Finding a qualified babysitter for your children may seem to be an overwhelming task, and it may be difficult to know where to begin.
Image credit: Stuart Miles | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
There are several steps you can take to make the process easier.
The following are seven qualities and tricks you should know and look for when searching for the most qualified babysitter to care for your children.
Know how to network
The best way to find a babysitter is through other people you already know and trust. At least a few of your friends, family, and coworkers have probably hired a babysitter in the last year.
Even if they haven’t, they may know someone responsible who is great with kids. Knowing about someone’s overall character and personality will almost always give you more information than even the most extensive background check.
Know how to properly check references
When checking references, knowing the right questions to ask can help you gain more information about the person. Specific questions to ask would include if the sitter was always on time, and how did the person handle discipline. If possible, try to meet a reference in person.
Know what kind of training the sitter has
Today, there are a variety of classes and training people can take to improve their skills as a babysitter. There are infant care classes, driver’s training for chauffeuring children to their activities, and even types of pet training.
Find out if the person you’re considering has completed any of these courses as well as if they have had CPR or First Aid training. If you plan on having the sitter do different activities with the kids like going to the kids’ swimming lessons, make sure they can handle transport, CPR and other certification before you let them go.
Know what type of babysitter you need
Are you hiring a babysitter for full or part-time? Do you need someone everyday for the summer, just occasionally when you go out on weekends, or someone who can spend the night? The ages and needs of your children will also determine what kind of sitter you really need.
This will help you decide if a teenager is appropriate, or someone older and more experienced.
Know how to give the sitter a trial run
You may hire the most qualified, experienced sitter in the world, and that still doesn’t mean he or she will personally connect with your kids. Sometimes, individual personalities just don’t mesh well.
Arrange for the sitter to spend an hour or two with your children while you’re in the house. You’ll still have to pay the person for these few hours whether he or she works out or not. Make sure to leave them alone with the kids for a time to gauge how well they connect without your supervision.
Know exactly what you want
After following the previous general guidelines, what each person is looking for in a babysitter may come down to individual tastes. Make a list of traits or skills that are important to you before you even start the interviewing process.
Is it important that your sitter has a good sense of humor? Is it essential that the person you hire be a good cook? Neither of these things is absolutely necessary for an individual to be a qualified babysitter, unless they’re important specifically to you.
Following these steps will make the process of finding a babysitter less daunting, and increase the chances of finding the sitter who is the perfect fit for your family. Make sure you know what you want beforehand and use the interview process to gauge what you want perfectly.
Brooke Chaplan
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[…] mind, you must make a checklist of everything you need to do. The first on your list should be finding proper childcare. Whether you’ll leave your baby to its grandparents, with a babysitter, or in a daycare, it […]