Tips for Finding a Great Babysitter

     Finding a babysitter can be as simple as calling a family member and asking them to watch your child, or as difficult as scouring the neighborhood for someone trustworthy and dependable. Whatever the situations, babysitters are important because at some point, parents will need time away from their children. Below are some tips that will assist you in finding, interviewing and preparing your babysitter for watching your child.

Finding a Babysitter

• Family members – Perhaps the easiest solution, family members can make the perfect babysitters since you already know and trust them. However, since they are doing you a service, treat it like one and pay them accordingly. Also, if a family member can’t babysit for you, if they have kids of their own, they may be able to recommend a sitter.
• Schools – Schools are a great place to meet other moms who babysit or known reliable sitters. You can also check bulletin boards for sitters, or post a notice of your own detailing your need.
• Religious institutions – Bulletins boards at these locales may have sitters-for-hire listed, or you may get a recommendation from a fellow churchgoer or minister.
• Agencies – This could be a costly solution, but if you can afford it, the benefits are great. Agencies do all the work for you, providing you with dependable, experienced sitters whenever you need them. You can search for agencies in your local yellow pages or online.

Interviewing Your Prospective Sitter

• Telephone interview – This is a good precursor before meeting your potential sitter because you can get all the preliminary questions out of the way and determine if the person is worth meeting.
• Age – If the sitter is under 18, always ask if their parents know and approve of their job.
• Contact information - It is important to not only get the sitter’s contact information (phone, address, etc.), but an emergency contact as well.
• Experience – Ask about prior employment, length of service, etc. You can also ask if the sitter has certification from a baby sitter course, as well as other credentials, such as CPR and first aid training.
• Fees – Find out how much they charge and if it fits into your baby sitting budget.
• References – Ask for at least three references and check those references before making an informed decision.

Preparing Your Babysitter

• Invite the sitter over an hour or two before leaving to see how he/she interacts with your child.
• Give a tour of your home. Indicate important item locations, such as telephones, fire extinguishers, etc. Also explain which areas are considered off-limits.
• Leave phone numbers: where you can be reached, a friend or family member nearby, the child’s physician, and emergency numbers.
• Give detailed instructions in terms of feeding, bedtime, administering medication (when applicable), allergies the child has, etc.
• Explain the rules of the house in front of both the sitter and your child so both are informed.
• Explain specific rules to your sitter in terms of what they can/cannot do in your home.
• Tell the sitter to call you if there are any questions about anything they are unsure of.

Anthony Ripo, Mommy & Me Correspondent