What happens if my child care provider cancels?

If your provider cancels, you’ll be notified so you can take next steps.

If your provider cancels before the job starts

• You’ll receive a notification based on your Settings
• Your job will automatically reopen so other providers can apply

You can also search for providers and invite them to apply to your job. As you receive applicants, review profiles and book a new provider. You can also turn on Auto-book Alternates to automatically book a replacement provider.

If the start time has passed

If a provider cancels after the scheduled start time, or the start time passes after a cancellation, you can repost the job to book a replacement. You can also search for providers and invite them directly.

You can book a provider up to 30 minutes before the job start time. You may need to adjust the start time to allow at least 30 minutes for arrival. After booking a last-minute job, confirm arrival time via chat.

Payment after a cancellation

If your provider cancels, you will not be charged for their wages. Your service fee or Booking will be refunded to your SitterTree account or Bookings Balance.

Additional information

Repeated last-minute cancellations or no-shows violate SitterTree’s Quality Standards, and may impact a provider’s access to the platform.

Tips to help avoid cancellations

• Include a detailed job description
• Book providers with strong reviews
• Book within 0-5 days of receiving applicants
• Avoid last-minute or significant job changes
• Confirm details in chat after booking
• Check in again before the job
• Provide clear arrival and check-in instructions
• Keep notifications on and monitor messages