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If you think you have an interesting "Today's Woman" topic, you can contact Candice at cmadsen@ksl.com.
Moms across the country are finding ways to cut down on the high cost of child care.
With the going rate for baby-sitting $6 to $8 an hour, a night out with your spouse or even a break from the children during the day can get expensive.
Parents also say it's tough to find a good baby-sitter. That's why more and more moms are turning to baby-sitting co-ops.
The idea is simple: instead of money, moms exchange baby-sitting hours through a point system. The number of hours you baby-sit determines the number of free baby-sitting hours you get in return.
Groups can range in size from three to five children to as many as 25. Although the co-op centers on child care, moms say it also creates an important social network for them. "I hear a lot of moms, especially stay-at-home moms, say that they feel really secluded, or that they never see an adult. That is completely not the case with us," says Martha Cox, co-op president.
Most women in baby-sitting co-ops met through mother's groups, church or other social events. To keep the co-op safe, experts suggest mothers have a candidate system and a set of bylaws.
Also, don't think dads have to be excluded. One father I spoke with said he and his wife are in a group with three other couples. Each couple takes a turn baby-sitting all the children one Friday night a month.
For more information on baby-sitting co-ops, click on the related link.
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