a short introductory call directly from a sitter's profile. It's a simple way to say hello and feel more comfortable before your first booking.
Many families also like to start with a shorter first booking, often while a parent is home. It's a relaxed, low-pressure way to get to know a sitter before relying on them for longer care in the future.
Do sitters accept or decline bookings?
No.
When a sitter marks themselves as available, parents book directly through the platform. There is no waiting for confirmation or back-and-forth messaging.
This helps make booking simple and makes short-notice care possible.
Can I choose my sitter?
Yes.
You’ll see every sitter who is available for your requested time and location. You can review profiles, experience, qualifications, and feedback before choosing the sitter who feels like the best fit for your family.
Is the cost the same for more than one child?
Yes.
Sitters set a single hourly rate per booking, regardless of the number of children, within the limits shown on their profile.
Can I stay home while the sitter is there?
Absolutely.
Many families book care while they’re at home, whether they’re working, hosting guests, catching up on chores, or simply taking some time to recharge.
Care can be arranged in whatever way works best for your household.
What is a sitter's role during care?
Our sitters are there to focus on childcare.
During a booking, they are expected to supervise and care for your children, follow your family's routines and instructions, and keep children safe, engaged, and supported.
They are not expected to perform general household cleaning or chores. They will, however, tidy up anything used during care, such as toys, dishes used for the child, or activity materials.
Can I book the same sitter again?
Yes.
If a sitter you’ve booked before is available, you’re welcome to book them again. Many families choose to build an ongoing relationship with a sitter their children know and enjoy.
How quickly can care start?
Parents can book care with as little as one hour’s notice, depending on sitter availability.
Bookings made on the same day include a clearly displayed same-day care premium.
Is tend free to use?
Yes.
There are no subscriptions or platform fees for parents. You simply pay the sitter’s listed hourly rate, plus any applicable same-day care premium shown before booking.
Most sitters on tend charge between $20 and $30 per hour.
What is the same-day care premium?
When care is booked on the same day, a same-day care premium of $25 applies.
This reflects the extra flexibility required when a sitter makes themselves available on short notice. The premium helps ensure sitters who opt into same-day care are fairly compensated for being on call.
The same-day care premium is added to the booking total and is shown clearly before you book.
What happens if plans change?
tend is designed to be fair to both families and sitters.
Cancellations made more than 12 hours before the scheduled start time are free.
If a booking is cancelled within 12 hours of the scheduled start time, a cancellation fee applies:
12 hours to 4 hours before start | Up to 1 hour of care at the sitter’s hourly rate
Within 4 hours of start | Up to 2 hours of care at the sitter’s hourly rate
If the original booking was shorter than the amounts above, the fee is limited to the originally booked hours.
Any applicable cancellation fee is shown clearly before confirmation and processed through the platform.
What happens if a sitter cancels?
Same-day sitter cancellations are uncommon, but if they happen, tend will help you secure alternative care where possible.
Families are never charged for a booking cancelled by a sitter.
Because reliability is fundamental to the platform, repeated same-day cancellations may affect a sitter’s ability to continue accepting bookings through tend.
Will sitters care for mildly unwell children?
We understand that childcare sometimes overlaps with illness, particularly with same-day bookings or daycare stand-downs.
Families are expected to share relevant information upfront so sitters can arrive prepared.
tend does not support bookings for seriously ill children or situations requiring medical care.
Where is tend available?
tend is currently available across Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Mississauga, and Halton Hills.
We’re expanding thoughtfully as our community of vetted sitters grows. If we’re not in your area yet, you can join the waitlist to be notified when tend launches near you.
Find care when you need it
See who is available for your time and location, and book directly through tend.
Browse available sittersQuestions about vetting? Read Safety and trust