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Step 1
Be wary of a babysitter who does not have or refuses to provide you with a list of references. This could be a sign that he or she is trying to hide a bad experience in the past.
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Step 2
Watch out for signs that this babysitter may not be able to handle your children in the interview process. One major red flag may be that the sitter admits to having never taken care of as many children as you have or taken care of children the same age as yours. This may mean the sitter wouldn't do a proper job from lack of experience.
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Step 3
Monitor your children's behavior when you come home or leave them with the sitter. If your children feel anxiety about being left alone with the babysitter, this could be a sign that something is wrong. Use your best judgment in this situation and differentiate between actual problems and children just being dramatic.
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Step 4
Pay attention to whether your sitter actively talks to you before and after she has watched your children. A good sitter will ask for special instructions prior to sitting and give you a rundown of what happened while you were gone. If your sitter simply collects the money and leaves, this could be a sign she is not interested in your child's development.
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Step 5
Keep an eye on the clock. If your sitter arrives late, it may be a sign that she does not value your time or this job, which could mean she is cutting corners while watching your kids.
Comments
abigailbeth said
on 10/2/2009 It's really a good idea to ask the sitter how the day was and see if they talk to you before and after the job. I was a couples first babysitting for their newborn and even though newborns do not do much, they were happy to know when she ate, how much she had, how much she slept, and if she had a dirty diaper. They were nervous to leave their first child, but they have already called me back for a second time! Think of the simple things that can go a long way.