How to Trust a Babysitter
It's natural to struggle with the idea of leaving your child with someone who isn't a relative or close friend. Even the most highly qualified, experienced childcare professional is -- initially -- still a stranger. When you have a babysitter you can trust, you'll never want to let her go. It is worth putting in the time and effort to find the very best person for the job. Developing trust in your babysitter is as much your responsibility as it is hers.
Instructions
Take the time to find the right babysitter to look after your children. The more comfortable you feel with her, the easier it will be to trust her. Award-winning pregnancy and parenting website Baby Center recommends relying on word of mouth to get the names of teenagers or young adults in your area who are keen to babysit. Ask neighbors, friends and parents of your children's friends if they know anyone who likes to babysit, or if they can recommend a particular person. A glowing reference from a fellow parent is one of the best ways to find a reliable, trustworthy babysitter. Ask your child's daycare provider if any of the staff offer babysitting services, or check the yellow pages for a local babysitting agency. All babysitters recommended by an agency will have been pre-screened, and tend to be older and more qualified than your typical teenage sitter. Interview all potential babysitters. Find out about their previous babysitting or childcare experience. Check that they know CPR and First Aid. If a candidate is a pre-teen or teen, ask if she has taken a babysitting class, which is available from the American Red Cross for those ages 11 to 15. If she hasn't, but you think she would be a good babysitter, offer to pay for her to take the class. Ask questions to determine whether she is mature enough to look after your children. For example, you might ask how she would react if your children disobeyed her, and what she likes about looking after children. Invite a potential babysitter to spend time with you and your children before making a final decision. Observe how she interacts with your kids. If you like what you see and your children seem happy, pop out for a short time and leave them at home. Later, ask you children what they thought of the sitter and if they would like to see her again. You can count on your kids to be honest. Make sure your babysitter knows all house rules, safety procedures and emergency contact details before you leave her alone with your children. Go over all important information regularly to ensure it's fresh in her mind. Write everything down, give her a copy and keep another copy in a safe place in your house. Important information includes the name and telephone number of your family doctor, medical information about your children (such as the use of an inhaler or regular medication dosage), food allergies, the location of first aid supplies and fire exits, the children's bedtime routine and what time you will be home. Respond quickly to any warning signs that your babysitter cannot be trusted. Your child may seem afraid of her, or get upset when you announce she is coming over -- beyond the initial adjustment period. Your babysitter may be reluctant to talk to you about what your child has done or how he has behaved in your absence. Perhaps she isn't following simple instructions, such as turning up late or failing to ensure your child is fed, clean and well-rested. Follow your instincts. If you have a bad feeling about a babysitter, even if you can't quite put your finger on why that is, or don't have any solid proof that she's not up to the task of looking after your children, let her go and look for someone you feel comfortable with. The wellbeing and safety of your children must be your paramount consideration at all times.
