Whether it’s date night, girls’ night out, or a doctor’s appointment, sooner or later a new mom will need a sitter to watch her baby. You might have an easy solution if you have family nearby just waiting to babysit your precious baby. But what if you don’t have family available or willing to help out? How do you find a sitter you can trust to keep your child safe? Keep reading for some tips on hiring and setting expectations for a sitter.

Hiring a Sitter

To find a trustworthy and reliable sitter, ask friends and family whose opinions you value and trust for their recommendations. If you’re new to an area, check with co-workers or friends at church. Your local YMCA, Red Cross, or hospital may be able to provide a list of potential sitters who have completed an infant/child CPR class or a babysitting class. You’ll want to interview your potential sitter and ask for – and check! – references before sealing the deal. Consider the following questions:

· Experience: How long has she been babysitting? How old are the children she’s babysat? Has she worked with more than one child at once? What have her responsibilities been while babysitting?

· Education: Is she certified in infant/child CPR and First Aid? Has she taken a babysitting class?

· Transportation: Does she drive? Is she relying on a parent or someone else to drop her off and pick her up? Will you be expected to provide transportation?

· Pets: If you have pets, ask her about her comfort level with the type of animal(s) you own. You don’t want to plan a night out only to learn at the last minute that your sitter is terrified of your dog!

· Fees: What is her hourly rate? Sitter rates vary widely based on your location as well as the sitter’s experience, the number of children she will be responsible for, and duties she will be responsible for (a sitter who is expected to perform chores will expect to be paid more than a sitter who will be watching and entertaining kids).

· References: Ask her for references from at least two families she’s worked for. Be sure to check these references! If she is older, consider running a background check.

· Trust Your Gut: Always trust your gut. If she looks great on paper, but something seems off in person, you may want to keep looking.

Consider a Trial Run

Once you have selected a potential sitter, consider having her watch your kids for an hour or two while you are home. You can take care of some housework or other projects; if the trial is going well, you can run a quick errand or take a walk. Be sure to check in occasionally to watch her interact with your kids and she how your kids respond to her. Before she leaves, ask if she has questions or concerns. After she leaves, ask your kids their thoughts if they’re old enough to tell you. Be sure to pay her for this time!

Set Expectations

Before finalizing your arrangements, set your expectations.

· Child’s routine: Is the sitter helping with homework, serving dinner, putting a child to bed? Is she responsible for giving medication? Does she need to get your permission to administer medicine? Give your sitter details for expected activities.

· House rules for your kids: What are your rules regarding snacks, video games, playing outside, having friends over?

· House rules for your sitter: What are your rules regarding snacks, having guests over, playing video games after your kids are in bed?

Safety

Make it easy for your sitter to keep your children safe. Be sure to go over the following:

· Your information: Write down your phone number and address. The sitter should be able to reach you if needed, and writing down your address is important if your sitter must call 911.

· Other contacts: Write down the name/phone of a neighbor or family member to contact in case there’s an emergency and your sitter can’t reach you.

· Poison control: Show your sitter where the poison control number is.

· Allergies: Be sure to let your sitter know if your child has allergies, especially food allergies. Make sure the sitter knows to keep all foods that could trigger an allergy away. If your child has an EpiPen, make sure the sitter knows when and how to use it and knows to call you and 911 after using it.

· Medical needs: Be sure to communicate any other medical needs your child may have.

· Supervision: Make sure your sitter knows that your child cannot be left alone outside or around water.

· Driving: If you expect your sitter to drive your child somewhere, make sure she has a valid driver’s license and safe driving record. Ensure she understands your child should be buckled in at all times in the car and that you expect her to follow all driving laws. If your child is in a car seat, make sure your sitter knows how to install and operate the car seat.

· Visitors: If your sitter is driving, agree on locations your children are not allowed to visit. Your sitter should not take your children into unsafe areas or to visit someone you do not know.

Debrief

· Call during the evening to check in and make sure everything is going ok. If your children are old enough, you may want to ask them how the evening’s going.

· After you get home, ask the sitter how the evening went and if she had any concerns.

· If your children are old enough, ask their thoughts on the sitter. Be sure to take any concerns they express seriously.

Last Tips

It’s great to have a regular sitter you can call on, but it’s also wise to have a backup! Having a regular sitter keeps you from needing to research multiple sitters and allows you and your children to develop a relationship with your sitter. However, there may be times when she is not available, so having a trusted backup is a good plan.

What other tips do you have on finding a sitter you can trust? Let us know in the comments!

One by One provides mentors to pregnant and new moms. While our mentors cannot babysit your kids, they can provide friendship, support, a listening ear, and parent education as you experience the highs and lows and learn the ropes of motherhood. If you’d like a One by One mentor, apply here. If you’re interested in serving as a mentor, learn more here.

Finding a Trusted Babysitter

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