For families
Sitters who get kids with Down syndrome
Kids with Down syndrome are kids. They want the same things kids want — to be read to, to be heard, to be allowed to figure out their dinner on their own. The right sitter knows the standard stuff (the speech might take a beat, the bedtime might run long) and does not make a thing of any of it.
Our sitters are off-duty pros — paraeducators in inclusion classrooms, Direct Support Professionals from local day programs, special-education teachers. They work with kids with Down syndrome during the week. They know your kid is a kid first.
What to expect
What your Sidekick will and won't do
- Sitters who follow your communication notes. If your kid uses some signs, the sitter knows the most common ones and can pick up new ones from you in the handoff.
- Comfort with mealtimes that take longer. Patience with the routine that comes after.
- Reasonable physical assistance. Help on the stairs, a hand getting dressed, the things a sitter who has done this before does without being asked.
- No baby-talk. None of our sitters speak down to kids with Down syndrome, and the matching system filters out any sitter who does.
Boundaries
What we don't do
- The sitter is sitting, not delivering professional services. They do not run a behavior plan, do not chart sessions, do not document progress against goals.
- We do not bill insurance, Medicaid, or your DD Waiver. Cash pay only.
- We do not administer prescription medications. The sitter can hand a routine dose to your kid per your written house routine, but they do not measure, calculate, or document anything.
- Heart conditions, feeding routines, or other care that needs a licensed nurse or therapist — those belong with your kid's care team, not a sitter. We can sit through the appointment instead.
Booking tips
How to set up a good first booking
- Tell the sitter how your kid likes to be addressed. Some kids prefer their full name; some prefer a nickname.
- If your kid has a favorite book, list it in the booking notes. Re-reads matter.
- Bedtime routine is the most-asked-about scenario — write it as a step-by-step in the notes. The sitter will follow it.
- If you want the same sitter every time, favorite them after the first booking. The system surfaces favorites first.
Common questions
- Can you find a sitter who knows sign language?
- Some of our paraeducator and SpEd-teacher sitters have working ASL. Filter your match preferences for sign-friendly sitters and we will surface them first.
- What about feeding-tube needs or other complex care?
- If your kid has feeding-tube routines or other ongoing care that needs a licensed professional, those are out of scope for our sitters. We can sit through the appointment with another sibling instead — many of our families use us for exactly that.
- Do you sit for adults with Down syndrome?
- Yes. Our Direct Support Professionals often prefer adult clients during their weekday work and bring that experience to weekend bookings. See our adult bookings page.
- How do you handle the bedtime routine?
- We ask you to write it down step by step in the booking notes. The sitter follows what you wrote. If something needs to change mid-booking, they will text you.
Other kid profiles we sit for
Common bookings
Find a Sidekick in your city
Their Sidekick already knows it.
Tell us about your kid; we'll match you with someone whose day-job experience fits.