How to Hire a Good and Dependable Babysitter

On a list of one of the hardest things to do in raising a child, hiring a babysitter ranks very close to the top. The world is a dangerous place and hiring the wrong one could have disastrous results. It's important to take your time and do your homework before making your choice.

First and foremost, be a selective as possible as you begin you search. A good place to start is with family or friends. Chances are if they are using a certain babysitter with good results, you should have the same if the babysitter is available to take on more to take on more responsibility. If none can be recommended, you should look for someone that is already working with children. You don't want to be a babysitters first experience with child care. You should also be as selective as you can. Take the time to make all the phone calls you need to to find the right one.

Some of the qualities you'll be looking for are patience, competency, attentiveness and someone that is not afraid to ask for help. Will the babysitter be patient with your child or lose their temper when things don't go right? Is he or she competent enough to know how to handle emergency situations? Will they pay attention to detail in their job or are their eyes glued to a TV screen? And how long will they wait, if they do have a problem, before they request help from others? The question of whether a babysitter likes children shouldn't have to be asked, but the above questions need to be addressed before hiring.

Once you have a good reference for a babysitter, call this person and do an over the phone interview. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you feel you should. If this person wants the job, they will spend the amount of time you need to feel good about hiring them. Explain to them exactly what you expect of them as well as information about the child, or children, you expect them to care for. This gives the babysitter the option of accepting the job and responsibility or declining the opportunity.

Once you feel comfortable with a babysitter after doing a phone interview, invite them to your home and do a personal interview. Introduce them to the children they will be caring for and see how they interact with them. Ask them for their experience with children your age and what training they have had in first aid. Do they know how to save the life of a child that is choking? Have they had training in handling first aid regarding burns or stopping bleeding until help can arrive? Give them some "what if" scenarios and see how they would react to certain situations. What if my child fell down the stairs? What if a burglar was attempting to enter the house? The most important instinct to go with when doing an interview in your home is your gut. You can tell a lot about a person in the first five minutes of knowing them. Not that you should jump to conclusions, but pay attention to what your gut is telling you.

Most importantly, check your potential babysitters references. Have them give you phone numbers of at least three people they have worked for in the past and three personal references to inquire about them as a person. If they truly want the job, they will have no problem in supplying this information.

You wouldn't trust your car to be repaired by a plumber. Something as important as the safety of you children shouldn't be trusted to someone not capable of supplying it. By taking your time and being selective, you should be able to find the right babysitter and enjoy your time away from home instead of worrying whether you've made the right choice.

*Personal experience