How to Check References for a Babysitter

Finding a babysitter does not have to be a difficult task, but it can be hard to find someone that you feel is a good fit for your child and parenting philosophy. Once you find someone you think is perfect for the job, it's time to check her references to find out what her previous clients have to say about her. References are a key piece of information that you should definitely not skip over when deciding who to hire to care for your child, whether you're going to be gone for one hour or eight.

Instructions

    • 1

      Call the first person on the reference list. This individual should not be a friend or a relative of the babysitter. He should be someone who has previously hired her before or someone such as a teacher if she's school-age without other professional references. Mention who you are, how you got his name and number and why you are calling. Ask him if it is a good time to ask a few questions about the potential babysitter. If not, offer to call back when the timing is more convenient.

    • 2

      Ask plenty of questions and keep him focused on her personality as it applies to the job. Inquire about her performance and whether she lived up to the reference's expectations for a sitter and the ages of the children that she cared for. Reliability is another important factor not to gloss over. A babysitter isn't very useful if she's constantly late and undependable, especially if you are on a tight schedule.

    • 3

      Question the reference about her performance. Ask him to describe her best and worst qualities. Ask for details of specific incidents and situations that she experienced with the children to get an idea of how she'd handle your children in a similar situation. It's also useful to know why she isn't babysitting for him anymore and to ask whether there were any other issues you might need to know about.

    • 4

      Conclude questioning with an open-ended question to give the reference an opportunity to tell you anything else that he feels is relevant to the position.

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