FollowHow to Choose the Right Babysitter
Trying to find someone to take care of your kids can be a challenge. In order to find someone that is well-qualified takes time and research but the end reward is that your children will be in capable hands.
How to locate a sitter– One of the easiest and most reliable ways to find a babysitter is through word of mouth. Start by asking friends, family and co-workers if they can recommend a sitter. You can also ask other people like the moms at your child’s school or your pediatrician. If you can’t locate one through personal recommendations, you can look online at sites like Care.com or SitterCity.com. These sites can help you locate a sitter in your area based on their education, hourly rate, experience and certifications.
The interview process– Once you have narrowed down your options to a few qualified candidates, you will need to setup an interview with each of them to learn more about them. You want to first speak with the potential sitter on the phone to get a feel for their personality and find out exactly what their experience is with babysitting. Ask what her hourly rate is to ensure she doesn’t charge more than you are willing to pay. If everything seems fine, ask for references.
Important reference questions to ask– It is important that you speak with other people that have employed this person in the past. There are some questions you will want to ask the references when you talk to them. Find out how long the sitter was employed with them and why they left. Ask specific performance questions like how her communication skills are, what her energy level is like, what their children thought of her and whether they would hire her again.
Setting up a meet and greet– If you are satisfied with the answers you received from the references, it is time to set up a meet and greet. The goal of this meet and greet is to see how your child and the potential new sitter interact together. Ensure that you give the two of them unstructured time together to see how your child likes the potential sitter and how she handles your child.
If the meet and greet works out, you potentially have a new babysitter on your hands. You should keep the name and number of one or two others that you liked as well in case this one falls through or is busy one day you need them.
