How to Find a Good Baby Sitter
Whether you need a sitter for a night out or for an extended period of time, learn to network and then pay attention to your instincts.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Ask friends or colleagues whom you trust to recommend a good baby sitter.
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2
Find an agency. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Child Care" or "Babysitting."
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3
Interview all prospective sitters over the phone. Ask about experience, fees charged and any emergency training the person has had. Ask for references.
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4
Check the references.
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5
Call the sitter back if he or she seems like a good fit and arrange a meeting in your home.
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6
Observe how the prospective sitter interacts with your children, how your children respond to the sitter and whether you relate well to the person you are considering.
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7
Have the sitter baby-sit for a short period of time while you are not far away.
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8
Continue to hire the sitter if all goes well.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Although you can advertise for sitters at local colleges, in the newspaper and even online, those recommended by trusted friends are generally the best bet.
Many parents with young kids swap baby-sitting with friends. This ensures that you always have a trusted sitter and helps save money on baby-sitting.
Be sure you feel comfortable with and trust your sitter before leaving your children in his or her care.
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Comments
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Amewzing
Dec 14, 2008
It's definitely best to hire someone you know, if only through a friend. Great advice for parents who need to find a babysitter. (I found your article because it was linked to an article of mine.) :) -
Amewzing
Dec 14, 2008
It's definitely best to hire someone you know, if only through a friend. Great advice for parents who need to find a babysitter. (I found your article because it was linked to an article of mine.) :)
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Nov 22, 2005
See if the babysitter has had experience in dealing with children. Also, ask if they have had any Red Cross classes. This could be a big relief for the parents. :-)
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Nov 22, 2005
Is there a laid-off or early retiree in your family who's looking for some work and loves your little one? It's hard to beat family when you need to trust your little ones with someone.
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Nov 22, 2005
It's also a good idea to see how the child reacts to the sitter-if the child refuses to like the sitter, it won't work out
