How to Interview Potential Babysitters for Your Child

Deciding on a babysitter for your child, no matter the age, is an important issue. Keeping the best welfare of your child or children in mind, while keeping your cost low enough (so you can go out a few times and not just once.) While some folks are blessed with family to watch the kids, others need to hire reliable babysitters to get the job done. On the first interview, you need to decide, could this person fit. Here's how to interview your potential babysitter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take a moment to look over the babysitter as a whole person who is capable of this job. You are looking for someone who has it together and seems to multi-task easily. Does your babysitting candidate seem to have these qualities as she/he comes in to meet and greet you?

2. Ask about prior experience. Within this question, you need to find out what ages of past kids they have babysat for and for how long. Also find out how their job ended. You will know it ended poorly if you must ask for references.

3. Ask about their responsibilities outside of the babysitting job. You want to make sure they clearly have the mindset, while at your house, to watch your children. Question whether they need to be in contact with friends or family via phone or text while watching your kids. Obviously emergencies are fine, but if you have a texting boyfriend, then the babysitting candidate may not be your best choice.

4. Role play with your babysitting candidate. Ask them what they would do in several situations which has arose with your child. Require them to be specific in their ideas on resolution and playtime while watching the children to see if it is similar to your parenting.

5. Ask if they would be interested in setting up a trial time for babysitting while you are in the home. This could be while you are watching a movie or even planting in the backyard. Allowing the babysitter and children to connect under your supervision as well as seeing the parenting style bring brought into your home. Make the time only a couple of hours with the children knowing this could be their new babysitter.

6. End your interview by asking what the babysitter expects to be paid per hour, how available they are for working and if they are at all open to last minute bookings (just in case you want to rush off for dinner.)