BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

MARCH 18, 2024

KindiCare is your go-to for centre-based childcare, but if your childcare needs extend beyond the usual hours that educators work, or you find yourself in a sudden childcare pickle, Kiddo can definitely help.  

This fam-friendly app was created by Aussie mum, Rebecca Dredge, when she was struggling to find last-minute care for her toddler; and like KindiCare, Kiddo is all about matching parents with the childcare that’s right for them. 

Kiddo’s focus is on babysitters, nannies and support workers for NDIS care, though; and with nearly 18,000 Australian carers on its books, you’re sorted for casual childcare, regular extended care, and special needs services in your home.   

If you’re a working family, you’ll find that Kiddo provides a complete childcare solution that complements your centre-based childcare arrangements; and to learn more, we’ve spoken with Rebecca Dredge, Kiddo’s Founder and CEO. 

Rebecca explains that Kiddo is free to join as a parent, and the app enables you to find local and affordable childcare really fast.  

Once you’ve got the app up and running on your Apple or Android device, all you need to do is tap in your required time, date and location for childcare, then wait a sec for Kiddo to present you with a list of available carers in your area. 

You’ll see each carer’s photo, star rating, parent reviews and hourly rate; and as with centre-based childcare, you can shop around to find a fee that works for you.  

Rates generally come in at $25 to $35 per hour, but Rebecca explains that, “Kiddo carers set their own rates, commensurate with their skills and experience,” and as a parent, you get to weigh up ‘price versus person’ when making a booking.  

For instance, you might be happy to pay a little more for a qualified early childhood educator who’ll add professionalism to your preschooler’s evening care, or decide that a cheaper 18-year-old is perfectly capable of watching a movie while your primary schooler is asleep! 

If your child has additional needs, Kiddo offers carers who are trained to provide respite care under the NDIS, outside of regular service hours. 

And whoever you book, it’s good to know that every carer on the app has been ID and Working with Children checked, and each booking is covered by insurance.  

You also get the safeguard of paying by credit card, with carers getting their money after the childcare job has been completed; and Kiddo syncs bookings with your calendar and sends reminders, so there are no surprises when your carer arrives!  

Kiddo is super helpful if you have a child-free event coming up, or your grandparent carer suddenly calls in sick, but its greatest value (in our humble opinion) is for working parents. 

With this app, you can book regular childcare that wraps around your long day care or before and after school care hours. 

Rebecca says, “We offer ongoing care options, so you can book regular care for a certain number of nights every week, get assistance with childcare drop-offs and pick-ups, or organise for someone to take your older child to extracurriculars after school on the days they’re not at outside school hours care.”   

She says, “It’s possible for your child to develop a great connection with a carer you book and re-book regularly,” and it’s nice to know that you’ve got someone you can rely on, especially If your extended family is far away.  

Kiddo can also help with work-related childcare on an ad-hoc basis – for example, if you need to stay back late to meet an urgent deadline, attend a work function, or make yourself available for weekend training. 

Kiddo also provides essential care for parents working non-standard hours; and Rebecca says, “We’ve booked care for nurses, doctors, and even a horse trainer, who started work at 4am and needed someone to take their kids to school.” 

Whether your childcare needs are work-related or not, it’s also good to know that Kiddo is amazing for organising last-minute care. 

Rebecca says, “If you have a sudden need for childcare tonight from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, you can put out a request for a booking within 24 hours, and we’ve had people who literally got a carer to their house within 20 minutes of making a request.”  

All in all, Kiddo fills in those tricky times and days when regular childcare isn’t an option.  

You can use it to dot casual care around your usual childcare program, and whether you’ve got an early learner or a middle grader, there are informal Kiddo carers available to help you balance work, life and formal childcare.  

Kiddo fits in with different family dynamics, and to get $10 off your first Kiddo booking*, use the code KINDI24  

 *Terms and Conditions apply, minimum booking $100, valid for first booking made before 31/12/2024, does not apply to NDIS care.