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Finding a Good Babysitter

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As a parent it’s difficult to entrust the care of your child to just anyone. Yet so many parents do because they don’t know how to find a babysitter. It’s possible to find – and keep – a great babysitter by doing some research and legwork.

Finding a good babysitter is like searching for a good employee. You need to find several possible babysitters and put them through an interview process. Then have them over to see your house and meet your children to see if they’ll get along. While this seems like a lot of work, it will keep you from going through several babysitters before finding the right one. It’s also a great way to ensure that your children are with someone you can trust – at least to the best of your knowledge.

In today’s Internet-driven world, there are several online services that can hook you up with a babysitter who matches your preferences. Most of these services are not free. They usually charge a membership fee. However, if you plan on hiring a part- or full-time babysitter, the small membership fee will be well spent. Use these sites to find a babysitter online:

SitterCity
4Nannies
Babysitters.com
4Sitters

Finding a babysitter through family and friend referrals is usually best. Personal references from people you trust go a long way. But don’t just take their word for it. You need to be proactive and interview potential babysitters to find the perfect match for your family.

Whether you’ve gotten together a list of babysitters through an online service or personal referrals, it’s important to interview each babysitter. This is a step that many parents skip, but it is the most important one. While a babysitter may look great on paper, they may not match up to your family’s lifestyle or get along with your children. It’s easier for you to have a good night away from the kids if you know they’re with someone they like.

Here are some good questions to ask a babysitter during the interview process:

What is your name, address and phone number?
How many years of experience do you have with babysitting children?
What ages have you sat for before?
What do you like best about being around babies and children?
What are your favorite activities to do with children?
Do you offer tutoring?
Are you certified in CPR and first aid?
(If they are under 18) Do your parents support your babysitting?
What activities are you uncomfortable with doing with the children (driving them around, going to the pool, etc.)?
What days and hours are you available?
What is your rate?
What would you do in the case of an emergency?
Do you have any references?
Are you familiar with the area you live in?
Do you have any hobbies?
Do you like school? Are you part of any clubs or sports? How are your grades?
Do you have any questions for me?

If the babysitter is comfortable with it, it’s a good idea to have them over to baby-sit your children while you are home. You will be able to see how your children respond to the sitter and how the sitter interacts with your children. This trial run will most likely make the final selection easy. It will also help to involve your children in the decision. Ask your kids which babysitter they had more fun with, and factor this into your decision making. If your child plays a role in selecting the babysitter, they are more likely to look forward to the sitter coming over and to have a good time with the sitter while you’re gone.

After making your final decision, there’s one more important step: showing the babysitter around your home. During this tour, you will familiarize the sitter with the emergency exit plan, location of spare keys, how to use a house alarm and any applicable code words. At this time, you can also show them the location of the fire extinguisher and first aid kit, and any other safety precautions. You can go over house rules (no running, TV, video game and computer use, etc.) and your children’s routines.

You also need to make it clear what you expect out of the babysitter (any light housework, etc.) and what is available to them (food, drink, TV, computer and phone use). By making it clear what your expectations are, you set the babysitter up to succeed. If they fail to meet your expectations after you have fully explained them, then you may need to re-evaluate your decision.

When it comes time for you to head out for a night away from the kids, make sure you have a list of emergency phone numbers. Include numbers for poison control, neighbors or friends, a close relative, as well as your own address and telephone number, should the sitter need to give this information to police or paramedics. You should also give the sitter the name, address and phone number of the place you are going, as well as your cell phone number.

You also need to familiarize your children with what to do in the case of an emergency. That way they will know what to do if the babysitter is unable to call 911 or poison control.

Finding a good babysitter isn’t impossible, but it does take time and hard work. But once you’ve found that perfect babysitter, you can rest easy knowing that your kids are in good hands and having fun. It will make your night out that much more enjoyable!

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