ABSOLUTE BEST CARE INC.
212-481-5705; absolutebestcare.com

When Douglas Kozinn and Saul Moskowitz started a babysitting service three years ago, they applied the blue-chip standards and bottom-line attitude they honed as Wall Street stockbrokers to their search for the cream of the watch-the-cradle crop. Absolute Best Care turns away more than 50 percent of its applicants, and for a mere $195 registration fee, parents can rest easy knowing that the person watching their child has passed a complete criminal background and driving check, Social Security trace, legal-residency verification, and provided a consistent résumé, with solid references. Hourly rates run from $10 to $15, and Kozinn will offer backup babysitters free of charge just to calm parental nerves. There are more than 1,000 qualified sitters on the company’s roster, so if you call during business hours you’re virtually guaranteed to find an emergency caregiver quickly.