Are you one of those parents who never seems to be able to find a good baby-sitter?  Either the person you have hired isn't available when you need him or her, or he or she chats on the phone and ignore the kids in your absence?

Look no further.  Recently the Department of Defense paid for a service that will allow military service members and their families to find high quality help free of charge.

Launched in 2001 by founder and CEO Genevieve Thiers, Sittercity - www.Sittercity.com - is an Internet service that provides families assistance in finding in-home child care providers, nannies, tutors, senior care providers, pet sitters, and housekeepers. With more than one million caregiver profiles, Sittercity boasts being the largest online source for in-home caregivers and workers.

"Our Web site gives military families increased availability of high quality care," Melissa Anderson, the vice-president of the corporate division for Sittercity, said.

The online resource is free to all active duty, National Guard, and reservist's families.  To use the Web site, which generally has a monthly fee, you must register at www.Sittercity.com/DoD.

"Military families have to go to the DoD (Department of Defense) site, or they will be charged because we have no way of knowing they are military," Anderson said.

Once you have enrolled, you may search the site using your zip code for registered providers. Currently there are more than 5,700 registered babysitters and nannies in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord area.

To find a caregiver or worker who fits specific criteria, you may do an advanced search.  For baby-sitters family members can search for caregivers who have their own transportation, do not smoke, have a background check, reviews, and a photo on file, and are within a certain distance from your home, will work in your home, and have a specific number of years of experience.