Hiring a Great Baby Sitter and Not a Serial Killer

Finding a baby sitter is a challenge for many parents. Not only do you have to worry about the person you are using but sometimes the cost of hiring a baby sitter really can break a person's budget.

During the interview, instead of just looking for a sparkling personality, your babysitter should know these five basic things before you leave them with your precious children.

Watch as they interact with your children - Can they have fun with the kids without losing control of them? Do they seek the best ways to settle arguments or encourage positive behavior? A good childcare provider should be able to evaluate the toys and activities available and judge what is or isn't appropriate for each of your children.

Basic Childcare Skills - Can the babysitter cook and are they skilled in preparing baby formula and changing diapers? Is the caregiver comfortable in doing daily tasks?

Basic First Aid Skills - Make sure to inquire as to how they would handle everything from scrapes and bruises to life-threatening emergencies. You need to make sure they know exactly where your first aid supplies are located. They need to be comfortable using them. Ask if your babysitter is familiar with basic CPR.

Have a nice conversation during the interview. Include your child; see how your child feels with the new babysitter. Do you and your child feel comfortable with this person? Do they seem nice, friendly, and genuinely caring?

Finally ask the kids how they feel about the babysitter after the interview. Don't ever force a babysitter on your child. Your child should be happy with the choice of person. This will only facilitate the best care possible and avoid behavior problems in the future.

The final steps, before actually hiring anyone, ask for references. To assure you have credible and accurate references call every name given. Sometimes, references are faked. So have a set of questions ready to ask. Here are a few questions to get you started.

1. How long have you known the sitter? - Ask about their previous relationship to see if they mention that she was a friend first or a relative.
2. Is the sitter still working for you, and if not, why?
3. What were the sitter's strengths and weaknesses while in your employment?
4. How did the sitter handle emergencies and disciplinary situations? Does she spank? Does she have a disciplinary style?
5. What activities did the sitter do with your children? Did she drive them to activities?

Once you hire someone, make sure to go over the rules. Make sure to lay down the rules so that there is no misunderstanding. Such rules could include:

1. Making sure to limit phone use, so your child is look after with complete attention.
2. No Smoking in the house - The studies on second hand smoke make this important.
3. The child or children must be within view at all times. - Line of sight rules are important especially if the person is a smoker.
4. Go over daily rituals - Bedtime routines and times, Remember to Set TV times and which TV programs your kids are allowed to watch, review snacks, and food allergies.

If you use a babysitter long term, make sure to look for signs of abuse occasionally, just to be on the safe side. Has your child changed behavior recently? Does your child show signs of distress when you talk about having this babysitter come back? Has your child's eating habits changed? Are there signs of bruises or cuts that you can't explain? If so, confront the babysitter right away! If necessary, call local Law Enforcement to investigate. Help keep your child safe and others as well.

Hiring the right childcare is a time consuming task but remember this individual will be a role model in your child's life when you are not there, so it's important to find the right person. Remember the future of your child depends on it.