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How to Choose a Good Babysitter
With all the frightening and worrisome
stories on the news about abuse from babysitters, many
parents are reluctant to leave their little ones in
the care of someone else – particularly if that
person has never had children of their own. Here are
five steps you can take to ensure that you find a skilled,
trustworthy babysitter that both you and your children
are comfortable with.
1. Ask for references. Nothing beats a word-of-mouth
recommendation from someone you trust. Friends, relatives
and other moms you meet on the playground can be great
sources for referrals. Check your neighborhood classified
ads or local bulletin board for babysitters looking
for work. It helps to choose a sitter in your neighborhood
who can contact their own parents for help in case any
minor problems arise.
2. Make sure you choose someone who
is old enough and mature enough to do the job. Infants
especially require someone who is experienced and has
possibly raised children of their own. Toddlers and
school age children can be looked after well enough
by a 13 year old, but make sure to have a list of emergency
numbers, next door neighbors or relatives, and the number
of the place where you’ll be going in case your
sitter needs to contact you.
3. When interviewing the sitter,
ask for references and call them to verify the sitter’s
suitability as a caretaker for your children. Ask
about any special qualifications such as CPR or First-Aid
training, Heimlich maneuver, what to do in case of accidental
poisoning, etc. You should also not be afraid to ask
the sitter about personal habits such as swearing, smoking
or drinking. Lastly, discuss payment options and transportation
issues with the sitter and arrange to meet her parents
if you can.
4. Schedule a “Meeting Day”
with the sitter and your children. Allow them to
play and interact together and monitor the result. Try
not to be in the same room if you can avoid it, since
some young beginning sitters are very self-conscious
and may feel awkward having you observe them –
especially on their “first day”. Just listen
to them and offer suggestions if needed. Pay special
attention to how the sitter disciplines the child or
transitions them from one activity to the next. Don’t
be afraid to step in with tips for the sitter on how
you discipline or guide your child, since every mother
has a different style of parenting and often, a different
set of rules. This ensures that the child knows how
to behave no matter who is watching them.
5. From the moment the sitter begins
working for you, make sure they understand the “House
Rules”. These include things like feeding and
bed times as well as Do’s and Don’ts for each
child (i.e. no TV until homework is done – no cookies
before dinner). You should also add on rules for the
sitter to adhere to herself, such as no friends over,
no loud music, etc.
Above all, if your child is old enough,
make sure they are aware of and understand what abuse
is (both physical and verbal), and to tell you right
away if the sitter does something to hurt them or make
them feel uncomfortable, even if it was only done “in
play”. Be cautious and always use your best judgment
in any situation. Your children are counting on you!
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