What to Look for in a Babysitter

Finding the right babysitter can be a challenge. You want to be sure your kids are in safe and responsible hands while you are not around. But choosing the right babysitter may leave you in a state of confusion. Who should you go with? How will you know your kids will be happy with your choice? Is the babysitter any good at her job? These and other questions will surely flood your mind. In order to be certain you’ve done your best to pick a babysitter that you feel confident with, ask yourself these questions below. You’ll narrow down your search and zone in on the sitter that’s perfect for your family.

Does She Come Highly Recommended?

Ask your friends and family if they can confidently recommend a sitter they’ve been pleased with in the past. Or, you can look to online care sites which can give you lots of in-depth info about sitters in your area. Word of mouth is always a great sign that a sitter has done a good job. Ask around at daycare, PTA meetings, or other family-friendly gatherings and you’ll be sure to get a recommendation (if not a few) for a great sitter.

Is There Chemistry?

Meet up with a potential sitter and see how the conversation and compatibility goes. Are you comfortable around her and vice versa? If so, bring her to meet your kids and see how the chemistry is. See if she gets the kids to feel comfortable and open. A good sitter knows how to put kids at ease and make them feel safe and cared for. If the kids like her, you know it’s a good match.

Is She Responsible?

Just because your sitter is recommended by someone you trust and she and the kids hit it off, that’s not all you need to think about. A mature and honest sitter is something that’s imperative to seek out. Will she follow your rules regarding bedtime, snacking, phone calls, TV watching, etc.? What about her ability to stay calm and collected under pressure and to be able to work through unforeseen situations? You need someone who is responsible and intelligent so you can trust her 100% with your children. Test her out a time or two before committing for the long haul to make sure she’s the one.

Once you find a stellar sitter, you can leave the kids in the hands of someone you can count on. Any tips you’d like to share with the AMC community so other parents can pick the perfect babysitter too?

For more info like this, please pay a visit to All My Children’s blogs.

By: Melissa A. Kay