A calmer way to book childcare
On-demand care from vetted sitters, without the back-and-forth.
Now serving Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Mississauga, and Halton Hills.
tend is now live across Halton Region and Mississauga
Families can browse a curated group of sitters, view availability in real time, and book care directly through the platform.
All sitters are carefully vetted, including identity verification, Vulnerable Sector Police Checks, First Aid and CPR certification, and references. You can read more about our vetting on the Safety and Trust page.
Since launching in April 2026
9 in 10
reviews are five stars
3 in 4
of families come back to book again
350+
hours of care delivered
Not in Halton Region or Mississauga? Join the waitlist to be notified when tend opens in your area.
Who tend is for
For parents
Childcare that works with real life
Vetted sitters, real availability, booked directly.
Short-notice and same-day care when plans change, from sitters who are vetted, reviewed, and genuinely available.
There is no posting, no messaging back and forth, and no waiting for replies. Everything is in view before you confirm.
How tend works for parents
For sitters
A more considered way to work
Your availability, your rates, your schedule.
Set your availability and take on bookings that fit your schedule. Families only see you when you are available for their time and location.
Screening, payments, and reviews are handled by tend, so expectations stay clear on both sides.
How tend works for sittersWhy parents choose tend
Built for same-day care
tend is designed around real availability. Sitters set their schedules in advance, so there is no posting, no waiting, and no uncertainty about whether someone will respond.
Carefully vetted sitters
Every sitter is over 18 and completes an application, interview, and screening process before joining. We accept a small number of sitters, intentionally. The goal is trust, not scale.
Transparent reviews
After each booking, parents and sitters review each other. Over time, this creates a clear picture of reliability and experience. It feels like receiving a thoughtful recommendation.
Free for parents
Parents do not pay a subscription or booking fee. You pay the sitter’s listed hourly rate, with any applicable same-day premium clearly shown before you book.
Thoughtful rewards
Every completed booking earns points toward future care. It is a simple way to recognize families who build ongoing relationships with trusted sitters.
Built locally
tend is launching in the GTA and expanding with intention. We are building a reliable community first, and expanding only once there are enough vetted sitters to support families.
Vetted and reviewed
Meet some of the sitters on tend
Julia
Former After-School Program Leader
Oakville, Mississauga, Milton, Burlington
Julia led the after-school program at Rotherglen Oakville Primary Campus and brings a Montessori-inspired, child-centred approach to toddlers and school-aged children.
Dominika
Educational Assistant · Halton District School Board
Milton, Halton Hills, Oakville, Mississauga
Six years of experience across EarlyON, nanny roles, and childcare centres. Dominika is trained in supporting children with diverse learning needs, including ASL and Deaf and Hard of Hearing support.
Nileshka
Registered Nurse · NICU
Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Etobicoke
Victoria has over 15 years of experience working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten-aged children. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies and has experience supporting children with ASD, speech delays, and Montessori-inspired learning.
Maariya
Registered Early Childhood Educator · Honours BA
Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Etobicoke
Maariya is an RECE with an Honours BA in Early Childhood Education and six years of experience across childcare centres, schools, early intervention programs, and residential care. She brings warm, attentive care for infants through school-aged children.
Victoria
Registered Early Childhood Educator
Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Etobicoke
Victoria has over 15 years of experience working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten-aged children. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies and has experience supporting children with ASD, speech delays, and Montessori-inspired learning.
Monika
Registered Nurse · Emergency Department
Milton, Halton Hills, Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington
Four years of experience in a fast-paced emergency department. Monika cares for infants through school-aged children with calm, attentive judgment. Bilingual in English and Polish.
How tend works
1
Tell us what you need
Enter the date, time, and location of care, along with the number and ages of your children and any practical details.
Only relevant sitters are shown.
2
Choose from real availability
You will see sitters who have already marked themselves available for your requested time and location.
If a sitter appears in your results, they are prepared to take the booking.
3
Book directly
You book through the platform. There is no posting, no negotiation, and no waiting for an agency or sitter to respond.
Payment is handled automatically using the sitter’s listed rate.
A note from a tend parent
“This was my first time using tend, and it was a great experience.
Thank you for creating tend. It is a service parents definitely need, especially those who don’t have family nearby to help.”
Ready when you are
See who is available for your time and location, and book directly.
Find careInterested in sitting with tend? A more considered way to work
Oakville · Burlington · Milton · Mississauga · Halton Hills
Somewhere else? Join the waitlist to be notified when tend opens near you.
