Once a month we exchange babysitting with friends of ours. They have a little boy that is the same age as my older daughter Bunny. Our arrangement goes like this: they drop Miles off at our house at 5:30 pm. He and Bunny play. Then we have dinner. Then the kids get into jammies and play, play, play some more. Our friends come back around 8:00 pm to collect their tired-out boy and whisk him right into bed. Then, a couple days later, they do the same for us. Babysitting exchanges benefit everyone involved. We're home during those hours anyway, so taking on another child is no big deal, especially since they are at the age where they occupy each other. One set of parents gets to spend quality time together knowing that their child is in good care, and the babysitters known their quality time is coming. You don't have to factor babysitting money into your night out. And, by the time you pick up your child he or she is all "played out" and ready for bed. Do you need a night out? Call up some friends with kids and set up a babysitting exchange. Make it a habit!