Finding the Best Babysitter for Your Child
Finding the best possible babysitter for your child is so important. It’s hard to know whom to trust when placing your child’s safety and well-being in the hands of someone other than yourself or a close family member or friend. You want to be sure your child is being well taken care of by someone you know you can rely on.
Here are some tips to ensure the person taking care of your child is the right one:
- Get references. It is imperative to ensure your potential babysitter has gone through a background check and has good references from previous families they have worked for. Ask around. Get references from friends, neighbors, and any other parents you know who have used babysitters. Look into any criminal history if possible. The more you learn about the person, the more secure you feel. Any potential sitter trying to hide their past may have something fishy going on. If you don’t know anyone who can recommend a great sitter, check out websites like Care.com, where sitters are vetted and highly reliable.
- Arrange a meeting with your child. Once you’ve found a possible babysitter that suits your family, have them meet your child. See how they act with your child. Are they patient, kind, and knowledgeable? Does your child have chemistry with them? Just because a babysitter looks good on paper doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right match for your child. Yes, it may take a little time to warm up, but if you feel the fit isn’t right, you may need to keep looking.
- Follow your instincts. As a parent, you know what’s best for your child. Even if your best friend highly recommends a sitter, go with your gut if something is off. Also, keep in tune with how your child reacts when the sitter is coming or after they leave. Your child’s well-being is the most important thing – not worrying about the sitter’s feelings. There are many wonderful babysitters in every area, and eventually, you will find the best match for your family.
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Additional tips:
- Ask about experience. How many children have they babysat before? What ages? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
- Talk about your expectations. What are your child’s bedtimes, feeding schedules, and other routines? What are your rules for the house?
- Set up a trial run. Let the sitter watch your child for a few hours while you’re home. This will allow you to see how they interact with your child and handle different situations.
- Pay a fair wage. Babysitting is a job, and it deserves to be compensated fairly. The going rate for babysitting varies depending on your location, but it’s generally around $15-20 per hour.
By following these tips, you can be sure to find a trustworthy, reliable babysitter and a good fit for your family.
How did you choose your child’s babysitter?
For more information like this, please visit All My Children Daycare’s blogs.
By: Melissa A. Kay