Trusted Chicago Sitters and Nannies

Babysitter playing a superhero game with a child at home during in-home childcare.

Great Childcare, Made Easy.

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Vetted Chicago, IL babysitters and nannies near you, matched to your schedule and needs.

No signup or booking fees, ever. 💰

Find your sitter in minutes.

We match you with top babysitters and nannies who fit your schedule and your kids’ ages—from newborns to school-aged.

Need a newborn specialist or after-school help? Skip the wait: see the best in-home matches near you and book in minutes.

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Alphabet blocks stacked to spell TRUST

Vetted. Verified. Re-Verified.

Weeks interviewing and vetting? Hard pass.

Apiari runs background and reference checks on each provider, and collects ongoing parent reviews. You can see performance and reliability ratings before you book. Learn more about how we vet here.

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Paper calendar showing after-school pick-up, meeting, conference, date night, and school holiday—part-time, full-time, and backup childcare scheduling

Part-time. Full-time. Anytime.

Find a provider that fits your schedule. Whether you need on-demand, part-time, or full-time help, we’ve got you.

For bookings starting in the next 48 hours, you can send multiple requests at once—the first sitter to accept confirms the booking. Coverage without compromise.

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Person holding a piggy bank, representing saving money on childcare with FSA receipts and tax credits

Earn points. Save on taxes.

Pay by credit card and earn points, like you do everywhere else. If you have an employer-sponsored FSA, you can also get FSA-friendly receipts for reimbursements.

No FSA? No problem. You may still be eligible for the dependent care tax credit for qualified expenses. Learn more here.

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Apiari founders—parents who built a trusted way to find babysitters and nannies for in-home childcare.

Built by parents, for parents

Apiari was built by parents who wanted a better way to find the help they needed without having to spend weeks searching, or hefty agency fees.


Say yes to the meeting you can’t miss. Say yes to the date night you deserve. And say yes to a little more breathing room.

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What parents are saying:

  • Apiari-sitter-headshot.jpg

    "So nice and professional! My son took to her right away, which says a lot. Looking forward to having her again in our home."

    - Sara G.

  • Apiari-sitter-headshot.jpg

    “Ana is a baby whisperer. She knows how to soothe our 3 month old and put her to sleep without much fuss. She is reliable and responsible and has provided us great tips as first time parents.

    - Dan B.

  • Apiari-babysitter-kelly

    "Thank you, Kelly, for your help. We are so grateful for the care and fun. We knew you had everything under control, which allowed us to have an easy night out."

    - Bryan D.

  • testimonial-for-newborn-care-specialist.jpg

    So knowledgeable and professional! Baby ate and slept like a champ on her watch and we got some rest too :)

    - Anne M.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Each Apiari provider completes ID verification, a background check, and reference checks before they can be matched on our platform. Providers are also subject to ongoing reviews from parents—you can see their ratings and reviews directly on their profiles. To learn more about our vetting process here.

  • No, Apiari does not charge any placement or membership fees.

    You can browse and interview providers completely free of charge. If you decide to book, you’ll see the provider’s hourly rate directly on their profile. In some cases, additional fees may apply (for example, late-night bookings or infant twins). All fees are paid to your provider (less credit card processing fees).

  • You’re welcome to discuss with your sitter the payment method that works best for you.

    If you’ve already made a booking on Apiari, payment is processed automatically through the platform for that booking.

  • Night nannies typically handle feeding (breastmilk or formula), diapering, burping, soothing, swaddling, logging sleep and feeding patterns, and keeping the baby settled so parents can sleep.

    Some also support pumping, washing bottles, or prepping for the next day. We recommend that parents discuss their needs directly with their night nannies.

    All services are non-medical.

  • Most Apiari providers work as independent contractors. Apiari prepares Form 1099s at year-end to help providers with their tax filings. 

    If you have providers working as your household employees, we recommend that you use a nanny payroll system such as GTM. Apiari does not handle payroll or household employment taxes. Please consult with your tax professional to determine whether your provider should be classified as a household employee.
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  • Yes - for bookings starting in less than 48 hours, you can send booking requests to as many providers as you like - the first to accept will confirm your booking.

  • Check out more FAQs here or send us your question here and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

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