Heres what you should do to finally find a reliable babysitter.
Write Out Your Babysitter Needs
Youd think your needs are simple, right?
You need someone to verify your kids dont die and/or write on the walls while youre gone.
But theres a lot more to it than thatdo they need a car?
How often will you need them?
Availability.Think about how often youll need them (daily?
and how many hours youll need them (just for the afternoon?
You should also know what their schedule is like in case you ever need them on short notice.
Potential duties.Will they be transporting your kids and thus need to have a drivers license and/or car?
Are they cooking dinner for your kids?
Do they need to be okay with also handling your pets?
What skills would it be nice for them to have and which ones do you absolutely need?
Past work.You should ask them about their work experience and past clients.
Ask them to provide references, and actually call them.
If you go through a private company, youll typically spend $20 to $50.
Their ideas for engaging your kids.Ask them how they would spend their time with your children.
Will they just plop them in front of the TV?
Or do they have plans for fun or educational activities?
What happened and how did you handle it?
What does a family owe its child care provider?
Tell me some of the things you have accomplished that you are proud of.
You get to know more about what drives this person.
You dont have to use the above questions exactly, of course.
Use everything above as a jumping off point for setting your own babysitter criteria and questions.
Search for a Sitter Using Reliable Sources
Next, its time to start your search.
You might also considerstarting a parenting co-opwith your friends.
If you need someone to be a live-in caregiver, tryAu Pair in America.
If you’ve got the option to find someone this way, youre at an advantage.
Remember though, that just because you know someone doesnt mean you shouldnt go through your checklist of qualities.
after you snag your list of potential sitters, you might start the screening process.
DudeMom has great suggestionsfor various steps in the process:
Interview each candidate.
If you dont have time to have a bunch of in-person interviews, try doing phone screens first.
Actually call the references they provide you.
Its worth the extra time.
Your thorough screening process means youll have a great second pick.
Do a test run before committing.
Youll be able to see how they interact with your children before you commit to a longer term position.
Finding a sitter isnt a fun process, and you probably arent itching to do it again soon.
But once a year, revisit whether your sitter is still a good fit for your family.
Top image fromLorelyn Medina.
Other images fromdraxus,zenjazzygeek,kiwanja, andlandrovermena.
