Finding and hiring the right babysitter can be unnerving for parents. My advice to you is to take time to think about the skills, characteristics and “extras” that are most important to you, your spouse and your kids.

 

1) Do you feel comfortable and safe leaving your kids with them?

If there’s anything about the sitter that makes you nervous or uncomfortable then he or she is not a good fit. Safety is every parent’s #1 priority, so make sure you discuss this with your sitter. Do you want someone who is Red Cross certified? Does your sitter know CPR and first aid? Does he or she know how to administer an Epipen if your kids have severe allergies? Do you have a pool, or another feature in your home that requires special precautions?

 

2) Do they get good reviews from your kids?

If your kids are too young to communicate with you, then this one is hard to judge. But, if they’re able to tell you that it wasn’t fun, then it’s probably not a great sign. Kids have pretty good spidey sense, and at the end of the day, we all want to hear our kids sing the praises of their sitter.

3) Do they speak another language fluently?

If you want your child to learn another language, having a sitter speak to them only in that language is a really effective way for them to learn!

 

4) Do they speak English as their first language?

On the flip side, I’ve heard that if kids are struggling with language, some parents want to make sure that their sitter’s first language is English.

 

5) Will they help clean up?

Who doesn’t want a sitter who keeps the house clean and tidy, right? But what you need to decide is whether this is really a top priority – and it might be. But, if your sitter meets all your other expectations—and the kids are safe and having fun–then is 10-15 minutes of tidying up when you get home worth it?

 

6) Will they do laundry?

If coming home to clean laundry makes your day, then find a sitter who’s willing to squeeze it in. Also, some sitters are willing to do children’s laundry, but not yours, so make sure you discuss this up front.

 

7) Will they run errands?

I know this can be a sticky issue for sitters, so again, just make sure you talk about it up front.  You might think “how hard is it for them to grab my dry cleaning on their way home from the park?” But, in their minds they’ve been hired to watch kids, not run errands – and might feel like they’re being taken advantage of it you casually ask them to do it as you’re leaving the house. Others may welcome the opportunity to get out and about!

 

8) Will they take the kids outside?

Some sitters are really comfortable getting kids in strollers (or cars), packing up snacks, slathering on the sunscreen and heading out for some fun in the sun. Others might feel safer staying inside.

 

9) Do they love arts-and-crafts projects?

Do you love coming home to find artwork from your kids?  Some sitters pride themselves on this. You might need to pay them a little extra for supplies if they really like to get fancy.

 

10) Will they spoil your kids?

Maybe you don’t leave your kids with a sitter very often and you want them to think it’s a treat. So, find a sitter who will make rice-crispy treats with them every time.

 

In conclusion, whether you feel comfortable and safe leaving your kids with them, whether or not they get good reviews from your kids and whether or not they will take your kids outside are just  few of the things to consider when your looking to get the most out of your babysitter.