How to Screen a Prospective Baby Sitter

You are seeking an energetic and hard-working babysitter to care for your young children but have concerns regarding the best method of screening and hiring the right person. You need to be sure your children are left in strong and capable hands as well as with an individual who can communicate effectively with both the children and parents. Safety, attention to detail and a child-friendly personality are also important considerations.

Instructions

    • 1

      Ask friends and co-workers for recommendations. They may know of a qualified individual or are using a babysitter that they can share with you. The personal experiences of individuals you know and trust are some of the best recommendations for a babysitter you can receive when you seek qualified childcare.

    • 2

      Request references if you, family and friends do not know a prospective individual. Call the former employers and question them as to the dependability, safety and compatibility of the prospective babysitter. How well the babysitter relates to the children is also an issue to inquire about. A deciding question may be "Would you hire this individual again if you need childcare?"

    • 3

      Check qualifications and experience. It may not be necessary for her to have been a babysitter before but she should be First Aid and pediatric CPR certified and have the documentation to prove it. Classes in childcare or babysitting are also a plus. Transportation may also be an issue -- if she will be driving your children to activities, you may wish to check her driving record and licensing.

    • 4

      Ask in-depth and open-ended questions when interviewing the babysitter. Give her emergency scenarios and question her as to how she would react. Some suggested situations could be a choking child or a toddler who has ingested an unknown material. You can also ask her to relate how she handled a particularly stressful or dangerous situation in past employment. Her responses are important and must be correct for you to completely entrust your children to her care.

    • 5

      Discuss expected pay rates with the prospective babysitter. If the amount is not what she expects, then there is no reason to progress with the screening unless you are willing to compromise. You may wish to research current pay rates among families in your neighborhood before conducting the interview and deciding on the actual rates.

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