From NBC News:A group of Texas moms have found an innovative way to cut down on the high cost of childcare.
It’s a babysitting co-op and its making life easier and fair for parents.
At 15 months old Morgan Cox already has a lot of friends.
But Morgan’s mom Martha is a stay at home mom.
Martha Cox, CO-OP President said, "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."
That's because Martha is part of a babysitting co-op.
"It's like trading favors, but it's really a way to keep it accountable and quantify it," said Cox.
Today Martha will watch Wyatt and Natalie.
Wyatt's mom Christi Heal said, "It's just great, because it's flexible and we've built great relationships with these girls."
In return, Natalie or Wyatt’s mom will baby-sit Morgan.
But instead of money, the parents in the co-op use a points system.
"For example in our co-op, one hour during the daytime hours is worth four points," said Cox.
Saving parents a lot of cash.
"I have friends that never go out because you end up paying $60.00 just for a babysitter," Cox said.
Most of the women in the baby-sitting co-op met through mother's groups, church or other social events.
To keep the co-op safe, the mothers have a candidate system and a set of bi-laws.
