How to Interview a Potential Babysitter

Whether this is your first search for a family babysitter or your tenth, interviewing a potential new babysitter is always an interesting experience. You are likely nervous about finding the right caregiver for your children and she is nervous about answering your questions correctly and get the job. In the end, interviewing is just one step in having a great parent and babysitter relationship. Read on to learn how to interview a potential babysitter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pre-screen all potential babysitters before setting up an interview. This helps to eliminate meeting sitters who are not in the age range you are looking for, don't have a car, are not in your price range or do not have a schedule that works out for your family.

2. Schedule the interviews spaced out over a few days or a weekend, but not one right after another. Take time after each interview to discuss the interview and the answers to questions with your spouse and your children.

3. Set expectations. You do not want a babysitter who does not understand your expectations or can not meet them. She will be working in your home and caring for your children on a occasional to regular basis, she needs to know exactly what is expected.

4. Make sure your children are home and involved in the interview process. Although you make the decision, it is always good to see how a potential babysitter answers questions asked by children and how she reacts to their presence.

5. Set up your interview in a part of the house where the kids tend to play and are comfortable. It sets false expectations to have an interview in the immaculate dining room if the babysitter is going to spend all of her time in the cluttered playroom with the kids.

6. Go with your gut instinct. Matching a family to a babysitter is a two-way street and if you feel certain that you have met a great match for your family, you should make her an offer.